ICT policy

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.

KICTANet: Kenya’s burden – the effects of digital taxes on SMEs
KICTANet: Kenya’s burden – the effects of digital taxes on SMEs 30 July 2020 Mwenda Tevin Gitonga for KICTANet

The Kenyan government has introduced a digital tax programme that presents a challenge to pre-existing and new technology companies under the small and medium-sized categories (SMEs), which are the backbone of the country’s economy.

7amleh: Palestinian civil society coalitions call on Google to put Palestine on its maps
7amleh: Palestinian civil society coalitions call on Google to put Palestine on its maps 30 July 2020 7amleh - The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media

Palestinian civil society denounces Google Maps' digital discrimination against Palestinians, and urges Google to abide by international law and human rights standards including in the case of Palestine.

Joint statement welcomes the gains in advancing the rights of women and girls at the 44th session of the Human Rights Council
Joint statement welcomes the gains in advancing the rights of women and girls at the 44th session of the Human Rights Council 28 July 2020 Sexual Rights Initiative, Center for Reproductive Rights, Choice for Youth and Sexuality, Association of Women’s Rights in Development and Association for Progressive Communications

This joint statement welcomes the resolution on elimination of discrimination against women and girls adopted at this HRC session, which focuses on multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination faced by women and girls and the measures states should take to address the same issues.

Mexican Congress’ implementation of USMCA IP provisions threatens democracy and digital rights
Mexican Congress’ implementation of USMCA IP provisions threatens democracy and digital rights 22 July 2020 Various

An open letter by public interest organisations and individuals in reaction to the approval by Mexican Congress of sweeping changes to the federal copyright regime in implementation of the Agreement between United States-Canada-Mexico Free Trade Agreement (USMCA).

Policy reform: Working towards feminist transformation and change
Policy reform: Working towards feminist transformation and change 22 July 2020 Mariana Fossatti for GenderIT.org

The Feminist Internet Research Network intentionally seeks to go beyond research to impact on policy and advocacy. But what should a feminist approach to policy shifts encompass, specifically coming from the global South?

DEF: Low-cost connectivity solutions fostering openness in times of COVID-19
DEF: Low-cost connectivity solutions fostering openness in times of COVID-19 21 July 2020 DEF

Because of the pandemic, India has been under lockdown since March. What does this mean for rural communities, only 20% of whom have access to the internet? Community networks established by organisations like Digital Empowerment Foundation are bringing critical services to 100 villages of India.

Good news, bad news: A story of internet shutdowns in Togo and Ethiopia
Good news, bad news: A story of internet shutdowns in Togo and Ethiopia 20 July 2020 Juliet Nanfuka for CIPESA

Last month the Economic Community of West African States Community Court of Justice ruled that the 2017 internet shutdown in Togo was illegal. But barely a week later, Ethiopia initiated a nationwide shutdown, serving as a reminder of the persistent threat of internet shutdowns on the continent.

Tracking disinformation laws and policies in more than 30 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
Tracking disinformation laws and policies in more than 30 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa 13 July 2020 APCNews

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the dissemination of vast amounts of information, both verified and unverified. Against this backdrop, civil society organisations recently launched the Disinformation Tracker, an interactive map to track disinformation laws and policies across Sub-Saharan Africa.

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.

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