Society 12:17 05/11/2019 Armenia

Armenia leads Eurasia in Freedom on the Net 2019 report

Armenia has been recognized as the Eurasian leader in the annual Freedom on the Net 2019 report by Freedom House independent human rights watchdog. 

Armenia ranks 8th on the report, surpassing not only its neighbors, but also Japan and South Korea, the Voice of America’s Armenian service reported.

Freedom on the Net is a comprehensive study of internet freedom in 65 countries around the globe, covering 87 percent of the world’s internet users. It tracks improvements and declines in internet freedom conditions each year.

The report’s methodology includes three categories: obstacles to internet access, limits on content and violations of user rights, which tackles surveillance, privacy, and repercussions for online speech and activities, such as imprisonment, extralegal harassment, or cyberattacks.

This year’s report is entitled “The Crisis of Social Media” since, according to its authors, “repressive regimes, elected incumbents with authoritarian ambitions, and unscrupulous partisan operatives have exploited the unregulated spaces of social media platforms, converting them into instruments for political distortion and societal control.”

“While social media have at times served as a level playing field for civic discussion, they are now tilting dangerously toward illiberalism, exposing citizens to an unprecedented crackdown on their fundamental freedoms. Moreover, a startling variety of governments are deploying advanced tools to identify and monitor users on an immense scale. As a result of these trends, global internet freedom declined for the ninth consecutive year in 2019,” the report read.

Of the 65 countries assessed over the past year, in a record 47 countries, law enforcement arrested people for posting political, social, or religious speech online; 40 countries featured advanced social media surveillance programs; and in 38 countries, political leaders employed individuals to shape online opinions, which was also a record high.

Some 33 countries have been on an overall decline since June 2018, compared with 16 that registered net improvements. The biggest score declines took place in Sudan and Kazakhstan followed by Brazil, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe.

Iceland became the world’s best protector of internet freedom, having registered no civil or criminal cases against users for online expression during the coverage period.

As costs for surveillance technology declines, more and more government bodies are starting to employ that technology “with little oversight or accountability,” according to the report.

Digital surveillance, which benefits from processes like machine learning, vastly increases the scope and capabilities of government surveillance — and the risks of abuse. The 40 countries in the study that have instituted advanced social media surveillance programs are home to 89 percent of internet users, or nearly 3 billion people.

Armenia, along with Argentina, Canada, Estonia and Iceland, is on the list of 5 unique countries which have taken no steps to restrict internet platforms. The reports of the previous years, expect the 2017 report, also ranked Armenia as a free country, however Armenia placed 8th on the Freedom on the Net report for the first time. 



Source Panorama.am
Share |
Տեքստում սխալ կամ վրիպակ նկատելու դեպքում, ուղարկեք խմբագրին հաղորդագրություն` նշելով տվյալ սխալը, այնուհետև սեղմելով Ctrl-Enter:

