Association for Progressive Communications

Internet for social justice and sustainable development

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For those of us who have access to it, the internet has become an essential part of our daily information and communication needs. However millions of people still do not have affordable, reliable or sufficient connectivity. APC believes the internet is a global public good. Founded in 1990, we are an international network and non-profit organisation that wants everyone to have access to a free and open internet to improve our lives and create a more just world.

What people say about APC / What the media says about APC

Gender peripheries of the Internet Governance Forum in Latin America

PERGAMINO 3 October 2013 (FF for GenderIT.org)

In August, the Sixth Regional Preparatory Meeting for the Internet Governance Forum took place in Argentina and showed that women are making headway in the Latin American forum. The involvement of young women in internet governance discussions about privacy and security and freedom of expression, gender analysis remains absent.

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Response to Pakistan's submission to the 24th Human Rights Council on the importance of multi-stakeholder Internet Governance

QUITO 1 October 2013 (Valeria Betancourt for APC)

During General Debate on the promotion and protection of all human rights, Pakistan, speaking on behalf of 10 other countries, expressed concerns regarding use and abuse of advanced surveillance technologies in serious violation of the right to privacy and international law. Bytes for All, Pakistan and APC commend those countries for their statement. At the same time, we are concerned about proposals to develop a new intergovernmental mechanism of internet governance.

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SPACE Kerala celebrates Free Software Day, bringing free computer training to rural Wayanad

26 September 2013 (APCNews)

APC member in India SPACE Kerala and the Ms Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSFR) are building a free-software-based, community computing centre in the rural village of Kolagappara.

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Southern Africa reclaims freedom of expression online

JOHANNESBURG 25 September 2013 (AG for APCNews)

On 20-21 September, the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) held a regional dialogue and workshop on “Freedom of expression in cyberspace” in Johannesburg. The event explored how to empower human rights defenders in Southern Africa using the internet. Discussion brought to light issues of intermediary liability, surveillance, human rights, and internet governance.

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APC at the African Internet Governance Forum in Nairobi

NAIROBI 23 September 2013 (APCNews)

The second African IGF is taking place in Nairobi, Kenya, from 24-26 September. APC is a sponsoring organisation and is holding a pre-event on on multi-stakeholder processes.

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NGOs at the Human Rights Council: Apply human rights law to state surveillance

GENEVA 20 September 2013 (APC)

Civil society organisations today called upon the members of the Human Rights Council (HRC) to assess whether national surveillance laws and activities are in line with their international human rights obligations.

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Trends in violence against women move online, pose complex challenges

18 September 2013 (FF for APCNews)

The International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT) is a network of 400 women working in television, film, radio and web-based journalism across 56 countries to overcome barriers by challenging gender-based stereotyping in the media. IAWRT Kenya chapter is partnering in “End violence: Women’s rights and safety online” along with Kenya-based partner KICTAnet. APCNews interviews Racheal Nakitare, IAWRT Kenya Chair.

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Call for Nomination for DEF's eNGO Challenge

JOHANNESBURG 18 September 2013 (APCNews)

The Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) and the Public Interest Registry call for nominations for the 2013 eNGO Challenge. The Challenge seeks to recognise, salute and honour best NGO practices using ICTs worldwide. The deadline has been extended to 25 September 2013.

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Cyber Martial Law year one: Full stop, no mere pause

16 September 2013 (PIFA)

The Philippine Internet Freedom Alliance (PIFA), integrated by APC member Foundation for Media Alternatives, released a statement in commemoration of the 1st year of the passage of the repressive Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 in the Philippines into law. PIFA is developing a week-long online campaign to make sure that netizens will not forget that even though the law was temporarily halted, vigilance should remain to ensure that the law is completely junked.

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APC at the 24th Human Rights Council

GENEVA 13 September 2013 (APC)

Against the backdrop of the recent Snowden revelations, APC and other civil society organisations are participating the 24th session of the HRC, which is taking place from 9-27 September 2013 in Geneva.

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Human Rights Council: Launch of international principles on human rights and surveillance

NEW YORK 12 September 2013

The event, co-organised by APC, will take place on Friday in Geneva. Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Frank La Rue, UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, will provide some introductory remarks.

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Call for applicants: Take Back the Tech! global campaign coordinator

6 September 2013 (APC)

APC is looking for a new project coordinator for its ground-breaking Take Back the Tech! Campaign. The position is a six-month, part-time contract to organise “16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence” from 25 November to 10 December, to raise awareness about tech-related violence against women, feminist practice and politics of technology, and secure online communications for women and girls.

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Open call for research participation in community networking

6 September 2013 (Pangea for APCNews)

APC member Pangea, as one of the founding partners of the CONFINE project, coordinated by the Technical University of Catalonia, announces a new open call for participation in a research project on community networking. Apply before 19 October 2013.

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Lavabit shuts up shop to avoid ‘big brother’ encroachments

JOHANNESBURG 5 September 2013 (Phil Mincher for APCNews)

Some email providers and other internet intermediaries have opted to shut down operations before “big brother’’ interferences gather more momentum.

