Digital Rights Weekly | November 28 - December 2

Fri Dec 2 17:21:53 CET 2022

Hello Digital Rights Defenders!

Here is your weekly update on digital rights around the world for the
weeks of November 28 - December 2. As a reminder, you can submit your
news for the newsletter here:
https://www.digitalrights.community/weekly-newsletter

###  Upcoming Virtual TCU Events ###
We began listing TCU events at the top of the newsletter given the
need for community spaces during the pandemic. Going forward we will
be listing TCU events in the events section of the newsletter, located
towards the bottom of the newsletter.

_________________________________________________

### TCU Updates ###

1. Join us on Dec 13 to Hear about Internal Policies that can Improve
the Health of Your Team

Join us to hear about our new toolkit providing practical
recommendations for managers on how to improve the health of their
teams and organizations right now. This first edition of the toolkit
focuses on three policies that address some the biggest challenges
managers are facing including high burnout on teams leading to issues
like interpersonal conflicts and interruptions in achieving
goals/deliverables; inability to retain and attract talent; and lack
of guidance or support on how to navigate new internal issues brought
on by the pandemic. The toolkit is part of our new initiative, Digital
Justice House, looking at structural issues that impact the
sustainability of the digital rights field, and providing practical
ways forward. Please RSVP as soon as possible, and share with your
community!

https://digitalrights.formstack.com/forms/digitaljusticehousepresentation

2. More Events Added to the VPN Community Initiative Village

We have added more events to our VPN Village. Whether you are a
seasoned practitioner or a newbie, these sessions can help improve
your knowledge of the VPN ecosystem and its tools.
Upcoming events include:
- Dec 6: Getting Started with Outline;
- Dec. 7: How to Critically Choose a VPN:
- Dec 8: Everything You Wanted to Know about VPNs But Never Asked
- Dec. 8: NewNode VPN: Internet Access In Shutdowns And Disruptions

RSVP here: https://www.digitalrights.community/blog/vpn-village-2022

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### Digital Rights in the Community ###

1. Join the 10th Ooniversary Events: OONI Is 10 Years Old!

Ten years ago, the Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI) was
created with a vision: build tools that enable anyone around the world
to independently investigate internet censorship and publish open data
that increases transparency of internet censorship worldwide.  To
share OONI highlights from the last 10 years, as well as how community
members have used OONI tools and data as part of their work, the Ooni
Community will be hosting a live-streamed event on Dec 6, 2022 at
13:00 UTC.

https://ooni.org/post/10th-ooniversary-events/#10th-ooniversary-ooni-community

2. OONI Releases New Research Report on Internet Shutdowns in Iran

OONI has published a new research report: "Technical multi-stakeholder
report on Internet shutdowns: The case of Iran amid autumn 2022
protests". This report combines multiple measurement datasets in an
attempt to investigate the internet shutdown events in Iran over the
past months. It was done In collaboration with IODA, M-Lab,
Cloudflare, Kentik, Censored Planet, ISOC, and Article19.

https://ooni.org/post/2022-iran-technical-multistakeholder-report/

3. New Report: Internet Access as a New Engine for Social Mobilisation in Cuba

Check out a new report authored by David Aragort from Redes Ayuda on
the impact the Internet is having on Cuban society, and its short
history, given that public access to the Internet is a relatively
recent phenomenon, with access to high-speed Internet starting in
2013.

https://www.giswatch.org/en/country-report/cuba

4. Dec 7 Event: Telco Giants Scorecard on Human Rights

For the first time, Ranking Digital Rights is publishing a stand-alone
report on global telecom providers to shine a light on the role that
these infrastructure providers play in both expanding and restricting
human rights. Join them on Dec 7th to learn about the report’s
findings.

https://www.newamerica.org/oti/events/are-telcos-getting-a-pass-on-digital-rights/

5. Why Should We All Pay Attention to the Brazilian Digital ID System?

In June, Data Privacy Brasil's research team finished the first phase
of their research project, Accountability and Digital Civil Identity,
which investigated the implementation of Brazil's digital identity
system and its risks to citizens’ rights. The final report recommends
that organizations conduct data protection impact assessments to
mitigate these risks, with a clear focus on social justice. Even
though Brazil’s case is not very well known in the digital ID field,
there is a lot to be shared and learnt from the worrying national
scenario. With the support of Privacy International, the policy paper
is now translated to English.

