Digital Rights Weekly | October 10 - 14

Sat Oct 15 15:42:44 CEST 2022

Hello Digital Rights Defenders!

Here is your weekly update on digital rights around the world for the
weeks of October 10 - 14. As a reminder, you can submit your news for
the newsletter here:
https://www.digitalrights.community/weekly-newsletter

###  Upcoming Virtual TCU Events ###

October 18 | Healing in the In-Between: Exploring Migration and Vicarious Trauma
https://digitalrights.formstack.com/forms/chv2022_3

October 19 | Africa Monthly Meetup
https://internetfreedomfestival.org/wiki/index.php/October_19_2022,_Africa_Meetup

October 19 | Lingua Cafe
https://internetfreedomfestival.org/wiki/index.php/Lingua_Cafe

October 19 | LATAM Monthly Meetup
https://internetfreedomfestival.org/wiki/index.php/19_de_Octubre,_2022_LATAM

October 20 | Glitter Meetup: Digital rights in Bolivia and Datachiri
https://internetfreedomfestival.org/wiki/index.php/October_20_2022_GM

October 20 | Responding to Defeat and Creating Communities of Hope
https://digitalrights.formstack.com/forms/chv2022_4
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### Digital Rights in the Community ###

1. Latest Censorship Observations in Iran

WEPN has a “live” document providing the latest censorship
observations from Iran, which is based on interviews and
investigations with the help from people inside of the country, since
the start of the current shutdown and filtering phase.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Zmgr6c2xOstkjLeLOv9nng1zUAzTdA6iWRQ7OzgLHGY/edit

TCU has published a list of various initiatives or tools focused on
helping Iran Internet users, which will be updated with new
initiatives as they are received.

https://www.digitalrights.community/blog/tools-resources-actions-to-support-irans-feminist-uprising

More than162 other feminist and human rights organization have signed
a letter in solidarity with the courageous women in Iran who have
taken to the streets to peacefully protest the death in custody of
Mahsa (Jhina) Amini and to demand their bodily rights.

https://www.article19.org/resources/iran-solidarity-with-women-and-protesters/

2, OTF’s Rapid Response Fund Now Open

The Open Technology Fund is issuing a request for proposal for their
Rapid Response Fund, which provides organizations and individuals with
services that facilitate response to digital emergencies, allowing
them to resolve threats in a timely and comprehensive manner.
Applications must be submitted by December 15, 2022.

https://www.opentech.fund/news/request-for-proposal-otfs-rapid-response-fund/

3. Incident Emergency Fund Open

The Incident Emergency Fund is Digital Defenders Partnership's rapid
response mechanism for human rights defenders, journalists, activists
and organisations facing digital threats and attacks. Up to €10,000
that can be used to cover costs which will directly reduce the risk or
impact of a digital attack.

https://www.digitaldefenders.org/incident-emergency-fund/

4.  NEW Working Group on Pluralism of Information inCuration and
Indexation Algorithms

The Forum on Information and Democracy has convened a new working
group that is examining how the pluralism of information in curation
and indexation algorithms can best be achieved. The working group will
develop recommendations to 47 countries that seek to improve news and
information pluralism and enable user choice. A global call for
contributions is open until the end of October 2022, with written
inputs welcomed. More information:

https://informationdemocracy.org/2022/09/29/launch-working-group

5. Engine Room Releases Report on Digital Rights for Climate and
Environmental Justice

In July, the Engine Room published a report exploring the intersection
of digital rights, tech, and climate change. They would like to keep
the exchange going with an interactive discussion sharing their
findings, and collaboratively plotting a course for further future
work in this urgent area. As such, they are hosting a community call
on October 18 from 5 to 6 pm CET.

https://www.theengineroom.org/join-our-community-call-digital-rights-climate-justice

6. Ranking Digital Rights New Research Lab

For years, civil societies and individuals have used the popular
Ranking Digital Rights methodology for their own projects and
research. To assist with this, RDR has launched a Research Lab that
has all the compiled tools needed to create your own theory of change,
project plan, collect data, analyze company policies, and take action
using your findings.

https://rankingdigitalrights.org/research-lab/

7. Digital Freedom Fund Open Call

The Digital Freedom Fund will soon open another call for grant
applications looking to support litigation to advance digital rights
in Europe. Keep a tab on DFF, as the application call will open
roughly from mid November 2022 to mid February 2023.

https://digitalfreedomfund.org/grants/

8. ¿Cómo experimentan las tecnologías digitales las juventudes de Latinoamérica?

