Statements and submissions
Countering cybercrime is a key challenge that requires international cooperation. However, the approach taken in the draft resolution “Countering the use of information and communications technologies for criminal purposes” is fundamentally flawed and would restrict the use of the internet for human rights, and social and economic development.
This report aims to outline the interruptions and their effects on certain social networks, mobile communications, websites and internet connections in the context of the recent national political crisis and social mobilisation in Ecuador in October 2019 against the austerity measures adopted as part of the agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The 14 civil society organisations supporting this statement, including APC, stress that cybersecurity includes the protection of human rights, and cybersecurity-related laws, policies and practices should not be used as a pretext to violate human rights.
As an organisation that has worked at the intersections of human rights and technology for nearly three decades and fully recognises the critical importance of ICTs for the fundamental right to protest, APC welcomes the focus of the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights on this topic.
Civil society organizations write to encourage Facebook, in no uncertain terms, to continue increasing the end-to-end security across its messaging services. Given the remarkable reach of Facebook’s messaging services, ensuring default end-to-end security will provide a substantial boon to worldwide communications freedom, to public safety, and to democratic values.
At the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) we are alarmed at the crackdown on Egyptian civil society, which has intensified over the past weeks amidst demonstrations calling for President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to resign. Among those arrested is blogger, software developer and activist Alaa Abdel Fattah, a friend of APC and key figure in the 2011 uprising.
Civil society organisations presented a joint statement at the 42nd Human Rights Council, noting significant outcomes and sharing recommendations for further consideration.
On 23 September 2019, APC participated in the Christchurch Call Leaders’ Dialogue at the UN General Assembly in New York as a member of the Christchurch Call Advisory Network.
APC has joined the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) and 130 organisations from around the world to set out the criteria that should be at the heart of the selection of the next UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders.
APC welcomes this opportunity to address the OEWG and participate in this informal dialogue with stakeholders. APC and its members are increasingly concerned about state security-centric approaches to cybersecurity policy and the exclusion of civil society from cybersecurity efforts.
Association for Progressive Communications (APC) 2022
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