freedom of expression
We welcome this topic because it is current and integral to our work. On the one hand there is a lot of “noise” in the mainstream media about so-called “fake news” and what appears to be a fairly rushed response from platforms consisting of increasing in-house regulation of content. On the other hand, human rights defenders and activists we work with express concern that platforms are removing some of their content in a manner that suggests political bias and reinforcing of societal d...
APC member in the Philippines Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA) expresses grave concern over the decision of the Philippine authorities to shut down cell sites during huge festivities. The organisation calls for transparency regarding the guidelines used by authorities before resorting to signal jamming. As advocates of human rights and communication rights, FMA believes that human rights and fundamental freedoms offline should also equally apply online. Internet shutdowns, which may co...
The new report titled “Internet freedoms in Palestine: Mapping of digital rights violations and threats”, available in English and Arabic, constitutes the first of its kind on the Palestinian level. The report analyses freedoms in the Palestinian virtual sphere, especially in the context of violations that have recently been perpetrated against Palestinian activists on social media platform...
The crackdown on the use of secure digital communications in many parts of the world is very concerning. Many governments, including those of Australia and the United Kingdom, are threatening to legislate backdoors for law enforcement in encryption standards, which would substantially weaken security for everyone while increasing the likelihood of damaging attacks from bad actors. Recently, Tur...
The right to privacy plays a critical role as an enabling right for the exercise and enjoyment of other rights, as well as for the free development of an individual’s personality and identity. It also protects and enhances an individual’s ability to participate in political, economic, social and cultural life. It is to be noted with concern that any violations or abuses of the right to priv...
This piece was originally published by FORUM-ASIA From 4-6 October 2017, FORUM-ASIA, APC, Bytes for All, Pakistan and Global Partners Digital are organising a regional consultation in Bangkok on the State of Freedoms of Assembly, Association, Expression and Religion on the Internet in Asia. Day 1 The first day started with words of welcome from the four organisers by: Chat ...
Much of the studies on hate speech use legal analyses and focus on the speaker. While this is important to any understanding of incitement to hatred and violence, it does not always capture the sociopolitical and historical developments that could explain why we are witnessing serious consequences of speech that does not necessarily meet the threshold or definition of hate speech, or the lack o...
The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) is concerned at news that access to and use of the internet is being restricted in Catalonia, as part of a trend to curtail freedom of expression in the context of the call for a referendum to decide the future status of the region. According to our members and partners in Catalonia, judicial orders against referendum websites are being grant...
The latest report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, David Kaye, presented in June 2017 to the UN Human Rights Council, focused on the role of digital access providers in ensuring the provision of human rights, with a particular focus on private actors’ responsibilities and the inclusion of these responsibilities in the...
“Intervozes fights for democracy and freedom, so that everyone from all religions, races and backgrounds can be respected, seen and heard. Enough of invisibility. Join the fight for the right to communicate!” With this statement of principles, Brazilian NGO Intervozes welcomes visitors to its work, which focuses on raising awareness among the Brazilian public of the freedom of expression as...
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