HRW condemns 'censorship' at UN internet forum in Riyadh

15/2/2025 6:54

The Human Rights Watch researcher for Saudi Arabia said U.N. organisers of a major internet summit in Riyadh threatened to eject her from the event for mentioning a jailed Saudi teacher and later censored a video containing criticism of the kingdom.



More than 9,000 participants from 170 countries took part in the United Nations' Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in the Saudi capital in December to discuss "policies for a safe, inclusive and innovative digital future," according to the U.N.



Before the conference, activists criticised the U.N. for holding the IGF in Riyadh, saying the kingdom used such events to deflect attention from its human rights record and repression of free speech, especially online.