Private sector has responsibility to protect the right to free expression
28 April 2016
(APC for APCNews)
As technology becomes increasingly pervasive in our daily lives, the policies of a broad array of private actors have an impact on freedom of expression in the digital age. APC welcomes the focus of the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression on the responsibilities of the ICT sector, and the opportunity to contribute to his study. While there has been significant focus on the impact of large, transnational companies, we wish to highlight other private actors whose human rights responsibilities are not as well understood.
Valeria Betancourt on the Ecuador Disaster Map: "The number of volunteers continues growing daily"
QUITO
26 April 2016
(APC for APCNews)
Over the past days, hundreds of people have used the Ecuador Disaster Map to report needs, requests and offers of help through text messages, email or the web, contributing to a crowdsourced map of the situation on the ground. APCNews spoke with Valeria Betancourt, head of the APC policy programme and one of the organisers of this initiative.
The government and the Association of Internet Providers block access to websites in Ecuador
14 April 2016
(APC for APCNews)
A leaked document shows that the Ecuadorian government of Rafael Correa in collaboration with the private sector has the technical ability, and the willingness, to block and censor websites throughout the national territory.
(2 votes)
Ending digital exclusion: Why the access divide persists and how to close it
JOHANNESBURG
13 April 2016
(APCNews)
In a new policy paper from APC, we unpack the underlying causes of limited connectivity, the shortcomings of current initiatives, and propose a set of policy responses to address the access gap.
(2 votes)
Joint statement to Brazilian congress: Drop dangerous cybercrime bills
1 April 2016
(Various)
In this statement, the undersigned gathered at RightsCon Silicon Valley 2016, express their concern with the recent attempts by Brazilian legislators to undermine the rights guaranteed by the Civil Rights Framework for the Internet and their objection to the serious and unacceptable setbacks being proposed by the parliamentary Inquiry Commission on Cybercrimes.
APC's reflections on the 2015 Internet Governance Forum: 10 years and looking forward
31 March 2016
(APC for APCNews)
In this report, APC reviews what worked well and what didn’t at the 2015 IGF held in João Pessoa, Brazil. The overall theme of the IGF was “Evolution of Internet Governance: Empowering Sustainable Development”. After a decade of active engagement with the forum, read our critiques, and recommendations looking forward to this year’s IGF.
APC condemns undermining of democracy in Brazil
29 March 2016
(APC for APCNews)
The Association for Progressive Communications expresses its concern at the rapidly unfolding political events in Brazil which constitute an attack on democracy and due process. We express solidarity with the people of Brazil in general and in particular with our friends and colleagues, including APC organisational member Nupef, the Brazilian Internet Steering Group (CGI.br) and the many Brazilian civil society organisations we work with.
EXLILA: What is the state of internet freedoms in Latin America?
28 March 2016
(APC for APCNews)
What is the state of internet freedoms in Latin America? That is the main question that our partners in Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico and Paraguay set out to answer, as part of the Examining Internet Freedoms in Latin America (EXLILA) project.
Updated: APC at RightsCon 2016
MONTREAL
23 March 2016
(Mallory Knodel for APCNews)
APC staff and members will be in San Francisco next week for RightsCon Silicon Valley. The schedule is overflowing with sessions on internet rights, 17 of which are ours!
(1 vote)
Digital convergence: Global trends in broadband and broadcast media concentration
18 March 2016
(Mike Jensen for APCNews)
Advances in the use of ICTs have huge potential to offer better access to information and more freedom of expression, but these technology advances are also leading to growing consolidation and cross-ownership of electronic media platforms, built on the convergence of broadcast and broadband media.
Design for a feminist internet (PDF)
MONTREAL
17 March 2016
(Mallory Knodel for APCNews)
The Feminist Principles of the Internet is a document that articulates feminist analysis around crucial tech‐related topics such as privacy, data, anonymity, online violence, and access. We are looking for a graphic designer to inspire our ongoing campaign.
CIPESA: "The African Declaration is key to reach a common understanding of online rights policy"
15 March 2016
(APC for APCNews)
“A fundamental challenge in the digital age is how to protect human rights and freedoms on the Internet, and the African continent is no exception.” To know more about the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms, APC has talked to CIPESA, an organisation that works in promoting effective and inclusive ICTs in Africa.
Balancing rights and interests: Best practices to counter online abuse and violence
11 March 2016
(Flavia Fascendini for GenderIT.org)
The IGF Best Practice Forum on Online Abuse and Gender-Based Violence Against Women took place in Joao Pessoa, Brazil in November 2015. Representatives of civil society, academia and the private sector went through some of the key highlights and recommendations from the BPF but opened it up at different junctures for inputs and responses.
At the Internet Freedom Festival: "Political expression, minorities, human rights defenders are under threat in Pakistan"
VALENCIA
9 March 2016
(APC for APCNews)
“Political expression, minorities, human rights defenders, journalists are under threat in Pakistan.” This was the message stressed at the beginning of a session organised by Bytes for All, Pakistan, on the state of surveillance and censorship in the country, at the Internet Freedom Festival in Valencia, Spain.
(2 votes)
Submission in advance of the consideration of the periodic report of South Africa, Human Rights Committee
7 March 2016
(Privacy International, Right2Know, and the Association for Progressive Communications)
Privacy International, Right2Know, and the Association for Progressive Communications have on-going concerns on the practices of surveillance by South African intelligence and law enforcement agencies. In this submission, the organisations provide the Committee with additional, up to date information to that contained in the briefing submitted to the Committee in April 2015.