https://www.dataprivacybr.org/en/documentos/between-visibility-and-exclusion-mapping-the-risks-associated-with-the-national-civil-identification-system-and-the-usage-of-its-database-by-the-gov-br-platform/?idProject=1316

6. Pollicy Releases New Research on Women Journos and HRDs Online
Experiences in African Anglo & Francophone Countries

Pollicy’s new research investigates the threats women journalists and
human rights defenders face in Cameroon, Congo, Senegal and Uganda to
fully and safely participate in increasingly digital societies. This
is part of Pollicy’s work that is creating and contributing to a
feminist internet and kicks off the campaign to commemorate this
year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.

https://pollicy.org/resource/a-dark-place-for-women-journalists/

7. Mozilla Festival Calling for Sessions in Spanish

Está abierta la llamada a propuestas para el Mozilla Festival en
español. Mozilla está experimentando más a fondo con la inclusión de
idiomas en el festival para que más hablantes participen y traigan sus
ideas. Están desarrollando estrategias para que quienes quieran traer
conversaciones locales a su propio idioma puedan hacerlo y que puedan,
además, conectarse con otras discusiones globales. La convocatoria
estará abierta hasta el 16 de diciembre y las propuestas pueden
enviarse aquí:

https://www.mozillafestival.org/es/proposals/

8. 7amleh Publishes New Research on Gender Based Violence in the
Palestinian Digital Space

7amleh -  The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media launched
a new research entitled "Gender Violence in the Palestinian Digital
Space", which aims to understand and analyze the phenomenon of digital
violence against women, and to monitor gender-based violence in the
digital space. The research also analyzes the phenomenon of cyber
violence in the Palestinian context in terms of causes, impact and
repercussions, in an attempt to explore concrete and practical
recommendations to combat and limit it..

https://7amleh.org/2022/11/28/7amleh-center-publishes-a-research-entitled-a-violated-network-on-gender-based-violence-in-the-palestinian-digital-space

9. Freedom House Publishes Report on the Growth of Civic Mobilization
in Authoritarian Contexts

Freedom House's new report examines what helps and hurts civic
mobilizations in authoritarian countries and provides insight on how
these mobilizations grow. They looked at 21 recent movements to
determine factors that helped or hindered their growth, including
whether they are led by new or established opposition members, how
mobilization campaigns frame their cause, and the roles played by the
diaspora, the internet, and repression.

https://freedomhouse.org/report/special-report/2022/civic-mobilizations-authoritarian-contexts

10. Joint Statement on Harrassment, Surveillance, and Likely Murder of
Juan Carlos Flores Solís

Front Line Defenders, along with other organizations, released a joint
statement concerning the harassment, surveillance and likely attempted
murder of the lawyer and defender of the Peoples' Front in Defense of
Land and Water - Morelos, Puebla, Tlaxcala (FPDTA - MPT), Juan Carlos
Flores Solís. They are collectively expressing concern for the recent
events of intimidation, harassment, surveillance and the likely
attempted homicide against Juan Carlos Flores Solís, which is directly
linked to his legitimate legal and human rights work.

https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/statement-report/joint-statement-mexico-concern-about-harassment-surveillance-juan-carlos-flores-solis

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### Digital Rights Resources ###

1. Reframing Algorithmic Transparency

Over several decades, while transparency has emerged as a dominant
principle, its instrumental value to foster accountability is often
not achieved. The use of machine learning further complicates the
delivery of algorithmic transparency, and highlights the need to
create conceptual models of AI.

https://www.knowingwithoutseeing.com/essays/reframing-algorithmic-transparency

2. The Exploited Labor Behind Artificial Intelligence

Tech companies that have branded themselves “AI first” depend on
heavily surveilled gig workers like data laborers, delivery drivers
and content moderators. Startups are even hiring people to impersonate
AI systems like chatbots, due to the pressure by venture capitalists
to incorporate so-called AI into their products. These machines are
built by armies of underpaid laborers around the world. With a clear
understanding of the labor exploitation behind the current
proliferation of harmful AI systems, the public can advocate for
stronger labor protections and real consequences for entities who
break them. Supporting transnational worker organizing should be at
the center of the fight for “ethical AI”.

https://www.noemamag.com/the-exploited-labor-behind-artificial-intelligence/

3. Mastodon Video Tutorial

Open Rights Group organized a tutorial for UK NGOs and nonprofits on
using Mastodon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTTF2TfEHdY

