Community networks newsletter: 12 stories of people connecting themselves while defending the well-being of their communities 30 November 2023 By APC News

This month we want to highlight the first season of the Routing for Communities podcast – now completed and sharing 12 powerful stories of community networks around the world. Welcome to the 64th monthly round-up of developments impacting your local access networks.

Photo essay: How National Schools of Community Networks in five countries fostered collective self-determination 06 November 2023 By Daniela Bello and Débora Prado

The National Schools of Community Networks are a collective capacity-building effort for the creation and development of community networks in five countries. This photo essay provides a glimpse into the special journeys of local communities making change happen to bridge the digital divide.

Routing for Communities: New podcast episodes celebrate community networks in Thailand, Kenya and around the world 02 November 2023 By Débora Prado

In November we are launching the last two episodes of the first season of the Routing for Communities podcast! This month, we travel to Thailand and Kenya to discover inspiring stories of pioneering actions centred on local communities. 

Joint letter on several European governments’ decisions to suspend or review their funding to Palestinian and Israeli civil society organisations

Joint letter

Joint letter on several European governments’ decisions to suspend or review their funding to Palestinian and Israeli civil society organisations

In an open letter, APC and 99 other civil society organisations express serious concern at the EU and several European states‘ decision to suspend or review their funding to Palestinian and Israeli civil society organisations.

Joint civil society statement on outcomes of the UNGA 78 Third Committee

Joint statement

Joint civil society statement on outcomes of the UNGA 78 Third Committee

APC and other civil society organisations marked the conclusion of the UN General Assembly's 78th Third Committee session with observations on both thematic and country-specific outcomes, and urged all states to implement the commitments made during this session to their full extent.

APC's reflections on the 2023 Internet Governance Forum and suggestions for 2024

Submission

APC's reflections on the 2023 Internet Governance Forum and suggestions for 2024

This document summarises APC's reflections on the 2023 IGF in terms of what worked well and what did not work so well, in areas such as logistics, scheduling of sessions, challenges for onsite participation, and diversity and representation. It also offers recommendations for the 2024 IGF.

APC submission to the OEWG on developments in the field of ICTs in the context of international security 2021-2025

Submission

APC submission to the OEWG on developments in the field of ICTs in the context of international security 2021-2025

A gender approach to cybersecurity is a fundamental tool for policy that focuses on the human rights of people in cyberspace. But, most notably, it is a perspective that seeks to make cybersecurity responsive to the complex and differentiated needs of people when systems of oppression intersect.

When protection becomes an excuse for criminalisation: Gender considerations on cybercrime frameworks

Report

When protection becomes an excuse for criminalisation: Gender considerations on cybercrime frameworks

This exploratory report seeks to contribute to ongoing and future discussions concerning gender and cybercrime by providing concrete evidence of how national cybercrime laws have been used to silence and criminalise women and LGBTQIA+ people around the world.

APC condemns violence against Palestinians and demands protection of human rights for all

Statement

APC condemns violence against Palestinians and demands protection of human rights for all

APC condemns the violent attacks targeting Palestinian territories and stands with all the citizens of Palestine who have been experiencing settler colonialism, genocide, structural violence and grave human rights violations, today and throughout the last 75 years.

Civil society organisations call for tech companies to respect Palestinian digital rights in times of crisis

Joint statement

Civil society organisations call for tech companies to respect Palestinian digital rights in times of crisis

APC joins with other human rights and civil society organisations calling on tech companies to urgently address instances of online hate speech, incitement and violent discourse targeting Palestinians.

Joint Statement: Internet Governance Forum must reverse decision to make Saudi Arabia its next host

Statement

Joint Statement: Internet Governance Forum must reverse decision to make Saudi Arabia its next host

As a network of global, regional, and local civil society organizations we express our alarm regarding the eventual decision that the government of Saudi Arabia will host the next annual meeting of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF).

Policy explainers

Inside the Digital Society: AI hopes and fears 29 November 2023 David Souter

Our columnist wades into the polarising debates LLMs and AI have inspired this year about how they will change our lives for good and ill, and explores a question central to the international fora discussing the future of this technology.

Meta is silencing genocide 24 November 2023 Hija Kamran for GenderIT.org

Meta claims that it respects people's freedom of expression, but has historically been intentionally silencing Palestinian voices and those standing for Palestine. So how do we hold it accountable?

Will Starlink help magnify global inequality? 21 November 2023 Steve Song

The two main direct-to-consumer LEO satellite constellations, Starlink and Project Kuiper, are funded by the second and third wealthiest persons on the planet and represent global capitalism's end game. In the second of his two-part series, the author explains how they may not be viable and are certainly exclusionary, extractivist and technological colonialism at its worst. 

Columns

In this weekly column, longstanding associate of APC David Souter looks at different aspects of the digital society. Issues covered include internet governance and sustainable development, human rights and the environment, policy, practice and the use of ICTs.

How are APC members improving their communities' lives? In this section we're highlighting stories of impact and change by our members, supported by APC sub-granting.

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