CJFE regularly sends letters of concern to authorities in countries around the world - including Canada - where free expression violations have occurred and which warrant particular attention on behalf of CJFE and other like-minded groups. Click on the links below to view the alerts we have released. Alerts do make a difference - and, in some cases, can save lives of imperiled journalists. If you wish to write alerts in support of press freedom around the world, we have some tips and instructions, or contact us at cjfe [at] cjfe.org for further enquiries.
CJFE concerned by Russian ban on digital security technologies and VPNs
CJFE is deeply concerned by the recent Russian ban on technologies that facilitate access to an open internet and communication tools that allow for private online conversations. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed new legislation on July 29 that makes it illegal to access proxy servers and Virtual Private Networds (VPNs), which reroute internet traffic so that users can circumvent state-censored content and avoid surveillance. These measures will come into effect on November 1, a few months before Vladimir Putin will be seeking re-election for another six-year term.
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CJFE condemns Israeli plans to close Al Jazeera
CJFE condemns the government of Israel’s plans to revoke media credentials from Al Jazeera journalists, close the network’s office in Jerusalem, and pull broadcasts from local cable and satellite providers. The move is an unacceptable assault on press freedom in Israel and an implicit threat against any critic of government policy.
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CJFE condemns MP's denouncement of media as 'fake news'
CJFE condemns Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke Member of Parliament (MP) Cheryl Gallant’s use of the terms ‘fake news,’ ‘elite-stream media’ and ‘media-splaining’ to denounce Canadian media in a July 10 video posted on Facebook. In the video, she hosts a “news” broadcast for a fictional network Gallant Night News (GNN), claiming the broadcast is “live from Parliament.” The graphics and screen text are obviously intended as a parody of the US-based CNN.
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Solidarity with Human Rights Defenders in the Middle East and North Africa
CJFE joins our international allies to declare full solidarity with human rights defenders and prisoners of conscience in various countries of the MENA region detained for their peaceful and legitimate activities defending and promoting freedom of expression, and to call for their immediate release.
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Global coalition demands “Five Eyes” protect encryption
CJFE joins 83 organizations and individuals from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States demanding that our governments defend strong encryption. The letter comes on the heels of a meeting in Ottawa of the ministers responsible for the “Five Eyes” intelligence agencies.
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Press Defenceless: House Fails to Pass Shield Bill
Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) is disappointed that the House of Commons failed to pass Bill S-231, the Journalistic Source Protection Act, before rising for summer recess. By failing to pass the bill now the House has missed a crucial chance to taken a stand for press freedom, and to extend badly-needed protections to confidential sources. Its swift passage needs to be a priority when MPs return in the fall.
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