_________________________________________________

### Digital Rights in the Wider World ###

1. Pegasus Spyware Inquiry Target By Disinformation Campaign

Victims of spyware and a group of renowned security and surveillance
experts have sent a private letter to the European parliament
investigatory committee warning they risk being thrown off course by
an alleged “disinformation campaign”. The warning was issued following
the news that two individuals attempting to discredit widely accepted
evidence in spyware cases in Spain had been invited to appear before
the committee investigating abuse of hacking software.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/28/pegasus-eu-parliament-spyware-inquiry-targeted-disinformation-campaign

2. Serbia: Social Card Law Could Harm Marginalized Members of Society

Serbia’s Social Card law is an intrusive surveillance system that
could harm the most marginalized members of society, including Roma
communities. The law, which entered into force on 1 March 2022,
authorizes the establishment of a centralized government database that
processes 130 categories of personal data from those applying for
social security support to assess their eligibility.

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/11/serbia-social-card-law-could-harm-marginalized-members-of-society-legal-opinion/

3. Call for Chinese Government to Respect Protestors

Human Rights Watch released a statement calling on the Chinese
government to respect the fundamental rights of people across China to
peacefully protest the government’s draconian “zero Covid”
restrictions and to call for freedom and human rights.

https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/11/28/china-respect-right-peaceful-protest

Meanwhile,  Chinese state television has censored World Cup games to
remove shots of maskless crowds after the sight of joyous fans
celebrating in packed stadiums stoked anger back home, where hundreds
of millions remain under strict pandemic restrictions. A well-attended
opening  ceremony in Qatar – with no social distancing – led to users
of Chinese social media platforms complaining that it contrasted with
the severe isolation they felt under President Xi Jinping’s zero-Covid
policy.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/28/china-censors-maskless-crowd-footage-in-world-cup-broadcasts

4. UK and USA Ban Chinese Surveillance Cameras from “Sensitive” Sites

Hikvision, a leading Chinese surveillance company, has denied
suggestions that it poses a threat to Britain’s national security
after the UK government banned the use of its camera systems at
“sensitive” sites. The restrictions will prevent authorities from
installing technology that is produced by companies subject to China’s
National Intelligence Law, which requires Chinese citizens and
organizations to cooperate with the country’s intelligence and
security services.

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/11/25/tech/uk-chinese-surveillance-cameras-restrictions-intl-hnk/index.html

The US is also banning Chinese telecom and surveillance cameras. The
US communications regulator singled out tech giants Huawei and ZTE and
surveillance camera makers Hikvision and Dahua. US regulators
announced a ban on Chinese telecommunications and video surveillance
equipment deemed to pose a threat to national security. The decision
follows concerns raised by US intelligence agencies about potential
snooping by Beijing and concerns from US lawmakers on how Chinese
technology is widely used by Beijing authorities to commit human
rights abuses domestically.

https://www.dw.com/en/us-bans-chinese-telecom-surveillance-cameras/a-63895206

5. Big Brother at the Border

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is searching, downloading, and
storing electronic data from  tens of thousands of American travelers’
devices each year without a warrant.

https://progressive.org/latest/comment-big-brother-at-the-border-boddiger/

6. Human Rights, LGBTQ+ Organizations Oppose Kids Online Safety Act in USA

Dozens of human rights and LGBTQ+ organizations wrote to members of US
Congress opposing a kids' online safety bill they argue would not
actually help make the Internet a better place for children and teens.
They state that the bill’s requirements that sites filter online
content would lead to “over moderation” and cut off members of
marginalized younger groups who rely on online services to learn about
sex education or access LGBTQ+ resources.

https://www.axios.com/2022/11/28/human-rights-lgbtq-organizations-kids-online-safety-act

7. Elon Musk’s “Free Speech” Twitter is Still Censoring DDOSecrets

Twitter has censored the website of nonprofit transparency collective
Distributed Denial of Secrets for more than two years. While Elon Musk
began reversing Twitter suspensions of prominent right-wing accounts
that had previously violated Twitter’s policies, he has not reversed
the suspension of Distributed Denial of Secrets, the nonprofit
transparency collective that distributes leaked and hacked documents
to journalists and researchers.

https://theintercept.com/2022/11/22/elon-musk-twitter-censor-ddosecrets/

8, How Artists Find Ways Around Censorship in Cuba

Since the passage of the country’s repressive Decree 349, the Cuban
state has gone to great lengths to silence critical voices—but artists
refuse to be silenced. Access to the worldwide web has enabled artists
to circumvent government control, giving them a degree of freedom,
albeit still in the shadow of the government which has failed to
maintain hegemony over the circulation of information.

