ICT policy

Coconet: What are digital rights?
Coconet: What are digital rights? 04 August 2020 Kathleen Azali for EngageMedia

While human rights have been more clearly defined through the UN Declaration of Human Rights the same cannot be said for the terms “digital”, “technology”, or the “internet”. In that sense, what are digital rights?

Civil society groups welcome Irene Khan as the new Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression
Civil society groups welcome Irene Khan as the new Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression 31 July 2020 Various

APC joined with other civil society organisations to congratulate and welcome Irene Khan to her new role as Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and to highlight some broad priority themes that require particular attention.

Open letter from human rights NGO coalition to the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism
Open letter from human rights NGO coalition to the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism 30 July 2020 Various

APC and 14 other organisations have joined together to send a public letter to the newly appointed Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT) Executive Director Nicholas Rasmussen to apprise him of threats to human rights posed by GIFCT.

KICTANet: Kenya’s burden – the effects of digital taxes on SMEs
KICTANet: Kenya’s burden – the effects of digital taxes on SMEs 30 July 2020 Mwenda Tevin Gitonga for KICTANet

The Kenyan government has introduced a digital tax programme that presents a challenge to pre-existing and new technology companies under the small and medium-sized categories (SMEs), which are the backbone of the country’s economy.

7amleh: Palestinian civil society coalitions call on Google to put Palestine on its maps
7amleh: Palestinian civil society coalitions call on Google to put Palestine on its maps 30 July 2020 7amleh - The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media

Palestinian civil society denounces Google Maps' digital discrimination against Palestinians, and urges Google to abide by international law and human rights standards including in the case of Palestine.

Joint statement welcomes the gains in advancing the rights of women and girls at the 44th session of the Human Rights Council
Joint statement welcomes the gains in advancing the rights of women and girls at the 44th session of the Human Rights Council 28 July 2020 Sexual Rights Initiative, Center for Reproductive Rights, Choice for Youth and Sexuality, Association of Women’s Rights in Development and Association for Progressive Communications

This joint statement welcomes the resolution on elimination of discrimination against women and girls adopted at this HRC session, which focuses on multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination faced by women and girls and the measures states should take to address the same issues.

Mexican Congress’ implementation of USMCA IP provisions threatens democracy and digital rights
Mexican Congress’ implementation of USMCA IP provisions threatens democracy and digital rights 22 July 2020 Various

An open letter by public interest organisations and individuals in reaction to the approval by Mexican Congress of sweeping changes to the federal copyright regime in implementation of the Agreement between United States-Canada-Mexico Free Trade Agreement (USMCA).

Policy reform: Working towards feminist transformation and change
Policy reform: Working towards feminist transformation and change 22 July 2020 Mariana Fossatti for GenderIT.org

The Feminist Internet Research Network intentionally seeks to go beyond research to impact on policy and advocacy. But what should a feminist approach to policy shifts encompass, specifically coming from the global South?

DEF: Low-cost connectivity solutions fostering openness in times of COVID-19
DEF: Low-cost connectivity solutions fostering openness in times of COVID-19 21 July 2020 DEF

Because of the pandemic, India has been under lockdown since March. What does this mean for rural communities, only 20% of whom have access to the internet? Community networks established by organisations like Digital Empowerment Foundation are bringing critical services to 100 villages of India.

Good news, bad news: A story of internet shutdowns in Togo and Ethiopia
Good news, bad news: A story of internet shutdowns in Togo and Ethiopia 20 July 2020 Juliet Nanfuka for CIPESA

Last month the Economic Community of West African States Community Court of Justice ruled that the 2017 internet shutdown in Togo was illegal. But barely a week later, Ethiopia initiated a nationwide shutdown, serving as a reminder of the persistent threat of internet shutdowns on the continent.

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