International Annual Report 2019 Defending Freedom of Expression and Information around the World Economic inequalities continue to gape, discrimination continues unchecked, technology companies continue to hold extraordinary levels of power, and our environment continues to be degraded in the name of economic growth. Our need to know and understand, to refuse and to protest, are more urgent than ever – in this moment of history, the price of silence is higher than any of us can afford.” The Global Expression Report 2018/2019 Indigenous women take part in a protest against right-wing President Bolsonaro's environmental policies and the loss of their traditional settlements. Bolsonaro wants to make greater economic use of the Amazon region in particular and allow further deforestation. 13 August 2019, Brazil. (Photo: Tuane Fernandes/dpa) Contents Civic Space Digital Media Protection Transparency 6 From the Executive 30 #FreeToProtest 35 #SpeakingUp About Tech- 41 Social Media Councils: 47 Uniting for Protection: The 54 The World is Watching: Director: Quinn McKew /#LivreParaProtestar related VAW Protecting Freedom of Power of Coalitions Global Review of the RTI Expression in the “Online 7 From the Chair of 32 Unprecedented Progress 37 “Brazil’s GDPR” Finally 49 Solidarity with Journalists 55 Defending the Defenders in Public Square” the Board: Paddy on LGBTQI+ “Hate Speech” Passed in Turkey Latin America Coulter in Belarus 43 Media Plurality in Mexico 38 Punitive and Damaging: 50 “Offence Against Honour” 56 Kenya Sets a High Bar for 8 Global Expression Report 32 Raising Awareness of Bangladesh’s Digital 44 Building Consensus on Law Repealed in Hidalgo Data Protection in Africa 2018/2019 “Hate Speech” in Myanmar Security Act Media Self-regulation in 50 Lawsuit Against Polish 56 Making Information in South Sudan 11 Researching Rights 33 Documenting Censorship in 38 Iran: Internet Shutdowns Professor for Tweeting Tunisia Accessible to All Turkey Used Against Protesters 44 Tajikistan Questioned on 13 Law and Policy work 51 New Project to Safeguard 57 Putting Transparency at the Media Restrictions 33 Deepening Understandings 39 UN Intervenes in Myanmar Journalists in Bangladesh Heart of Gambian Reform 15 Legal Interventions of Freedom of Expression Mobile Internet Blackouts 45 New Law on Media 18 International Advocacy in Morocco Freedoms in The Gambia 23 “Women Know Best What Women Need”: Gender Programme Highlights 59 Governance Update 26 Campaign Update: 60 Our Donors #Missing Voices 61 Contact Us 28 Building Capacity and Sharing Resources A performance of “A Rapist in Your Women in El Paso chant "Ni una mas" More than 50,000 people joined the Save A Mark Zuckerberg figure with people in Protesters hold a banner during a march Protesters hold a banner during a march Path”, part of the feminist movement as they march in solidarity with women Your Internet demonstration in Munich on angry emoji masks outside Portcullis House for press freedom. Media groups and for press freedom. Media groups and ''The Thesis'', in Buenos Aires. The across Mexico who are fighting against 23 March 2019. Demonstrating against in Westminster, London, ahead of Mike journalists’ trade unions held a “Stop Police journalists’ trade unions held a “Stop Police performance was part of the global femicide and violence towards women. Articles 11, 12, and 13 of the copyright Schroepfer, Chief Technology Officer at Violence, Defend Press Freedom” silent Violence, Defend Press Freedom” silent cry of women against sexist violence Women's March (Photo: Mark Lambie/El reform, protestors fear an upload filter and Facebook, appearing before the Department march to demand the police facilitate the march to demand the police facilitate the that began in Chile following the armed Paso Times/Imagn/USA Today Network/ censorship. Critics also say the reform could for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport inquiry into work of news media and respect press work of news media and respect press forces’ abuses during the protests. Sipa USA) be bad for creatives. (Photo: Alexander Pohl/ fake news. (Photo: Victoria Jones/PA Archive/ freedom. The protest was called after freedom. The protest was called after (Photo: Carol Smiljan/NurPhoto/PA Sipa USA) PA Images, 26 April 2018) media professionals suffered aggressions media professionals suffered aggressions Images, 6 December 2019) and were insulted by police officers while and were insulted by police officers while covering the protests against the extradition covering the protests against the extradition law to China. (Photo: Ivan Abreu /SOPA law to China. (Photo: Ivan Abreu /SOPA Images/Sipa USA/PA Images) Images/Sipa USA/PA Images) From the Acting Executive Director: From the Chair of the Board: Quinn McKew Paddy Coulter As I look back at the fourth year of ARTICLE 19’s six-year These are extraordinary times, and in many ways extraordinarily Expression Agenda, I am struck by the bravery and dedication dark times. As the courageous Chinese artist