Friday, March 12, 2010

World Day Against Cyber Censorship

The World now celebrates World Day Against Cyber Censorship on 12 March. This event is intended to rally everyone in support of a single Internet that is unrestricted and accessible to all. It is also meant to draw attention to the fact that, by creating new spaces for exchanging ideas and information, the Internet is a force for freedom. However, more and more governments have realised this and are reacting by trying to control the Internet.

i marks the occasion by issuing its latest list of “Enemies of the Internet.” This list points the finger at countries such as Iran, China, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and Tunisia that restrict online access and harass their netizens. A list of countries that have been placed “under surveillance” for displaying a disturbing attitude towards the Internet is also released. Turkey and Russia are added to this list of countries "under surveillance".

Our web site awarded on 11 March the first “Netizen Prize”, with Google’s support, to the Iranian women’s rights activists of the Change for Equality (www.we-change.org) website. Journalist, blogger and activist Parvin Ardalan, one of the site’s founders, received the prize from French journalist Jean-Marie Colombani in a ceremony at the Paris headquarters of Google France. The prize recognizes an Internet user, blogger or cyber-dissident who has made a notable contribution to the defence of online freedom of expression.

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