India’s relentless campaign against dissent: Domestic repression meets a new technology‑driven opposition

A government confronting domestic dissent—from student protesters to the press—has intensified its pushback, targeting both opposition voices and independent journalism.

Recent revelations that the Electoral Commission purged roughly 130 million names from the voter rolls have sparked fresh waves of youth‑led marches back onto New Delhi’s streets.

While similar protests erupted last July, this round adds a distinct angle: coordinated attacks on media outlets and professionals.

Dozens of journalists and content creators have already been detained, assaulted, or disallowed from their workplaces. Yet tighter controls on critical reporting seem ineffective as a nascent generation mobilises to challenge the ruling agenda.

Contributors:
Saba Naqvi – Author and journalist
Smita Sharma – Multimedia journalist
Shyam Meera Singh – Founder, Strike Originals
Sushant Singh – Lecturer, Yale University

On our radar

Pakistan has declared a state of emergency in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after protests called for the release of former prime minister Imran Khan.

The administration responded with a familiar playbook: a strict media blackout, an internet shutdown, and the portrayal of protesters as rebels.

Reporter: Tariq Nafi

The rise of digital micro‑Bolsonaros

Although Jair Bolsonaro exited power more than three years ago, a charismatic cadre of young evangelical political influencers has filled the vacuum left behind.

Leveraging a legacy religious broadcasting infrastructure, these figures generate viral content that spreads rapidly across social feeds and galvanises supporters in ways old‑school politicians struggle to replicate.

The Listening Post investigates how Brazil’s evangelical online leaders are carving out a political space they hope to dominate.

Featured:
Anna Virginia Balloussier – Journalist, Folha De Sao Paulo
Caro Evangelista – Executive Director, Iser
Magali Cunha – Editor‑in‑chief, Berreia Project

Published On 18 Oct 2026

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