and dissident Ai of those who strive to speak truth to power and the continued Weiwei recently reminded us, these are the times when we need to relevance of this Agenda to empower them. hold more than ever to common principles, freedom of speech and expression. We have made continuing, long-term commitments to work on some of the most intractable issues in difficult areas. For example, one of our countries of focus ARTICLE 19 seeks to promote these principles in solidarity with our regional affiliates, our is Turkey, which continues to be one of the most dangerous places in the world partners, and our donors. In combination with dedicated staff and Board members, this to be a journalist. Hundreds of journalists and others have been imprisoned makes for a formidable global alliance to meet formidable challenges. by a government that seeks control through repression of information, and any criticism of the state. Our 2019 Global Expression Report revealed that freedom of expression had reached its lowest point in a decade - and that was before the coronavirus pandemic struck, As I write, In 2017, we highlighted the pre-trial detention and trials of journalists Mehmet As the with certain governments exploiting the crisis to further repress free media and and Ahmet Altan, and the crackdown on the press by President Erdoğan. In 2018, information sharing. In face of increasing authoritarianism the need to check the the world is in ARTICLE 19 attended 70 hearings across 20 cases, increasing international courageous spread of mass surveillance and strengthen the right to have a voice and make a the midst of the media attention from The Guardian, Newsweek, and Human Rights Watch. We Chinese artist and protest is more urgent than ever. consequences of a worked in coalition with Turkish organisation P24, and others to bring a case to dissident Ai Weiwei the European Court of Human Rights challenging the basis of the detentions in In countering the spread of misinformation, “fake news” and conspiracy theories we global pandemic, Turkey. Judgement from the court affirmed that the detention of journalists was a has recently must continue to challenge heavy-handed and oppressive measures that some states and what many violation of human rights and silenced dissent. This set an important precedent reminded us, these adopt to stifle media reporting and the free flow of information. In addressing “hate are arguing is the for the other cases of 154 detained journalists in Turkey. are the times when speech” we must ensure that governments comply with international human rights standards, encouraging them to address the root causes of hate and replace state failure of states to Unfortunately, for Turkish journalists, the situation remains dire. In 2019, we need to hold censorship and criminal sanctions with solutions that emphasise social inclusion and make information following the re-arrest of Altan Ahmet on spurious grounds, ARTICLE 19 called for more than ever to media freedom. available to his immediate release and for his conviction to be quashed. We have continued to common principles stand alongside Altan – during his re-trial, intervening when his case returned to In the following pages we can see evidence from across the globe of significant “wins” citizens. The court, and raising his case in our submission to Turkey’s Universal Period Review, and freedom at country level, even in places like Belarus where ARTICLE 19 has helped achieve gap between in this on-going fight for justice. of speech and unprecedented progress on LGBTQI+ hate speech, and in Bolsonara’s Brazil where, powerholders and expression.” on ARTICLE 19 Brazil’s urging, a data protection law has been passed enshrining a Closely related to our work on protection is our fight to ensure transparency right to privacy. We have been able to apply pressure on social media companies, not citizens is stark by powerholders, which we consider an essential ingredient in holding them to least from ARTICLE 19’s #Missing Voices campaign (our first truly global campaign) for and inequalities account. In 2019, ARTICLE 19 Mexico’s digital archive, Archivos de la Represión greater transparency and accountability on content removals and for a right to appeal are visible to all. (Repression Archives), of the Mexican political police’s violations of human rights for users. And we have seen progress on ARTICLE 19’s proposals for Social Media from 1960 to 1985 won third place in the National Innovative Transparency Councils, which have been endorsed by the UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of The present crisis Awards. Expression. makes clear our 2019 saw massive progress in the protection of whistleblowers. This is crucial For the International Board, 2019 was a year of consolidation. Total income passed the work is more for all information of public interest about wrongdoing in the public and private £9 million mark for the second year in a row, at £9.6 million surpassing the 2018 total of necessary than sector.