Freedom of expression
Campaigning through websites, microblogging and other uses of technology help increase the membership and reach of associations and provide powerful ways to organise peaceful assemblies. This issue paper by Alex Comninos sheds a new light on how the internet impacts the exercise of the right to freedom of association and freedom of assembly.
A new law would essentially eliminate anonymity online, force companies to comply with government requests for user data, and put average internet users at risk of imprisonment. Access, APC and other ogranisations wrote an open letter to the Peruvian Congress.
In May 2012, APC supported participation in the 13th session of the UPR by members and networks from Ecuador, India, Brazil, South Africa and the Philippines, following stakeholder report submissions made in late 2011. Several governments expressed interest in internet-related issues, including the right to information, freedom of expression, and cybersecurity.
In the past months many liberal democracies, such as the USA and the United Kingdom, have adopted repressive measures and made clear attempts to the free and democratic participation of people online. In parallel, activists all around the world are using the internet and social networks to denounce these rights abuses and work together to create more just and efficient legislations.
As part of its work with the Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB), APC’s Connect Your Rights! project participated in the consultation process for the development of EU ICT sector guidance on protecting fundamental rights and freedoms. Drawing on recent research from the UN Special Rapporteurs on Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Association, APC discussed a number of rights rela...
Open Spectrum at AMC 2012 As governments and non-state actors find ways to restrict access to internet content and wireless connections to serve their own purposes, there is growing support for a human rights based approach to information and communication technology, and particularly the internet.
“The same rights that people have offline must also be protected online,” says an unprecedented resolution approved recently by the Human Rights Council.
Since 2007, freedom of expression on the internet has been compromised in Pakistan. The authorities started with blocking blasphemous content, went on to national security issues, then religious morality, and they are now targeting online content pertaining to minorities.
A collective that believes the internet should be an open and free space has agreed on some basic principles to start a global conversation: expression, access, openness, innovation and privacy. Join APC in supporting the declaration.
The Association for Progressive Communications is running three days of action this week – Wednesday, Thursday and Friday – as part of its Connect Your Rights! campaign. Help us spread the word that Internet Rights are Human Rights! with three simple actions for you and your friends can undertake.
Association for Progressive Communications (APC) 2022
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