Se ha lanzado la Saga de Detox de Datos Latine para contar nuevas
historias creadas por y para juventudes de Latinoamérica adaptando el
Data Detox Kit y con el apoyo de Tactical Tech. Siguenlos en Instagram
y Twitter con los hashtags #CausasDigitales #DataDetoxKit

https://jaaklac.org/blog/c-sagadetoxdatoslatine/

9. Rights x Tech Event on Addressing Violence and Collective Safety on
Tech Plaforms

On Wednesday, October 19 at 1:00pm EDT, Rights X Tech will be
hosting an online event addressing violence and collective safety on
technology platforms. Alison Turkos will be joining them, who is a
survivor champion working to hold tech platforms and governments
accountable for safety. Alison is suing both Lyft and the NYPD
following her 2017 sexual assualt by a Lyft driver, the first lawsuit
filled with a survivor’s real name on the record.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rxt-embedding-accountability-safety-in-technology-tickets-425419319637

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### Digital Rights Resources ###

1. Zine Explaining the Political and Social Consequences of DNA
Testing and Databases

DNA testing comes with serious social and political consequences, from
identifying unknown biological relatives, “revealing” information
about your heritage, or providing information about your health. As
the use of DNA testing rises, so too does the creation of databases of
DNA, which brings with it another set of privacy and security
concerns. The Unraveling DNA zine offers a quick and broad overview of
the social and political consequences of the rise in DNA testing and
DNA databases.

https://pacscenter.stanford.edu/publication/unravelling-dna/

2. New Report on Digital Censorship and Threats to Creative Expression in Asia

PEN America's new report,Connecting the Dots: Artist Protection &
Artistic Freedom in Asia, captures growing anxiety among artists and
creative practitioners across South, Southeast, East, and Central Asia
around stringent security laws, the lack of unencumbered spaces for
free expression, and the impact of authoritarian measures to crack
down on artistic production and criminalize free expression.

https://pen.org/press-release/new-pen-america-report-digital-censorship-and-threats-to-creative-expression-rise-against-artists-in-asia/

3. How to Protect Yourself if Your School Uses Surveillance Tech

A recent investigation by The Dallas Morning News revealed that
colleges have been using an AI social-media-monitoring tool to surveil
student protesters. Meanwhile, there is little proof that surveillance
can actually protect students and in fact has caused harm. Monitoring
software has been used to reveal students' sexuality without their
consent. Low-income, Black, and Hispanic students are also
disproportionately exposed to surveillance and discipline. If your
school (or your child’s school) uses monitoring software, there are a
couple of steps you can take to protect your privacy and start a
conversation with your school.

https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-protect-yourself-school-surveillance-tech-privacy/

_________________________________________________

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

1. VPN Use Skyrockets in Iran

Internet monitoring groups and digital rights activists say they’re
seeing “curfew-style” network disruptions every day, with access being
throttled from around 4 p.m. local time until well into the night.
Tehran blocked access to WhatsApp and Instagram, two of the last
remaining uncensored social media services in Iran. Twitter, Facebook,
YouTube and several other platforms have been banned for years.

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/07/vpn-use-skyrockets-in-iran-as-citizens-navigate-internet-censorship.html

2. How Chinese Citizens Use Puns on Weibo to Get Past Internet Censors

In China, people have used language play online as a way to discuss an
ever-lengthening list of banned or controversial topics, creating an
eternally shifting lexicon of online slang. This particular approach
to internet speak — substituting words that sound like or are spelled
like others — has been an essential part of being online in China for
decades, allowing netizens to use the humor and cleverness of spoken
Mandarin to dodge censorship.

https://restofworld.org/2022/china-social-media-censorship/

3. TikTok Profits from Livestreams of Familiar Begging

A BBC investigation found that displaced families in Syrian camps are
begging for donations on TikTok while the company takes up to 70% of
the proceeds. Children are livestreaming on the social media app for
hours, pleading for digital gifts with a cash value. The BBC saw
streams earning up to $1,000 an hour, but found the people in the
camps received only a tiny fraction of that. TikTok said it would take
prompt action against "exploitative begging".

