Chinese smartphone maker OPPO has apologised after an advertising campaign sparked official criticism over a joke referencing “two husbands,” highlighting ongoing sensitivities in China around family values and social messaging in marketing. Read More: Stay A Step Ahead with the OPPO A3: Now Available Nationwide! The controversy began when OPPO posted a promotional message on the social […]
Censorship
Dhruv Rathee alleges India blocked viral satire reel
Indian YouTuber Dhruv Rathee has accused the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of blocking a viral satirical video under the Information Technology Act, raising fresh debate over online freedom of expression in India. Read More: Dhruv Rathee slams privileged’ neutrality after viral Oscar clip Rathee claimed in a social media post that his reel, which […]
Palestinian-owned UpScrolled emerges as censorship-free social media alternative
A new social media platform, UpScrolled, has rapidly risen in popularity, becoming the most downloaded app on Apple’s App Store in the US, UK, and Australia, and ranking eighth in Pakistan. The platform was created by Palestinian technologist Issam Hijazi, who built it in response to perceived censorship on mainstream platforms during the Israel-Gaza conflict. […]
Internet goes down across Iran amid nationwide protests
Iran is experiencing a near-total internet blackout as nationwide protests continue over economic hardships. Reports from web monitoring organisations indicated that connectivity dropped sharply on Thursday, leaving citizens largely disconnected from the outside world. Read More: Iran restricts internet access nationwide, blames ‘enemy misuse’ Cybersecurity researcher Amir Rashidi of the nonprofit Miaan Group said the country is facing […]
SHC dismisses plea seeking ban on animated film David
KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday dismissed a petition seeking a ban on the animated biblical musical film David (2025) for allegedly hurting Muslim religious sentiments. The plea was filed by Abdul Razzaq against the federal government, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), the film censor board, and others. Read More: ‘Love, Death […]
Trump administration expands H-1B visa vetting over censorship concerns
WASHINGTON: The Trump administration on Wednesday announced heightened vetting of applicants for H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers, with a focus on potential involvement in “censorship” of free speech, according to an internal State Department memo. Read More: Trump hints at stopping legal immigration to US H-1B visas, widely used by US tech companies to hire […]
Pakistan ranked ‘Not Free’ in global internet freedom report
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has been ranked 27th out of 100 countries and classified as ‘Not Free’ in terms of internet freedom, according to the latest report by US-based watchdog Freedom House. The report cited government measures to expand online censorship, including threats to block virtual private networks (VPNs) and amendments to the country’s cybercrime law that […]
YouTube deletes videos of Palestinian rights groups
YouTube has permanently removed all videos from three major Palestinian human rights organizations — Al-Haq, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) — The Intercept reported on Wednesday. The deletions came as part of the platform’s enforcement of U.S. government sanctions, which critics say are aimed at suppressing […]
‘X’ fights India’s online censorship
Elon Musk’s social media platform ‘X’ is locked in a fierce fight with India’s government over online censorship. The conflict began when a 2023 post on ‘X’ criticized a senior Indian politician, sparking police concern about potential communal tensions. India has since tightened control over the internet, allowing officials to order content removal directly from […]
‘The people’s messengers’: Myanmar’s satirical poets target censorship
In a classroom on the outskirts of Myanmar’s biggest city, a thin, bespectacled university student led about a dozen peers in boisterous chants of “Censorship is a shame!” and “We don’t believe in censorship!” It was the final rehearsal of a troupe performing “thangyat”, a centuries-old custom allowing free rein to satirise rulers and society […]