Earlier this week, together with Citizen Lab and the Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI), OutRight Action International issued a new report.
“No Access” documents widespread state-sponsored censorship of LGBTIQ websites in Indonesia, Malaysia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. It is an important new report to add to OutRight’s research repertoire because the ability to connect and communicate virtually is a lifeline for many LGBTIQ people around the world, especially where same-sex relations or transgender identities are criminalized, or active persecution takes place.
“No Access” shows an erosion of this crucial lifeline, noting in particular the resulting inability of LGBTIQ people to access information and connect with communities, while also impeding efforts of civil society to advocate for LGBTIQ equality. Specifically, the report shows that the highest blocking consistency is in Saudi Arabia (75%), and the highest number of blocked LGBTIQ sites (75 unique sites) is in Iran. The report also shows how website censorship takes place, and highlights LGBTIQ websites and apps not only being censored, but also used by authorities in Russia, Iran and Saudi Arabia to entrap LGBTIQ people.
“...when this propaganda law was adopted, the main goal was exactly to silence any public discussion about the LGBT community, or LGBT rights, or violations of LGBT rights, and basically all this censorship has created an atmosphere of fear.”
–'SZ', activist in Russia
LGBTIQ website censorship correlates to the level of hostility facing LGBTIQ people in these countries more broadly, and is indicative of a growing backlash against LGBTIQ equality on a global scale. Unlike other violations of the rights of LGBTIQ people, effective censorship requires collaboration of the private sector. As such, this report will inform not only OutRight’s advocacy work at the United Nations and with states, but also with private sector partners where relevant.
“So, in the end, we need to censor ourselves. Self-censoring is now our habit in order to keep some information on the table.”
- Lini Zurlia, Indonesia
A webinar to dive deeper into the findings and hear from those affected in more detail will take place on September 29, 2021. Register here.
