Open data

Can the social contract theory justify data rights violations? A review of South Africa's contact tracing regulations
Can the social contract theory justify data rights violations? A review of South Africa's contact tracing regulations 13 June 2020 Rumbidzai Matamba and Chenai Chair

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a need for solutions to “flatten the curve”. This essay by Rumbidzai Matamba and Chenai Chair employs the use of the South African government’s contact tracing initiatives to assess whether the social contract theory can be employed as a tool to justify privacy violations for public health.

Data protection in the age of technology-based disease surveillance
Data protection in the age of technology-based disease surveillance 11 June 2020 Amanda Manyame

This paper by Amanda Manyame explores the adequacy of the COVID-19 regulations enacted in South Africa as they pertain to protection of the personal and health data being collected in an attempt to curb the spread of COVID-19.

CIPESA: Uganda’s social media tax undermining COVID-19 fight
CIPESA: Uganda’s social media tax undermining COVID-19 fight 19 May 2020 Juliet Nanfuka for CIPESA

In Uganda, social media is one of the avenues for disseminating information on COVID-19 to citizens. however, the effectiveness has been undermined by the social media tax, which requires telecom subscribers to pay a daily subscription in order to access popular social media platforms.

EngageMedia: Opposing the shutdown of Philippine broadcast network ABS-CBN
EngageMedia: Opposing the shutdown of Philippine broadcast network ABS-CBN 12 May 2020 Sara Pacia for EngageMedia

The last time a network was forced to stop broadcasting was during martial law under the dictator Ferdinand Marcos. At a time when credible sources of news and information are needed more than ever, the shutdown is seen as a blatant attack on freedom of the press and freedom of expression.

Open letter to President Ramaphosa on South African copyright laws
Open letter to President Ramaphosa on South African copyright laws 11 May 2020 Association for Progressive Communications and International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions

Open letter from APC and the IFLA to President Cyril Ramaphosa concerning the Copyright Bill that currently awaits his signature, following its approval by the South African Parliament.

Open letter to the EU Ambassador to South Africa on copyright laws
Open letter to the EU Ambassador to South Africa on copyright laws 11 May 2020 Association for Progressive Communications and International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions

Open letter from APC and the IFLA to the EU Ambassador to South Africa concerning the Copyright Bill that currently awaits the signature of President Ramaphosa, following its approval by the South African Parliament.

Foundation for Media Alternatives: Stop stifling free speech under the guise of COVID-19!
Foundation for Media Alternatives: Stop stifling free speech under the guise of COVID-19! 07 May 2020 Foundation for Media Alternatives

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, countries are resorting other measures that may have the incidental effect of concentrating power to a few, providing an opportunity for authoritarian leaders to consolidate the government’s might in order to stifle some essential freedoms.

What you need to know about censorship in China around COVID-19
What you need to know about censorship in China around COVID-19 05 May 2020 Dana Zhang for GenderIT

The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified our need for a safe and secure internet. This article explores what happened at the original epicentre of the pandemic and what measures of internet censorship were deemed necessary by the Chinese government to bring it under control.

#BebaskanRavio: Free Ravio Patra and reveal the WhatsApp hackers
#BebaskanRavio: Free Ravio Patra and reveal the WhatsApp hackers 28 April 2020 Pitra Hutomo for Coconet

On April 22,  researcher and government critic Ravio Patra was arrested in Jakarta, Indonesia, not long after an attempt to protect his safety due to a WhatsApp privacy breach, prompting a larger discussion on the scale of authoritarian oppression in Indonesia. 

Human Rights in the Age of Platforms: "The call for alternatives is growing"
Human Rights in the Age of Platforms: "The call for alternatives is growing" 21 January 2020 APCNews

“Human Rights in the Age of Platforms”, published by the MIT Press, examines the human rights implications of today's platform society. APCNews interviewed Rikke Frank Jørgensen, editor of the publication, who provided insight on the reflections and recommendations captured in this book.

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