Security and privacy

EngageMedia's Pretty Good Podcast: AI and its role in COVID-19 responses
EngageMedia's Pretty Good Podcast: AI and its role in COVID-19 responses 15 July 2020 Sara Pacia

On the third episode of Pretty Good Podcast, ARTICLE 19 digital programme officer Vidushi Marda dissects the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the region’s response to COVID-19 and what the new applications of this technology mean for digital rights after the pandemic.

Joint civil society statement: Structural intervention is required to mitigate the racially discriminatory impacts of emerging digital technologies including AI
Joint civil society statement: Structural intervention is required to mitigate the racially discriminatory impacts of emerging digital technologies including AI 15 July 2020 Various

As widespread recent protests have highlighted, racial inequality remains an urgent and devastating issue around the world, and this is as true in the context of technology as it is everywhere else.

Open letter to request strong user privacy protections in the Philippines’ COVID-19 contact tracing efforts
Open letter to request strong user privacy protections in the Philippines’ COVID-19 contact tracing efforts 13 July 2020 Various

The Philippine government has launched an exposure notification application, StaySafe.ph, which aims to contain the pandemic in the country. While the effort is commendable, the importance of combating COVID-19 while protecting people’s individual freedoms cannot be emphasised enough.

Upholding human rights online in the context of COVID-19: APC statement at the 44th session of the Human Rights Council
Upholding human rights online in the context of COVID-19: APC statement at the 44th session of the Human Rights Council 29 June 2020 APC

APC submits this written statement ahead of the Human Rights Council's 44th session to express our concerns about the online human rights implications of states’ measures adopted to respond to the COVID-19 crisis.

Mask or muzzle: The impact of COVID-19 measures on digital rights in Kenya
Mask or muzzle: The impact of COVID-19 measures on digital rights in Kenya 29 June 2020 Francis Monyango

Upon the confirmation of the first COVID-19 case in Kenya, the government enacted various legislation to deal with the pandemic. While the measures were well intended, the manner in which existing laws have been implemented has caused some concern among civil society organisations.

Tackling gender-based cyber violence against women and girls in Malawi amidst the COVID-19 pandemic
Tackling gender-based cyber violence against women and girls in Malawi amidst the COVID-19 pandemic 28 June 2020 Donald Flywell Malanga

Gender-based violence against women and girls remains a global threat to the public health of women and girls during emergencies. As the COVID-19 pandemic deepens the economic and social stress, coupled with restricted movement and social isolation measures, gender-based violence against women and girls is increasing exponentially.

Rights organisation VOICE calls on Bangladeshi government to scrap repressive Digital Security Act
Rights organisation VOICE calls on Bangladeshi government to scrap repressive Digital Security Act 28 June 2020 VOICE

Rights and advocacy organisation VOICE expresses deep concern over the arrest of journalists, online activists, teachers, students, writers and cartoonists, among others, under the Digital Security Act 2018, and urges the Bangaldeshi government to scrap the law.

Video4Change: Recording a video podcast remotely using free and open-source software
Video4Change: Recording a video podcast remotely using free and open-source software 26 June 2020 King Catoy for EngageMedia

King Catoy, video lead at EngageMedia, breaks down the free/libre and open source (FLOSS) tools he used to record EngageMedia’s recently launched video podcast on digital rights in the Asia-Pacific region.

Brazilian disinformation bill threatens freedom of expression and privacy online
Brazilian disinformation bill threatens freedom of expression and privacy online 24 June 2020 Various

APC and other regional and global civil society organisations call on Brazilian legislators to reject the latest version of the bill and open a participatory discussion on how to respond to the challenges of disinformation while respecting Brazil’s international human rights commitments.

Rudi International: Respect for internet rights and freedoms during the COVID-19 pandemic
Rudi International: Respect for internet rights and freedoms during the COVID-19 pandemic 24 June 2020 Rudi International

Rudi International released an op-ed with the aim of drawing attention to the importance of access to the internet during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and to offer suggestions on how to ensure and enforce internet rights and freedoms.

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