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Paradigm Initiative for Nigeria and APC raise awareness in Nigeria on internet intermediary liability

ABUJA 5 September 2013 (Maureen Nwobodo for APCNews)

With the recent plans of the Nigerian legislature to introduce liability to internet intermediaries in the country, there is a strong need to create awareness amongst its citizens. To shed light on this matter, Maureen Nwobodo, APC’s Google Policy Fellow, interviews Mr. Gbenga Sesan, the Executive Director Paradigm Initiative for Nigeria (PIN).

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APC blog

Current projects

APC helps people get access to the internet where there is none or it is unaffordable, we help grassroots groups use the technology to develop their communities and further their rights, and we work to make sure that government policies related to information and communication serve the best interests of the general population, especially people living in developing countries. In all of our work we encourage people to network as a means of making other activities more sustainable. If people share their experiences and skills they have greater value over a longer period and often create a ripple effect.

Here are some of our current projects. Note: This is not a complete listing.

Communications rights ten years after WSIS: Civil society perceptions and policy advocacy

Abstract:
Ten years after the World Summit on the Information Society the promise of “a people centered, inclusive and development-oriented information society,” has not been fulfilled by the governments that committed to it. APC will bring together activists involved in the communications-rights campaign that shaped WSIS to assess the process.
End violence: Women's rights and safety online

Abstract:
Technology-related violence against women is increasing at an alarming rate – yet it expresses itself differently around the world. A new initiative by APC Women is helping women create safe and secure environments online in 7 different countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America.
Internet rights are human rights

Abstract:
Everyone has rights, including online. APC is documenting trends, lobbying for freedom of expression and to info in international forums and training human rights activists to use the internet securely.
Open access to spectrum for development

Abstract:
Wireless technology could radically transform the lives of millions of people living with poor connectivity — but only if the policy makes sense. Our research critiques the situation in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Policing the internet: Intermediary liability in Africa

Abstract:
There is an increasing trend to make internet intermediaries responsible and legally liable for policing the internet. Outside of South Africa the state of intermediary liability in Sub-Saharan Africa is not very clear and APC will conduct research in six country to assess the situation.

Latest publications

Featured publications

Practical Guide for Digital Switchover (DSO) in Cameroon

This guide was produced to help with the process of changing the underlying radio broadcast technology from the outdated analogue system to a system based on equipment capable of transmitting and receiving digital signals. It is aimed at groups and individuals implementing the DSO, including policy makers, regulators, telecommunications operators and service providers, and broadcasters and media professionals.
2013 IFLA Trend Report

The IFLA Trend Report is a collection of resources to explain how libraries fit into a changing society. The 2013 report includes the starter resource “Riding the Waves or Caught in the Tide?” APC’s Anriette Esterhuysen contributed to the report in a section titled “The vulnerability of new technologies to over-regulation.”
Communication rights ten years after the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS): Civil society perceptions

This GISWatch special report by the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) collates civil society perceptions of the changes that have taken place in the information and knowledge-sharing society over the last ten years, capturing the kinds of shifts that have been experienced by communications activists and stakeholders in a rich and nuanced way. The results respond to the opportunity provided by the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) +10 review, which will culminate in 2015.
Global Information Society Watch 2012

GISWatch 2012 explores how the internet is being used to ensure transparency and accountability, the challenges that civil society activists face in fighting corruption, and when the internet fails as an enabler of a transparent and fair society.
Going visible: Women’s rights on the internet

Women may not have been an active part of policy-making conversations when internet governance started, but the rapid pace of change online means they need to participate now to ensure that the future of the internet is shaped taking into account women’s rights. This paper was developed by the Women´s Rights Programme as part of the global thematic consultation “Addressing inequalities – The Heart of the Post-2015 Development Agenda and the Future We Want for All”.
GISWatch 2011 Special Edition 2

This publication is a follow-up to the 2011 edition of Global Information Society Watch (GISWatch), an annual report that offers a civil society perspective on critical emerging issues in information societies worldwide. The theme for GISWatch 2011 was internet rights and democratisation, with a focus on freedom of expression and association online.
GISWatch 2011 Special Edition 1

The 2011 edition of the Global Information Society Watch, titled “Internet Rights and Democratization: focus on freedom of expression and association online” has published the first in a series of updates on six country reports. This special edition contains updates from Argentina, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and South Africa as well as an introduction from the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Jillian York.
Communicating research for influence: Strategies and challenges for bringing about change

We designed this manual based on our success stories and challenges in communicating research for influence. We translated our knowledge and expertise into tips that other organisations or campaigners may find useful.
Impact 2.0: New mechanisms for linking research and policy

This publication is the result of the work done in the project Impact 2.0 between 2010 and 2011, coordinated by Fundación Comunica, supported by APC and financed by IDRC. From the participant projects, it can be concluded that the most successful uses of web 2.0 and online social networking to connect research and policy were those that involved the public in campaigns and consultations.
Freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association and the internet

Demonstrations in the middle-east and student protests in Chile or Quebec have shown that the internet can augment the capacity of citizens to form associations and organise protests. Campaigning through websites, microblogging and other uses of technology help increase the membership and reach of associations, provide powerful ways to organise peaceful assemblies online and on the streets. This issue paper by Alex Comninos sheds a new light on how the internet impacts the exercise of the right to freedom of association and freedom of assembly.