Newsfeed

17:19
Pashinyan could recall CSTO after Aliyev's remarks, top Russian official says
Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev claims that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan could recall the...
16:46
Over 137,000 people evacuated amid Los Angeles wildfires
At least five wildfires are raging in Los Angeles - the two largest cover more than 27,000 acres and are 0% contained, BBC News reports....
16:30
Fog expected to hits some parts of Armenia
Dry weather is expected in Armenia's regions on Thursday and over the next few days. No precipitation is forecast for the capital...
16:05
Kremlin doubts Armenia can be member of both EU and EAEU
Armenia can hardly be a member of both the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a...
15:36
MP calls for int'l action to prevent Azeri aggression against Armenia
Opposition lawmaker Tigran Abrahamyan has warned that Azerbaijani is planning fresh aggression against Armenia, calling on international actors...
15:00
Russia to continue building relations with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kremlin says
Moscow is committed to peace, stability, and security in the Caucasus and will continue to strengthen relations with both Baku and Yerevan,...
14:38
Expert: Armenian leadership lacks 'plan B' for possible war
Political analyst Suren Sargsyan has called out the Armenian authorities for failure to handle security challenges facing the country....
14:06
Catholicos Aram I closely following California wildfire crisis
In recent hours, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia has reached out multiple times to the Prelate of the Western...
13:36
US refrains from commenting on strategic partnership with Armenia for now
The United States “has nothing to comment on or announce at this point” regarding the potential signing of a strategic partnership...
13:08
Armenian government backs EU accession bid
The Armenian government has expressed support for a legislative initiative to launch a process for the country’s accession to the European...
12:36
Baku TV again falsely presents ancient Armenian church as Azerbaijani heritage
A pro-government TV channel in Baku has once again falsely presented the 7th-century Armenian monastery of Harichavank as part of...
12:00
Lucas Zelarayán returns to Belgrano
Belgrano de Córdoba has officially announced the return of Lucas Zelarayán after weeks of uncertainty, during which the club...
11:45
Fog hits Armenian town
The Rescue Service has warned drivers of a road closure in Armenia as of  Thursday morning. In particular, the road...
11:33
Hobart International: Elina Avanesyan through to semifinals
Armenian Elina Avanesyan, the No 6 seed, advanced to the last four of the Hobart International after American Amanda Anisimova, the No 3 seed,...
11:22
Armenian school destroyed in California wildfires
As the windstorm wreaking havoc across Los Angeles County continues to rage, its devastating impact has left thousands homeless, evacuated,...
17:07
Screen Actors Guild Awards cancel live nominations due to Los Angeles wildfires
The Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAG) nominations have cancelled an in-person announcement planned for today due to devastating wildfires and...
16:53
Ex-ombudsman urges escape from Armenian government's 'propaganda trap'
Former Armenian Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan has warned of existential threats facing Armenia following Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s...
16:11
Iran's top security official to visit Armenia after Azerbaijan tour
The secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) has arrived in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, for political and security...
15:33
Aliyev, an aggressor, demands human behavior from others
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev seems to be rapidly "thriving" in his rhetoric. His brazen comments, especially after the...
14:34
Human metapneumovirus causes relatively mild symptoms, WHO says
“Amid reports of rising wintertime respiratory infections in China – including human metapneumovirus – and the impact on...
14:07
Armenian deputy sports minister resigns
Armenia’s Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan on Wednesday confirmed the resignation of her deputy,...
13:30
Pashinyan responds to Aliyev
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan responded to the latest statements by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in an interview with...
13:16
Meta ends fact-checking on Facebook, Instagram
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Tuesday the social media giant was rolling back the use of third-party fact-checkers on its platforms, starting...
13:05
Armenian, Azeri border commissions to hold fresh talks soon
The Armenian and Azerbaijani border delimitation commissions, led by the deputy prime ministers of the two countries, will hold a new round of...
12:36
Aliyev's threats against Armenia should serve as a 'wake-up call', politician warns
Opposition politician Eduard Sharmazanov has warned that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s fresh threats against Armenia should serve...
12:05
Hobart International: Elina Avanesyan advances to quarterfinals
Armenian Elina Avanesyan, the No 6 seed, defeated Belgian qualifier Greet Minnen 6-2, 6-2 to move into the quarterfinals of the WTA...
11:30
Rescuers in Armenia free 4 stranded vehicles in one day
The crisis management centers of Kotayk and Aragatsotn Provinces received reports of vehicles trapped on several roads in Armenia over the past...
11:20
Lladro produces 'Karabagh Horse' porcelain figurines as propaganda for Azerbaijan
By Harut Sassounian www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com Regrettably, the only things that matter in this world are money and power. All the...
11:11
Trump says meeting with Putin possible after inauguration
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has said again that he is eager to see negotiations with Russia on ending the war in Ukraine begin soon after...
17:00
Winter military draft kicks off in Armenia
The winter conscription for compulsory military service commenced in Armenia on Tuesday. A solemn ceremony was held at the Sardarapat...

Follow us and get updates!

Most popular articles

{"core.blocks.header.spell_message1":"Selected mistake: ","core.blocks.header.spell_message2":"Send a message about the mistake?"}