G.

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"It is important to deconstruct such moral policing of the youth in this country..."

Social Media Platforms release India-specific transparency reports; Pakistan bans/unbans TikTok. Again; Looking at Pakistan's potential new media regulatory body.

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"It is only an insecure and authoritarian government that uses a pandemic to arrest cartoonists, journalists, and activists."

Bangladesh's Digital Security Act; Nepal Drafts its own social media rules; Pakistan Govt to review its Social Media Rules?

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"these tools of the state are, by design, not intended to protect citizens, especially women and other vulnerable groups”

Disinformation against Pakistan's feminist rallies; Pakistan bans TikTok (again).

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“block, delete, or modify published news anywhere in the country without judicial oversight”

India implements its own Digital Media Rules; Pakistan govt told to amend its Social Media Rules by April 2nd; Pakistan court grants bail in a blasphemy case.

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"I do not find any palpable reason for keeping a 22-year-old in custody"

As we covered in the last issue of the newsletter, the Indian government continues to be displeased with the international attention that the ongoing farmers’ protest– currently in its sixth month – has garnered in response to the government’s demands that Twitter block 250 accounts from being viewed in India.

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"...public order or for preventing incitement..."

India's internet shutdowns and blocking of social media get it unwanted attention from Rihanna et al; Myanmar blocks social media to quell dissent.

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"Subject to Surveillance"

Govt shuts down the internet over the Farmer’s Rally; IFF takes action against WhatsApp’s privacy policy; Is the PK govt 'ready' to review its Social Media Rules?; A Visual Story about our data.

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“I am keeping a record of everything. You are all being watched. Your activities are being closely monitored.”

India: WhatsApp feels the heat; Bihar's police wants criticism to be "constructive"; The Internet Freedom Foundation launches a "Zombie Tracker"; Nepal's PM & creeping surveillance.

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"Clearly, the 1973 law is designed to protect governmental privileges, rather than serve any public purpose..."

Electronic & 'new' media to be regulated under Sri Lanka's controversial Press Council Law; A Pakistani court hands out death sentences and prison time over alleged "blasphemy" on social media.

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"The social media rules are a very 19th century approach to a 21st century problem."

The PTA finds itself in court, and also goes after Wikipedia; India extends its internet shutdown in Kashmir; why Balochistan internet users should protect themselves online, and how.

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“It is part of a larger crackdown and criminalizing of opinions.”

Kashmir: internet shutdown gets extended, social media users are picked up & beaten up by police.

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"Let the people have information and let them judge the government.”

The Chief Justice of Pakistan's Islamabad High Court argues that the PTA's Social Media Rules violate constitutional rights to freedom of expression & information.