Access Now

Access Now defends and extends the digital rights of users at risk around the world. By combining innovative policy, global advocacy, and direct technical support, it fights for open and secure communications for all. Access Now is a supporter of APC's African School on Internet Governance (AfriSIG).

"We will observe the evaluation and preparatory trial hearing of the Ola Bini case"
"We will observe the evaluation and preparatory trial hearing of the Ola Bini case" 02 December 2020 Various

Ola Bini is a computer expert and human rights defender facing a political-judicial process in Ecuador since April 2019. The undersigned Ecuadorian and international civil society organisations have set up a mission to observe the preparatory hearing and trial evaluation of 3 December 2020.

Consumer and digital rights groups call on the international joint initiative on e-commerce to safeguard data protection and privacy
Consumer and digital rights groups call on the international joint initiative on e-commerce to safeguard data protection and privacy 16 November 2020 Various

This joint statement calls on countries participating in the WTO negotiations on global rules to make it easier for consumers and companies to trade online to design a deal that puts people at its the centre and fully protect their rights.

Letter of intent for engagement with the UN Secretary General's digital cooperation efforts
Letter of intent for engagement with the UN Secretary General's digital cooperation efforts 22 October 2020 Various

The coalition of civil society groups undersigned are committed to supporting the implementation of the vision in which “all stakeholders play a role in advancing a safer, more equitable digital world, one which will lead to a brighter and more prosperous future for all.”

Collective statement to urge the government of Jammu and Kashmir to restore high speed internet
Collective statement to urge the government of Jammu and Kashmir to restore high speed internet 13 August 2020 Various

The repeated instances of internet shutdowns and degradation of network services are causing immense harm to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. We urge the government of the Union Territory and associate government authorities to restore high speed internet access in the region.

#IWantALetter: Take action to demand that Egyptian authorities provide information updates on their response to the pandemic in prisons
#IWantALetter: Take action to demand that Egyptian authorities provide information updates on their response to the pandemic in prisons 12 August 2020

Family members and lawyers have a right to communicate with their loved ones and clients at all times, but particularly during a pandemic. The public also has a right to information on measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 inside prisons. These are the reasons behind the #IWantALetter campaign.

Civil society groups welcome Irene Khan as the new Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression
Civil society groups welcome Irene Khan as the new Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression 31 July 2020 Various

APC joined with other civil society organisations to congratulate and welcome Irene Khan to her new role as Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and to highlight some broad priority themes that require particular attention.

Open letter from human rights NGO coalition to the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism
Open letter from human rights NGO coalition to the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism 30 July 2020 Various

APC and 14 other organisations have joined together to send a public letter to the newly appointed Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT) Executive Director Nicholas Rasmussen to apprise him of threats to human rights posed by GIFCT.

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.

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.

#DigitalLawsAsia
#DigitalLawsAsia 19 June 2020 Nerissa Naidoo for CYRILLA

From 10 - 12 June, CYRILLA and APC hosted a Twitter campaign. The purpose of #DigitalLawsAsia was to explore the human rights impacts of digital regulation in South and Southeast Asia.

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