New Web site tracks government suppression of bloggers

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    Date: 
    20 November 2009

    An online tool that maps incidents of government suppression against bloggers and social media users called Threatened Voices launched November 3. The Web site, a project of free expression advocacy organization Global Advocacy Voices, provides information on incident locations and offers details about the blogger or social media user involved.

    Visitors to the site initially view a world map with red dots, varying in size and associated with a specific country, indicating incidents of suppression. As of November 9, China, Iran and Egypt claimed the greatest number of recorded incidents and, thus, the largest dots. China, with 34 documented incidents, is the foremost oppressor. Below the map, a timeline offers specific information on incidents, and colored labels represent the status of the blogger or social media user. Bloggers are categorized as: under arrest, threatened, deceased, released, or unknown.