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-63213567

4. Detroit Extends Contract with Controversial Gunshot Surveillance Firm

The city of Detroit is moving forward with a $7m expansion of its
contract with ShotSpotter, after weeks of debate on its work with the
controversial surveillance company. ShotSpotter sells a system of
microphones that alerts police when gunshot sounds are detected and
triangulates the location of where the shots took place. Researchers
and privacy advocates and some local organizers have questioned the
system’s efficacy, and have argued authorities are making use of a
moment when American communities are reeling from gun violence to put
in place technology that is unreliable at best, and at worst leads to
continued concern over policing of Black and brown neighborhoods.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/oct/11/detroit-contract-extend-shotspotter-surveillance-firm

5. Labor Ministry Violates Privacy of Lebanese in Qatar

The Labor Ministry violated the privacy of hundreds of Lebanese who
registered on its website to apply for jobs in Qatar. Anyone visiting
the website can enter the “search for employees” field, giving them
access to the private information of those registered, including phone
numbers, emails, CVs and family statuses. The Minister of Labor
defended the website, considering that “it’s not immigration but a
cooperation between two sister states and a chance for young people to
gain experience.”

https://twitter.com/megaphone_news/status/1579481299215347714

6. EU Regulators Against Big Tech Paying for Telco Infrastructure

This week the Body of European Regulators for Electronic
Communications (BEREC) stated that they do not support the idea of
having big tech firms such as Google and Netflix paying for
telecommunications infrastructure. The telecommunications industry has
argued Google, Netflix, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft and Apple should pay
for a "fair share" of telecom infrastructure as their services make up
more than half of internet traffic. However, digital rights groups
fear that if the big tech firms fund infrastructure, they will also
strike deals with telecom firms to give their own traffic preferential
treatment, undermining the principle of net neutrality.

https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/eu-regulators-group-against-big-tech-paying-telco-infrastructure-2022-10-11/

_________________________________________________

### 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

Racism and Technology Center
Deadline: October 31, 2022
https://racismandtechnology.center/2022/09/03/do-you-want-to-work-on-anti-racism-and-technology/

Working Group on Pluralism of News and Information
Forum on Information & Democracy
Deadline: October 31, 2022
https://informationdemocracy.org/2022/09/29/launch-working-group-pluralism-of-information/

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 ###

TecnoRizoma
August 17 - October 22
Online
https://tinyurl.com/TecnoRizomaCentroamerica

Digital Health Week
October, 10 - 16
https://digitalhealthweek.co/

Community Health Village
October 12 - November 3
https://internetfreedomfestival.org/wiki/index.php/Community_Health_Village_2022

Africa Monthly Meetup
October, 19
9am EDT / 1pm UTC
Online
https://internetfreedomfestival.org/wiki/index.php/October_19_2022,_Africa_Meetup

Lingua Cafe
October, 19
10am EDT / 2pm UTC
Online
https://internetfreedomfestival.org/wiki/index.php/Lingua_Cafe

RxT Embedding Safety & Accountability on Technology Platforms
RightsxTech
1pm EDT / 5pm UTC
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rxt-embedding-accountability-safety-in-technology-tickets-425419319637

LATAM Monthly Meetup
October, 19
6:30pm EDT / 10:30pm UTC
Online
https://internetfreedomfestival.org/wiki/index.php?title=19_de_Octubre,_2022_LATAM

TWC Teach-In
October 19 - 21
Online
https://twcteachin.org/

Glitter Meetup: Digital Rights in Bolivia and Datachiri
October 20
9am EDT / 1pm UTC
Online
https://internetfreedomfestival.org/wiki/index.php/October_20_2022_GM

RIPE 85
October 24 - October 28
Hybrid: Belgrade & Online
https://ripe85.ripe.net/

