Thursday, June 19, 2008

Blogger Arrests Grow

Thirty-six bloggers were arrested worldwide last year, three times as many as in 2006, according to a University of Washington report. Since the university started keeping track in 2003, it has counted 64 arrests of Web writers unaffiliated with news organizations. Most were detained after blogging about protests or public policy, some for "violating social norms."

The report also notes that:

· In total, the arrested bloggers have served 940 months in jail.

· Half the arrests occurred in China, Egypt and Iran.

· Nine of Egypt's 14 known blogger arrests occurred in 2007, an election year.

SOURCE: University of Washington's World Information Access Report