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2022/11/28/losing-the-battle-cubas-dissident-artists-find-ways-around-censorship-despite-government-crackdown

9. Social Media Platforms Complicit in Censoring Media and Freedom of
Speech in Turkey

One of the Turkish government’s tactics to silence users on the
internet and deny them their right to access information, is
submitting requests to Twitter and other platforms to withhold content
deemed in violation of its local laws. As a result, it is not
surprising that, according to the most recent Twitter transparency
report, Turkey was the fourth largest requester of content removal
requests, accounting for some nine percent of global legal demands.
While the Turkish state has been explicit in its intentions, the
social media giants don't seem to understand the impact of their
compliance on media plurality and diversity of voices and opinions in
Turkey.

https://globalvoices.org/2022/11/29/in-turkey-social-media-platforms-become-complicit-in-censoring-media-and-freedom-of-speech/

10. Effective Altruism is Pushing a Dangerous Brand of “AI Safety”

The philosophy of effective altruism—supported by tech figures like
Sam Bankman-Fried—fuels the AI research agenda, creating a harmful
system in the name of saving humanity

https://www.wired.com/story/effective-altruism-artificial-intelligence-sam-bankman-fried/

_________________________________________________

### Grants, Fellowships, & Awards ###

The following opportunities are open to individual digital rights
defenders and to organizations. If you would like us to include a
grant, fellowship or award in this newsletter, please email details to
team at digitalrights.community
https://internetfreedomfestival.org/wiki/index.php/Fundraising_Opportunities

Green Web Fellowship
The Green Web Foundation
Deadline: December 8, 2022
https://www.thegreenwebfoundation.org/fellowships/

Fellowship on Technology and Human Rights
SMEX
Deadline: December 11, 2022
https://smex.org/2023-smex-fellowship-on-technology-and-human-rights/

Information Society Project Fellowship
Yale University
December 15, 2022
https://law.yale.edu/isp/join-us

The Responsible Computer Science Challenge
Mozilla
Deadline: December 15, 2022
https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/blog/mozillas-responsible-computer-science-challenge-opens-applications-in-kenya/

PhD Scholarships in Digital Governance
The Hertie School
January 31, 2023
https://www.hertie-school.org/en/digital-governance/about/opportunities/phd-scholarships-in-digital-governance

Incident Emergency Fund
Digital Defenders Partnership
Deadline: Rolling Basis
https://www.digitaldefenders.org/incident-emergency-fund/

Rapid Response Fund
Open Tech Fund
Deadline: Rolling Basis
https://www.opentech.fund/news/request-for-proposal-otfs-rapid-response-fund/

Digital Freedom Fund
Deadline: Check website, call for proposal will open soon.
https://digitalfreedomfund.org/grants/

Safety Net Fund
Deadline: Ongoing
https://wphfund.org/whrds-safety-net/

Internet Freedom Fund
Open Technology Fund
Deadline: Rolling Basis
https://www.opentech.fund/funds/internet-freedom-fund/

Rapid Response Fund
Open Tech Fund
Deadline: Rolling Basis
https://www.opentech.fund/funds/rapid-response-fund/

Rapid Response Fund
Derechos Digitales
Deadline: Rolling Basis
https://www.derechosdigitales.org/sobre-el-fondo-de-respuesta-rapida/

Urgent Action Fund for Women's Human Rights
Deadline: Rolling Basis
https://urgentactionfund.org/

Open Briefing’s Responsive Assistance
Deadline: Rolling Basis
https://www.openbriefing.org/support/referral/

Secure Usability and Accessibility Lab
Open Tech Fund
Deadline: Rolling
https://www.opentech.fund/labs/sua-lab/
_________________________________________________

### Global Events Calendar ###

Getting Started with Outline: Helping your friends and family access
the Open Internet
VPN Village
December 6
9:30am EST / 2:30pm UTC
Online
https://digitalrights.formstack.com/forms/vpnvillage2022_3

Join the 10th Ooniversary Events
OONI
December 6
1pm UTC
Online
https://ooni.org/post/10th-ooniversary-events/#10th-ooniversary-ooni-community

Are Telcos Getting a Pass on Digital Rights
Ranking Digital Rights
December 7
9:30 ET / 2:30pm UTC
Online
https://www.newamerica.org/oti/events/are-telcos-getting-a-pass-on-digital-rights/

