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In Plato's Apology, Chaerephon approached the Oracle at Delphi and asked whether anyone was wiser than Socrates. The Pythian priestess replied that there was no one wiser. Socrates was perplexed. [...]

A Russian bird group was deemed a "foreign agent." Ethiopian human rights organizations were forced to curtail their activities because of a government-imposed cap on foreign funding. In India, the Sierra Club was barred from receiving funding from abroad. Around the world, countries are burdening the ability of civil society organizations to receive cross-border philanthropy. This article presents the macro-political context underlying these restrictions. It then categorizes constraints, summarizes governmental justifications, and analyzes restrictions under international law. The final section summarizes conclusions and areas for further scholarship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we explore the connection between new technology and fundamental freedoms, specifically the rights to freedom of association and peaceful assembly. We examine how autocratic governments are increasingly targeting Facebook groups, social networks, and online communities - in other words, associational activities occurring on the Internet. We argue that many of these groups are protected "associations" under international law. We address the physical proximity argument, demonstrating that it is not required for individuals to meet in person in order to exercise their freedom of association. We also argue that the freedom of assembly protects groups that may not technically qualify as "associations" under international law. We recognize that this is not the first time international law has had to grapple with new technology. We consider, for example, the case of the photocopier - last century's great innovation to spread the written word. We examine the response of the Organization for Security Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in 1990, which provides a model for reaffirming fundamental freedoms in the digital age. We conclude by arguing that longstanding commitments require states to respect the exercise of fundamental freedoms enabled by new technologies, including the Internet, mobile networks, social media, and technologies arising in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the legal challenges to international philanthropy and the possible options to address such barriers. Legal barriers include substantial limitations on foreign grantmaking by tax-exempt entities, post-receipt procedural burdens like burdensome notification and reporting requirements, and prohibition on the types of activities which can be supported with foreign funding. The Council of Foundations and the Global Philanthropy Leadership Initiative Task Force (GLPI) have established illustrative solutions to the legal barriers such as developing tools to help foundations direct the legal environment for cross-border philanthropy, instituting principles for cross-border philanthropy, and programs concerning to disaster relief and the Millennium Development Goals.

The article discusses the typologies of constraints concerning the formation and activities of civil society organizations (CSOs), particularly in Egypt. Topics discussed include factors that affect the formation of CSOs, the restrictions of several counties to freedom of assembly such as Belarus, Malaysia and Uganda, and countries which have considered or enacted restrictive legislation affecting the formation and activities of CSOs.