Asia

Digital authoritarianism in Bangladesh: Weaponising a draconian law to silence dissent in the pandemic era
Digital authoritarianism in Bangladesh: Weaponising a draconian law to silence dissent in the pandemic era 10 November 2022 Zayed Siddiki

The COVID-19 pandemic provided the government with pretext to censor free speech, harass critics, and effectively curb dissent – accelerating what has been an ongoing turn towards authoritarianism in Bangladesh.

Navigating identities: Experiencing online violence as a Shia woman in Pakistan
Navigating identities: Experiencing online violence as a Shia woman in Pakistan 29 October 2022 Zoya Anwer for GenderIT.org

Shia Muslims are constantly at risk of being targeted with violence online and offline for their religious belief. And when Shia women and queer folks go online, they find themselves at risk of being targeted with abuse from multiple fronts as their two identities combine.

India’s Draft Telco Bill empowers governments to impose internet shutdowns
India’s Draft Telco Bill empowers governments to impose internet shutdowns 27 October 2022 Various

APC and the other signatories of this open letter urge the Department of Telecommunications to withdraw the Draft Indian Telecommunication Bill and to prepare a new rights-respecting version, in consultation with stakeholders.

International coalition calls for withdrawal of Draft Indian Telco Bill: Provisions threaten end-to-end encryption
International coalition calls for withdrawal of Draft Indian Telco Bill: Provisions threaten end-to-end encryption 27 October 2022 Various

APC and the other signatories of this open letter stress that India – as the world’s largest democracy, and second largest base of internet users – has an opportunity to draft an exemplary legislation that ensures the protection of human rights in the digital age.

A COVID-19 power grab: Looming digital authoritarianism in Indonesia
A COVID-19 power grab: Looming digital authoritarianism in Indonesia 25 October 2022 Damar Juniarto

In Indonesia, a rise in hard-line approaches to governance is heralding looming authoritarianism. The COVID-19 pandemic has provided the government there with the opportunity to further accelerate digital authoritarianism through online surveillance, censorship and online manipulation.

This is how I would redesign data governance. How would you?
This is how I would redesign data governance. How would you? 21 October 2022 Zana Fauzi

Inspired by a participant question raised at the recent Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum (APrIGF), this digital justice researcher attempts an answer with five suggestions and poses an amended question for us all. 

Lack of a data protection law puts Indian abortion seekers at risk
Lack of a data protection law puts Indian abortion seekers at risk 10 October 2022 Jasmine George and Rohini Lakshan​​é for GenderIT.org

India recently withdrew its data protection bill, putting the data of over a billion people at risk. This article explores how lack of data protection puts abortion seekers at particular risk in a society that rejects abortions.

Local Access: How communities are weaving connectivity to defend the environment and their rights
Local Access: How communities are weaving connectivity to defend the environment and their rights 29 September 2022 APCNews

Welcome to the 51st monthly round-up of developments impacting your local access networks and community-based initiatives.This month, we look at people shaping connectivity and communications technologies in support of other missing fundamental rights and much more.

Jac sm Kee
Jac sm Kee 19 September 2022

Jac sm Kee is a feminist activist working at the intersection of internet technologies, social justice and collective power. Jac’s activism includes sexuality and gender justice, feminist movement building in a digital age, internet governance, open culture and epistemic justice. Jac is located within these movements at hyperlocal, networked and global levels. Amongst stuff Jac is proud o...

Mirror, mirror on the phone: How social media beauty filters impact South Asian women
Mirror, mirror on the phone: How social media beauty filters impact South Asian women 15 September 2022 Areej Akhtar for GenderIT.org

Young women in South Asia struggle with the society's obsession with fair skin and Eurocentric features all their lives, so beauty filters on social media apps have been providing them what many home remedies have failed to offer. But how are these tech solutions impacting their self-esteem?

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