How to Critically Choose a VPN
VPN Village
December 7
10am EST / 3pm UTC
Online
https://digitalrights.formstack.com/forms/vpnvillage2022_4

Glitter Meetup: Everything You Wanted to Know about VPNs But Never Asked
VPN Village
December 8
9am EST / 2pm UTC
Online
https://www.digitalrights.community/blog/vpn-village-2022

NewNode VPN: Internet Access In Shutdowns And Disruptions
VPN Village
December 8
10am EST / 3pm UTC
Online
https://digitalrights.formstack.com/forms/vpnvillage2022_6

Digital Justice Everyday Organizational Policy Toolkit Presentation
December 13
9am EST / 2pm UTC
Online
https://digitalrights.formstack.com/forms/digitaljusticehousepresentation

Glitter Meetup: SRHR for LBQT Persons
December 15
9am EST / 2pm UTC
Online
https://internetfreedomfestival.org/wiki/index.php/December_15_2022_GM

Check out a list of our virtual events here:
https://internetfreedomfestival.org/wiki/index.php/Calendar_of_Events
_________________________________________________

### NEW Job Opportunities  ###

Below is a short list of jobs sent to us in the last week.

Want to see more jobs? OR Have a job opening you want us to promote?
Check out the Team CommUNITY Job Board:
https://www.digitalrights.community/job-board

✎ Research Consultant for Data Analysis and Visualisation | Centre for
Internet and Society
+ India
https://cis-india.org/jobs/call-for-applications-research-consultant-for-data-analysis-and-visualisation

✎ Website Developer | Centre for Internet and Society
+ India
https://cis-india.org/jobs/call-for-applications-website-developer

✎ Lead Researcher | Internews - Greater Internet Freedom Project
+ Remote
https://phf.tbe.taleo.net/phf04/ats/careers/v2/viewRequisition?org=INTERNEWS&cws=38&rid=1933

✎ Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Specialist | Internet Society Foundation
+ VA, USA
https://internetsociety.bamboohr.com/careers/200

✎ Content Associate | Freedman Consulting, LLC
+ Washington, DC, USA
https://tfreedmanconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Content-Associate.pdf

✎ Deputy Director of Policy and Advocacy for Technology and Democracy
| Freedom House
+ Washington, DC, USA
https://phe.tbe.taleo.net/phe01/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=FREEHOUS&cws=1&rid=1320

✎ Research Associate for Technology and Democracy | Freedom House
+ New York, NY or Washington, DC, USA
https://phe.tbe.taleo.net/phe01/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=FREEHOUS&cws=1&rid=1321

✎ Research Associate | Freedom House
+ New York, NY or Washington, DC, USA
https://phe.tbe.taleo.net/phe01/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=FREEHOUS&cws=1&rid=1317

✎ Development Officer | The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting
Project (OCCRP)
+ Location Negotiable, ESA EC Preferred
https://www.occrp.org/en/occrp-jobs/development-officer

✎ Lead Researcher | Internews - Greater Internet Freedom Project
+ Remote
https://phf.tbe.taleo.net/phf04/ats/careers/v2/viewRequisition?org=INTERNEWS&cws=38&rid=1933

✎ Technical Lead | OpenArchive
+ Remote
https://open-archive.org/jobs/tech-lead

✎ Director of Information Security | Freedom House
+ Washington, DC, USA
https://phe.tbe.taleo.net/phe01/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=FREEHOUS&cws=1&rid=1318

✎ Resources and Reparations Lead | Whose Knowledge?
+ Remote
https://whoseknowledge.org/about-us/opportunities/

✎ Whose (Digital) Archives? Joint Coordinator | Whose Knowledge?
+ Remote
https://whoseknowledge.org/about-us/opportunities/

✎ Research Fellow in Technology Facilitated Abuse (Tech Abuse) in
Intimate Partner Violence Contexts | University College London
+ London, UK
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/search-ucl-jobs/details?nPostingId=2140&nPostingTargetId=2756&id=Q1KFK026203F3VBQBLO8M8M07&LG=UK&mask=ext

✎ Program Specialist, Fellowships | Internet Society Foundation
+ Remote
https://internetsociety.bamboohr.com/careers/199

If you feel like sending some digital glitter our way, or need further
assistance, feel free to reply to this message.
_________________________________________________

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(((Hugs & light)))

--
Team CommUNITY at ARTICLE 19
www.digitalrights.community
Organizers of the Internet Freedom Festival
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