Chinese Communist Party recruiting online "youth civilization volunteers," new tax may price Malawians out of Internet service, South African Internet regulations called "worst new Internet censorship law," and more, in our Week in Review.
Google institutes new search algorithms that favor mobile-friendly sites, Tanzanian cybercrime bill causes concern, and more, in our Week in Review.
Russia is pushing to ban Tor, Cuba gets Netflix, and more in this week's #IMWeekly.
Iran's attempt at Smart Filtering, ICANN hacked, and more in this week's IMWeekly!
China caught spying on iCloud users days after iPhone 6 release, Russia begins thinking about autonomous internet and more in this week's #IMWeekly!
Earlier this month, Israeli Communications Minister Gilad Erdan announced that the government would be revoking restrictions on public WiFi. Historically, those setting up WiFi access points were required to install routers indoors, meaning that access in public places like parks and beaches has been spotty. The new guidelines will enable better outdoor WiFi and will require cities and companies that set up new routers to offer free access.
Since political unrest erupted in Eastern Ukraine, Crimea has found itself in the middle of an "information war" between Ukraine and Russia. It's a battle that has seen both countries tighten laws surrounding Internet access, use, and expression under the guise of quelling extremist sentiment. In late July, tension heightened when plans for an undersea fiber optic cable stretching from Russia to the newly-annexed Crimea were realized.
Internet.org, a partnership between Facebook and six mobile phone companies around the world, recently launched its first initiatives in Zambia. The project aims to give Internet access to those living in remote, underserved areas of the globe. That said, its launch has attracted heavy criticism – is this seemingly selfless move towards facilitating wider Internet access as idyllic as it sounds?
In this week's #IMWeekly: Brunei's netizens are finding their way around Sharia Law's free speech restrictions, a Cambodia-based blogger gets a heavy fine on dubious defamation charges, and Iraq starts filtering sites critical of the central government.
Bangladesh's Infoladies, a group of 56 women in their early twenties, are providing the nation's impoverished rural citizens with Internet connectivity. In a country that enjoys little in the way of widespread Internet access, the work of the Infoladies is allowing economically disenfranchised groups to gain access to information and resources that help them survive.