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.

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.

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.

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.

A mini-survey conducted by APC member Foundation for Media Alternatives in the Philippines revealed that more than half of those who have experienced some form of online violation did not do anything about it, showing that many still consider tech-related violence as trivial. To counter this situation, FMA takes action as a partner in APC’s project “End violence: Women’s rights and safety online.”

VOICE, an APC member in Bangladesh, denounces new legislation that will increase punishment for destroying computer data with malicious intent, transferring data without proper authority, hacking, and releasing vulgar and defaming information, thereby seriously endangering citizens’ right to privacy and human rights at large.

The APC network is enthusiastic about its newest member from India, SPACE Kerala. SPACE’s membership comes at a critical time when APC has renewed its commitment to implementing and promoting the use of Transformative Technologies. To mark this occasion and introduce SPACE, APCNews interviewed Executive Director Arun Madhavan.

Gender Based Violence project, implemented by the Open Institute, APC member in Cambodia, is nominated by an international jury of ICT experts to enter the next round of the 2013 World Summit Award (WSA) in the “e-Inclusion and Empowerment” category.