**Many governments have used the internet to curtail freedom of expression at home, says the US state department in its latest annual human rights report.**In many cases, new forms of electronic communications are restricted to control domestic dissent, it says.
The wide-ranging report also highlights continuing human right violations in China against the Uighurs or extra-judicial killings in North Korea.
Iran’s human rights record had “degenerated” after the June elections.
The report pointed out that the “government of China increased its efforts to monitor internet use, control content, restrict information, block access to foreign and domestic websites, encourage self-censorship, and punish those who violated regulations”.
Election blocking
It said the government employed thousands of people at all levels of political life to monitor electronic communications.
“The government at times blocked access to selected sites operated by major foreign news outlets, health organisations, foreign governments, educational institutions, and social networking sites, as well as search engines, that allow rapid communication or organisation of users.”
Iran was another country which cracked down on websites such as Facebook and Twitter, the report said.
“Ahead of the June presidential election, on the actual day of election, and during the 27 December Ashura protests, when authorities detained 1,000 individuals and at least eight persons were killed in street clashes, the government blocked access to Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites,” it said.