Digital Rights Weekly | February 28 - March 4

[Team CommUNITY]

Hello Digital Rights Defenders

Here is your weekly update on digital rights around the world for the
week of February 28 - March 4

As a reminder,  you can submit your news for the newsletter here:
https://www.digitalrights.community/weekly-newsletter

###  Upcoming Virtual TCU Events ###

March 16 | Africa Monthly Meetup
The Africa Monthly Meetups bring together folks from the African
region to share, connect, seek help, and release stress by celebrating
each other.
https://internetfreedomfestival.org/wiki/index.php/March_16,_2022_,_Africa_Meetup

March 16 | (CKS) Podcast 101
Laura Vidal and Laura Schwartz Henderson will tell you all about the
challenges of producing a podcast for newcomers, including what tools
to use and tips on storytelling.
https://digitalrights.formstack.com/forms/cks54

March 23 | MENA Monthly Meetup
The MENA Monthly Meetups bring together folks from the MENA region to
share, connect, seek help, and release stress by celebrating each
other.
https://internetfreedomfestival.org/wiki/index.php/March_23_2022,_MENA_Meetup

Upcoming Glitter Meetups (Every Thursday at 2pm UTC)

>>> March 17: Spyware Attacks in MENA Region
Join Mohammed Al-Maskati for a conversation about the Increasing
deployment of surveillance technologies and the use of spyware by
state actors to target human rights defenders in the MENA region.
https://internetfreedomfestival.org/wiki/index.php/March_17_2022_GM

>>> March 24: WikiRate
The team will share info about their open data platform that allows
anyone to systematically gather, analyze and report publicly-available
information on corporate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
practices.
https://internetfreedomfestival.org/wiki/index.php/March_24_2022_GM

>>> March 31: Internews’ BASICS project
Building Analytical and Support Infrastructure for Critical Security
tools (BASICS) aims to increase the use of critical, open source,
digital security tools. Check it out if you’re interested in creating
non-invasive surveillance tech that respects privacy.
https://internetfreedomfestival.org/wiki/index.php/March_31_2022_GM

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### Digital Rights in the Community ###

1. Proctorio Subpoenas Fight for The Future

Proctorio, an exam surveillance company, filed a subpoena going after
the digital rights group Fight for The Future, continuing their
aggressive campaign against its critics. Fight For The Future is a
well known privacy advocacy group which has run a campaign opposing
the use of online proctoring software.

The subpoena demands that Fight for The Future surrender their
communications with other critics of the company, including the
Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and Ian Linkletter, a researcher
who was sued by the company in 2020. The subpoena is part of an
ongoing lawsuit against Proctorio filed by the EFF on behalf of Erik
Johnson. Fight for the Future filed a motion to annul the subpoena,
stating compliance would impair its ability to communicate with
sources and continue its work.

https://www.vice.com/en/article/epxqgw/proctorio-is-going-after-digital-rights-groups-that-bash-their-proctoring-software


2. Psychological and Emotional War: Digital Transnational Repression in Canada

Citizen Lab released a new report on the digital dimension of
transnational repression - when nation states implement repressive
politics to silence or coerce nationals located outside their
territory. For decades, refugees and asylum seekers have sought refuge
from oppression by moving to the relative safety of a country like
Canada. Today, thanks to digital insecurities and off-the-shelf
surveillance technologies, dictators can follow them abroad with
little more than the mere click of a button. The report illustrates
activists living in Canada are impacted by digital transnational
repression, its impact on their communities, and what can be done to
counter this growing phenomena.

https://citizenlab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Report151-dtr_022822.pdf


3. ARTICLE 19 Releases Statement on Ukraine

ARTICLE 19 released a statement this week on Ukraine stating that the
Russian Federation’s actions constitute an act of war and a blatant
breach of international law and treaties, deserving of unequivocal
international condemnation.

