Freedom of expression
The undersigned organisations and activists firmly reject the violent repression, arbitrary arrests and use of surveillance technologies to intimidate, harass, persecute and silence defenders of human rights and nature in Ecuador in the context of the protests that started on 13 June 2022.
Governments and technology companies profit politically and economically from the vitriol, violence and attention that hate speech attracts. So people, and especially women and LGBTIQ+ people, have evolved responses and ways of hacking hate, through various means and forms.
Within the framework of the 41st cycle of the Universal Periodic Review of the United Nations (UPR), APC and Derechos Digitales want to draw attention to some relevant aspects for the exercise of human rights in the digital environment in Ecuador.
APC's priorities at this session of UN Human Rights Council include gender-based violence online, in particular the issue of gendered disinformation and violence against women journalists; freedom of expression and association; and the human rights impact of the tech sector.
Through the #challengehateonline campaign around 18 June, APC aims to spark discussions on the impacts and consequences of online hate speech on vulnerable communities as well as highlight stories of resistance from across the global South.
This report captures the first results of a project aimed at creating generative processes and spaces for discussions in Bangladesh around free speech and hate speech and their implications which could continue beyond the scope and timeline of the project.
As a visionary, Alaa was among the first to recognise the power of technology in uniting and mobilising people against unjust and oppressive states. The life and fate of Alaa is at stake, the United Kingdom Foreign Office must act now to save his life.
Our columnist reflects on five issues for the wider internet environment raised by Elon Musk’s planned acquisition of Twitter, including for human rights, freedom of expression and corporate accountability.
The APC network and staff reflect on some under-explored concerns about Elon Musk's buyout of Twitter that are not being highlighted and debated enough, indicating serious implications for freedom of expression and human rights online.
This joint submission to the 41st session of the UN Universal Period Review focuses on Brazil's fulfilment of human rights obligations in the digital context.

Association for Progressive Communications (APC) 2022
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