Human rights

Vietnam’s Zalo Connect: Digital authoritarianism in peer-to-peer aid platforms
Vietnam’s Zalo Connect: Digital authoritarianism in peer-to-peer aid platforms 22 August 2022 Trang Le

The Zalo Connect app in Vietnam connects users in need with private donors. But in doing so, it exemplifies a humanitarian trend that centres on extracting data from vulnerable communities as a precondition to receiving aid, protection and justice.

Celebrating 15 years of GISWatch:  “GISWatch links critical thinking and analysis to concrete proposals for change”
Celebrating 15 years of GISWatch: “GISWatch links critical thinking and analysis to concrete proposals for change” 19 August 2022 Anriette Esterhuysen

In the second installment of the Global Information Society Watch (GISWatch) 15th anniversary series, Anriette Esterhuysen reflects on the birth of the project during her time as APC's executive director, as well as its evolution and longevity as a meaningful resource.

Data and online privacy under attack in Southern Africa: Showcasing the will and commitment of those fighting
Data and online privacy under attack in Southern Africa: Showcasing the will and commitment of those fighting 18 August 2022 Frederico Links

African internet users remain resilient in the face of all manner of state-sponsored and private tech-enabled cyber threats and obstacles, and civil society actors continue to raise and amplify their voices even as spaces for free expression, online and offline, are squeezed tighter and tighter.

Youth views almost not taken seriously during ITU’s WTDC-22
Youth views almost not taken seriously during ITU’s WTDC-22 17 August 2022 Arsène Tungali

The 2022 Generation Connect Global Youth Summit took place on the sidelines of the 2022 World Telecommunication Development Conference, organised by the International Telecommunication Union and held in Kigali, Rwanda.

Celebrating 15 years of GISWatch: "This journey has shaped how I frame the internet's role in our lives"
Celebrating 15 years of GISWatch: "This journey has shaped how I frame the internet's role in our lives" 16 August 2022 Alan Finlay

APC's landmark publication Global Information Society Watch (GISWatch) celebrates its 15th anniversary this year. This inaugural piece by its long-time editor is the first in a series that will celebrate and examine how far we've come and where we need to head next. 

Seeding change: Rhizomatica’s high frequency radio showcases the power of communication in remote regions of the Amazon
Seeding change: Rhizomatica’s high frequency radio showcases the power of communication in remote regions of the Amazon 11 August 2022 Maja Romano

Imagine you are in the middle of the Amazon rain forest. There is no mobile coverage or internet access. The long distances and rugged landscapes make communication highly challenging. These communities are precisely the ones Rhizomatica aims to support when building new technologies that connect people.

In Sri Lanka, state-sponsored disinformation and suppression of dissent taint COVID-19 response
In Sri Lanka, state-sponsored disinformation and suppression of dissent taint COVID-19 response 10 August 2022 Harindrini Corea

The Sri Lankan government has capitalised on the COVID-19 pandemic to further its authoritarian agenda, using digital technologies to reinforce a climate of fear and censorship.

PeduliLindungi: To care for and protect?
PeduliLindungi: To care for and protect? 04 August 2022 Siti Rochmah Desyana

In Indonesia, the PeduliLindungi app has become synonymous with the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet it poses an unprecedented threat while leaving citizens with little recourse to protect their data. This article is part of the "Pandemic of Control" series by EngageMedia and CommonEdge.

Southern Africa Digital Rights Issue Number 1: Data and online privacy under attack
Southern Africa Digital Rights Issue Number 1: Data and online privacy under attack 30 July 2022 Various

Southern Africa Digital Rights is an online publication produced under the project "The African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms: Fostering a human rights-centred approach to privacy, data protection and access to the internet in Southern Africa".

OEWG: APC emphasises key role played by civil society in cybersecurity capacity building
OEWG: APC emphasises key role played by civil society in cybersecurity capacity building 28 July 2022 APC

APC's statement at the OEWG dedicated stakeholder session also notes that it is encouraging to see the inclusion of language connected with narrowing the digital divide and a growing number of states calling for a gender-sensitive approach to international cybersecurity.

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