MENA Monthly Meetup
October 26
6pm CAT / 4pm UTC
https://internetfreedomfestival.org/wiki/index.php/October_26_2022,_MENA_Meetup

Digital Discourses: Science/Fiction
October 27 - 28
2pm - 8pm UTC+7
Online
http://goethe.de/digitaldiscourses

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

✎ South Asia Advocacy Contractor | Access Now
+ India
https://accessnow.bamboohr.com/careers/148?source=aWQ9MjA%3D

✎ Social Media Intern | The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting
Project (OCCRP)
+ Remote within Central Europe time zones
https://www.occrp.org/en/occrp-jobs/social-media-intern

✎ Policy Analyst (East Asia) | Access Now
+ Singapore, Taiwan, or East or Southeast Asia
https://accessnow.bamboohr.com/careers/149?source=aWQ9MjA%3D

✎ Nonprofit Ops & Finance Leader | Open Collective Foundation
+ Remote in USA
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSctqGUohrudHGV-sp9N-tlF4cCV1HVPIW4dXf0lv-6u7vHN1Q/viewform

✎ East Asia Researcher | The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting
Project (OCCRP)
+ Remote in East Asia
https://www.occrp.org/en/occrp-jobs/east-asia-researcher

✎ Project Coordinator | OpenArchive
+ Remote
https://open-archive.org/jobs/project-coordinator

✎ Holistic Security Coordinator - Helpline | Access Now
+ Global Location Options
https://accessnow.bamboohr.com/careers/155?source=aWQ9MjA%3D

✎ Communications and Press Coordinator (Human Rights) | Korea Future
+ The Hague, The Netherlands
http://www.idealist.org/en/nonprofit-job/904bb1ceec73473f83216db822fffe79-communications-and-press-coordinator-human-rights-korea-future-the-hague

✎ Program Manager, Research & Engagement | Code for Science & Society
+ Remote
https://codeforscience.org/jobs/program-manager-research-and-engagement-code-for-science-and-society/

✎ UX Designer | Horizontal
+ Remote in LATAM, Africa, Middle East, Central Asia, Asia-Pacific
https://wearehorizontal.org/job-post-designer.html

✎ iOS Developer | Horizontal
+ Remote in LATAM, Africa, Middle East, Central Asia, Asia-Pacific
https://wearehorizontal.org/job-post-sr-ios.html

✎ Android Developer | Horizontal
+ Remote in LATAM, Africa, Middle East, Central Asia, Asia-Pacific
https://wearehorizontal.org/job-post-sr-android.html

✎ Intern Web Tester | The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting
Project (OCCRP)
+ Remote within UTC-1 and UTC+4
https://www.occrp.org/en/occrp-jobs/intern-web-tester

✎ Director of Product Security | Wikimedia Foundation
+ Remote
https://grnh.se/4bc745fd1us

✎ Staff Systems Architect | Wikimedia Foundation
+ Remote
https://grnh.se/23fc71ae1us

✎ Knowledge Management Lead | TechSakhi, Point of View
+ Remote in India
https://pointofview.in/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/JD-Knowledge-1.pdf

✎ Partnership Lead | TechSakhi, Point of View
+ Remote in India
https://pointofview.in/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/JD-Partnership.pdf

✎ Marketing Manager | TechSakhi, Point of View
+ Remote in India
https://pointofview.in/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/JD-Marketing-3.pdf

✎ Security Consultant (Myanmar) | Asian Forum for Human Rights and
Development (FORUM-ASIA)
+ Remote in Asia
https://www.forum-asia.org/uploads/wp/2022/10/JobAnnouncement-HRDProgrammeConsultant-MM-security.pdf

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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They can sign up here:
https://www.digitalrights.community/weekly-newsletter

### Want to partner with us?###

If you have any questions or want to learn more about partnerships,
get in touch at team at digitalrights.community. We are always looking
for like-minded organizations and people.

(((Hugs & light)))

--
Team CommUNITY at ARTICLE 19
www.digitalrights.community
Organizers of the Internet Freedom Festival
PGP: 2E1D CC33 A362 0BD6 236E  540A F60A 89AD 6FF9 7A2F

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