https://www.article19.org/resources/ukraine-and-russia-information-war/


4. ISOC Call for Proposal

ISCO is seeking a partner who can help them with various goals of
their BOLT program. The selected partner will receive a grant in the
amount of $200,000 to help them support their BOLT cohort. Deadline is
March 4.

https://isoc.box.com/s/fnkm6019escgbwtfjszkk72ix07recmj


5. Tactical Tech Call For Participants

Tactical Tech has a call out for journalists and other media
professionals from the European Union who are interested in enhancing
their training expertise and workshop design and development skills to
deliver knowledge to peers, students, organisations, newsrooms, and
other beneficiaries. Deadline is March 9.

https://exposingtheinvisible.org/news/call-for-tot-participants/

_________________________________________________

### Digital Rights Resources ###

1. “Libres y Segures” Website Launched

The new website LIbres y Segures has a number of resources regarding
digital security, privacy and activism, and technology for LGTBQI+
individuals. The website is both in English and Spanish.

English: https://libresysegures.tedic.org/en/

Spanish: https://libresysegures.tedic.org/es/


2. Global Campaign for Safety of Women Journalists

Free Press Unlimited is organizing a two week global campaign for
“Safety for Women Journalists”. They provide media toolkits in 4
languages: Arabic, English, French, and Spanish.
https://www.freepressunlimited.org/en/current/media4women-campaign-safety-women-journalists

_________________________________________________


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

1. Ukraine Government Asks for Volunteers to Project Infrastructure

The Ukrainian government is seeking volunteers to protect their
infrastructure. The call was posted on various online forums,
instructing hackers and cybersecurity experts to submit an application
via Google docs, which included questions about their specialties,
such as malware development, and professional references.

This highlights how the internet and digital communications have
become frontline battlegrounds in modern warfare, as more and more
governments invest in online surveillance and direct attacks online.

https://www.reuters.com/world/exclusive-ukraine-calls-hacker-underground-defend-against-russia-2022-02-24/


2. Experts Believe Ukrainians Have Ways to Evade Internet Censorship

Experts believe that the risk of a complete internet shutdown in
Ukraine in the scenario of a Russian takeover is low. They claim the
Ukrainian physical infrastructure is vast, owned by a number of
independent internet service providers, and has several connections to
the outside world. In addition, they state that past events point to a
citizenship that knows how to use tools to circumvent censorship.

https://www.wired.com/story/internet-ukraine-russia-cyberattacks/

Currently, the demand for VPNs in Russia and Ukraine is soaring.
Russia banned several VPNs last year, but has failed to block them
entirely.

https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/demand-vpns-russia-ukraine-leaps-internet-control-tightens-2022-02-28/


3. Kremlin Censors Media, Including Twitter and Facebook

This week the Kremlin restricted access to Twitter and partially
restricted access to Facebook, in an attempt to stifle the flow of
information.

https://www.theverge.com/2022/2/26/22952006/russia-block-twitter-ukraine-invasion-censorship-putin

Meanwhile, tech giants are warning that they must comply with a new
law which would make them more vulnerable to the Kremlin’s censorship
demands. Facebook states that Russian authorities ordered them to stop
independent fact-checking and labeling of content. The company said it
would continue to support Russians expressing themselves and
organizing.

https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/russia-limit-facebook-access-response-media-censorship-2022-02-25

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/26/technology/russia-censorship-tech.html


4. UK Workers Union Warns of Staff Surveillance “Going Out of Control”

The Trade Union Congress, which represents most UK unions, argues that
the workers are reporting a dramatic increase in workplace
surveillance and that it requires new regulations, as it can lead to
widespread disrimination, work intensification, and unfair treatment
of workers.

