Human rights and ICTs

Rich white boys’ takeover of spaces of organising: Should you stay or should you go?
Rich white boys’ takeover of spaces of organising: Should you stay or should you go? 10 November 2022 Nyx McLean for GenderIT.org

As rich white men like Elon Musk own and control online platforms, these spaces are becoming more and more unwelcoming for queer and marginalised people. As individuals who have made and found communities in these spaces, should we leave our place on platforms like Twitter?

Digital authoritarianism in Bangladesh: Weaponising a draconian law to silence dissent in the pandemic era
Digital authoritarianism in Bangladesh: Weaponising a draconian law to silence dissent in the pandemic era 10 November 2022 Zayed Siddiki

The COVID-19 pandemic provided the government with pretext to censor free speech, harass critics, and effectively curb dissent – accelerating what has been an ongoing turn towards authoritarianism in Bangladesh.

Alaa Abdel-Fattah’s life at serious risk: Demand Egypt to immediately release him now!
Alaa Abdel-Fattah’s life at serious risk: Demand Egypt to immediately release him now! 09 November 2022 Various

APC and dozens of other organisations are calling on Egypt to immediately release human rights defenders Alaa Abdel-Fattah, Mohamed el-Baqer, Mohamed “Oxygen” Ibrahim Radwan and all those arrested and detained solely for exercising their rights.

Affordable connectivity and privacy violations plague Zimbabwe
Affordable connectivity and privacy violations plague Zimbabwe 08 November 2022 Otto Saki and Nompilo Simanje

There are several factors, some legal, some political and some economic, that continue to impact the exercise of rights online in Zimbabwe, particularly free expression, the right to privacy and access to information.

Celebrating 15 years of GISWatch: "A unique and relevant resource for information and advocacy"
Celebrating 15 years of GISWatch: "A unique and relevant resource for information and advocacy" 04 November 2022 Helen Belcastro

The fourth installment examines how the initial support for GISWatch led to a strong and impactful collaboration with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.

Unpacking human rights and safety challenges and concerns in Ethiopia in the context of the 2022 global IGF
Unpacking human rights and safety challenges and concerns in Ethiopia in the context of the 2022 global IGF 02 November 2022

CIPESA and APC collaborated to provide an opportunity for the internet governance community to learn about and discuss the human rights and media freedom situation in Ethiopia, where this year’s global Internet Governance Forum will be held, from 28 November to 2 December 2022. This document summarises the key points that emerged from the conversation.

Navigating identities: Experiencing online violence as a Shia woman in Pakistan
Navigating identities: Experiencing online violence as a Shia woman in Pakistan 29 October 2022 Zoya Anwer for GenderIT.org

Shia Muslims are constantly at risk of being targeted with violence online and offline for their religious belief. And when Shia women and queer folks go online, they find themselves at risk of being targeted with abuse from multiple fronts as their two identities combine.

India’s Draft Telco Bill empowers governments to impose internet shutdowns
India’s Draft Telco Bill empowers governments to impose internet shutdowns 27 October 2022 Various

APC and the other signatories of this open letter urge the Department of Telecommunications to withdraw the Draft Indian Telecommunication Bill and to prepare a new rights-respecting version, in consultation with stakeholders.

International coalition calls for withdrawal of Draft Indian Telco Bill: Provisions threaten end-to-end encryption
International coalition calls for withdrawal of Draft Indian Telco Bill: Provisions threaten end-to-end encryption 27 October 2022 Various

APC and the other signatories of this open letter stress that India – as the world’s largest democracy, and second largest base of internet users – has an opportunity to draft an exemplary legislation that ensures the protection of human rights in the digital age.

Celebrating 15 years of GISWatch: "The making of a committed, exciting and influential voice in the information society wildnerness"
Celebrating 15 years of GISWatch: "The making of a committed, exciting and influential voice in the information society wildnerness" 26 October 2022 Y. Z. Ya’u

This third installment Global Information Society Watch (GISWatch) 15th anniversary series explores reflections of what it means to write for this long-running project with Y. Z. Ya'u, a long-time Nigeria-based contributor to the report.

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