The popular messaging app Telegram has carved out a special place in politically closed countries, thanks to its promise of providing secure communication along with public expressions of support for the rights to privacy and freedom of expression. As a result, it has become an attractive tool for dissidents, activists and civil society organisations, andContinue reading “The Tale of Telegram Governance: When the Rule of Thumb Fails”
Author Archives: Filterwatch
FATAwatch: July – September 2020
During the third quarter of this year (July to September 2020) Iranian authorities continued to restrict and violate the fundamental rights of Iranian internet users through continued arrest and prosecution. While Iran’s Cyber Police (FATA) and the Judiciary both played major roles in restricting and threatening online freedoms, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forcesContinue reading “FATAwatch: July – September 2020”
FATAwatch: April – June 2020
Major social media platforms, especially Instagram – one of the few international platforms still accessible in Iran – continue to be a target for Iranian authorities for yet another quarter. While millions of Iranians use Instagram and Telegram (with the help of circumvention tools) everyday Iran’s Cyber Police (FATA) with the help of the judiciaryContinue reading “FATAwatch: April – June 2020”
Digital Rights and Technology Sector Accountability in Iran
Our new report “Digital Rights & Technology Sector Accountability in Iran: The Case of Messaging Apps” examines the role of a frequently overlooked, but vitally important group of actors in the digital ecosystem of Iran: Iranian private-sector technology companies. From January to September 2020, Filterwatch worked with the technology and human rights research organisation TaraazContinue reading “Digital Rights and Technology Sector Accountability in Iran”
Digital Rights Workbook: Start the Conversation in your Company
Filterbaan and Taraaz Research’s report “Digital Rights & Technology Sector Accountability in Iran: The Case of Messaging Apps” uses an adapted version of the Ranking Digital Rights Corporate Accountability Index methodology to assess Iranian technology companies’ disclosure of how their policies and practices either uphold, or undermine the fundamental human rights of their users. ThisContinue reading “Digital Rights Workbook: Start the Conversation in your Company”
Bills, Bills, Bills: Upcoming Policy Challenges in Iran
A special edition of Filterwatch delves into the details of six proposed bills that may end up transforming Iran’s Filternet. A new Small Media report by Kaveh Azarhoosh and James Marchant