 Employee monitoring includes companies tracking emails, files,
webcams installed on work computers, recording typing patterns, calls
made and other traceable movements. The EU has proposed regulation for
this, which the UK has yet to have. 8 out of 10 respondents to the
survey support a legal requirement on employers to consult before
introducing such surveillance tools.

https://www.computerworld.com/article/3652513/employee-monitoring-risks-spiraling-out-of-control-union-group-warns.html

_________________________________________________

### The Health & Wellbeing Corner ###

// This corner is authored by Selma Zaki, TCU’s Director of Community
Mental Health //

This week, I want to hold space for anyone who has ever been affected
by war, occupation and terror. From the people in Ukraine, to those
protesting the war and to all the Black and Brown lives across the
world that were reminded this week that their lives are not as worthy.

This week, we learned that wars are not okay if they’re happening in
Europe. We learned that refugees are welcome as long as they fit a
specific profile. We learned fighting for your country can be a heroic
act rather than an act of terror, depending on where you are from.

This week, I am holding both reactions: I feel for what is happening
in Ukraine and stand in solidarity and at the same time I am hurt by
the double standards. I am hurt that our suffering, our lives, the
wars waged on us, don’t matter. From Iraq, to Palestine, to Syria, to
Afghanistan, to Myanmar…to.

This week, I hold space for anyone who has ever been affected by war,
occupation and terror and were dehumanized by the world.

_________________________________________________

### 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

Information Controls Fellowship Program (ICFP)
Open Technology Fund
Deadline: March 13, 2022
https://www.opentech.fund/news/information-controls-fellowship-program-now-accepting-applications-for-ninth-cohort/

2022 Rob Blokzijl Award
Deadline: March 18, 2022
https://rob-blokzijl-foundation.org/2021/11/25/call-for-nominations-2022/

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/

_________________________________________________

### Global Events Calendar ###

APAC DNS Forum 2022 First Pre-Event Webinar
September 2021 - March 2022
https://apacdnsforum.my/

Mozilla Festival (MozFest)
March 7 - 11
Online
https://schedule.mozillafestival.org/plaza

MisinfoCon Mozfest
Hack/Hackers
March 7 - 11
Online
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/misinfocon-mozfest-2022-a-global-online-summit-on-misinformation-tickets-247379979177?aff=mozfest

Africa Monthly Meetup
March 16
3pm SAST / 1pm UTC / 8am EST
https://internetfreedomfestival.org/wiki/index.php/March_16,_2022_,_Africa_Meetup

CKS: Podcast 101
March 16
11am EST / 4pm UTC / 6pm Cairo Time
https://digitalrights.formstack.com/forms/cks54

Glitter Meetup: Spyware Attacks in MENA Region
March 17
9am EST / 2pm UTC
https://internetfreedomfestival.org/wiki/index.php/March_17_2022_GM

MENA Monthly Meetup
March 23
4pm UTC+1 / 10am EST
https://internetfreedomfestival.org/wiki/index.php/March_23_2022,_MENA_Meetup

Glitter Meetup: The WikiRate project
March 24
9am EST / 2pm UTC
https://internetfreedomfestival.org/wiki/index.php/March_24_2022_GM

Glitter Meetup: The BASICS Project
March 31
9am EST / 2pm UTC
https://internetfreedomfestival.org/wiki/index.php/March_31_2022_GM

Virtual School of Internet Governance - French Version
May 2022
Online
http://www.virtualsig.org/

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 we have been sent 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

✎ Advocacy Advisor | Amnesty Tech
+ Brussels
https://careers.amnesty.org/vacancy/advocacy-advisor-3255/3283/description/

✎ Grant Specialist | Internet Society Foundation
+ Remote
https://internetsociety.bamboohr.com/jobs/view.php?id=160

✎ Deputy Director, Broadband & Digital Inclusion | American Library Association
+ Washington, DC, USA
https://recruiting.ultipro.com/AME1043ALA/JobBoard/dfe6e811-9bc3-4dec-9055-a545370be9fa/OpportunityDetail?opportunityId=cdaefa68-d689-40bf-bafd-4b44f8401b4b

✎ Senior Software Engineer - Search Platform | Wikimedia Foundation
+ Remote
https://grnh.se/2ce950091us

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_________________________________________________

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(((Hugs & light)))

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