Crackdown on media freedom in North Africa Western Asia
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This week we bring you updates from Egypt, Nigeria, Myanmar and Iran. Across the North Africa Western Asia (NAWA) region, crackdown on free speech and media freedom has intensified, posing an important risk on the health of the information ecosystem in these countries. In Egypt, three staff members of the Egypt Initiative for Protective Rights (EIPR) were arrested and are currently being investigated under bogus charges of “joining a terrorist organization” as well as “spreading false news,” proving that authoritarian governments will use vague and draconian laws under the guise of fighting misinformation as a tool to crack down on civil society and political activists. In Lebanon, the government was the only country refusing to sign the Global Media Freedom Coalition statement calling for ensuring journalists’ safety and media freedom. We will continue to track and share issues related to freedom of speech, media independence and online misinformation.
Crackdown on media freedom in North Africa Western Asia
Crackdown on media freedom in North Africa…
Crackdown on media freedom in North Africa Western Asia
This week we bring you updates from Egypt, Nigeria, Myanmar and Iran. Across the North Africa Western Asia (NAWA) region, crackdown on free speech and media freedom has intensified, posing an important risk on the health of the information ecosystem in these countries. In Egypt, three staff members of the Egypt Initiative for Protective Rights (EIPR) were arrested and are currently being investigated under bogus charges of “joining a terrorist organization” as well as “spreading false news,” proving that authoritarian governments will use vague and draconian laws under the guise of fighting misinformation as a tool to crack down on civil society and political activists. In Lebanon, the government was the only country refusing to sign the Global Media Freedom Coalition statement calling for ensuring journalists’ safety and media freedom. We will continue to track and share issues related to freedom of speech, media independence and online misinformation.