Digital Rights Weekly | March 20-24

Thu Mar 23 17:55:03 CET 2023

Hello Digital Rights Defenders!

Here is your weekly update on digital rights around the world for the
week of March 20 - 24. As a reminder, you can submit your news for the
newsletter here: https://www.digitalrights.community/weekly-newsletter

### Team CommUNITY (TCU) ###

1. Apply for the Feira @ the Global Gathering before April 7!

Join us at the Feira @ the Global Gathering, a three day social and
networking festival for digital rights defenders, hosted in an idyllic
outdoor space in Estoril, Portugal. Feira attendees can expect to
recharge and reconnect alongside self-organized meetups and
discussions, food, music, local vendors and a splash of glitter and
face paint. Apply before April 7!

https://www.digitalrights.community/blog/apply-feira-global-gathering

2. Check out the TCU ‘s Community Health Report 2022/2023!

Team CommUNITY’s (TCU) latest Community Health Report 2022/2023 (CHR)
provides insights into the urgent needs, trends, and observations of
most prolific conversations taking place in the digital rights
community around the globe. Find regional year-in-reviews from our
Community Leads in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and MENA, based on
their work nurturing community networks in their respective regions,
observations from TCU staff on the state of affairs in the digital
rights ecosystem, the digital labor rights, mental health, and more!

https://www.digitalrights.community/blog/announcing-the-community-health-report-20222023

3. Take a look at our February Digital Rights Regional Briefs!

Every month, TCU's Community Leads from Africa, Asia, Latin America,
and MENA, bring you critical info, opps and shed light on emerging
issues.  This month’s briefs features an interview with Ariel Koren,
former Google employee who was fired for protesting Project Nimbus - a
$1.2 billion agreement between Google and Amazon to supply artificial
intelligence tools and other computing services to Israel and its
military. In addition, we have detected a rise in phishing operations
in Asia.

https://www.digitalrights.community/blog/regionalbriefsfebruary2023

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### Digital Rights in the Community ###

1. Bloom Training Workshop

In 2020, Chayn launched Bloom, a free remote trauma support service,
to fill a serious existing gap in online, scalable services that
survivors can access anywhere for free. Since 2020, Bloom has
supported over 2,500 survivors from over 60 countries, and next March
30 at 15:00 BST a Bloom training workshop is taking place. It is
designed to support organizations against gender-based violence,
especially from England & Wales, to apply learnings and elements from
Bloom to their own work. The workshop will cover how Bloom runs and
share some learnings so far.

More information on the Bloom training here: c.chayn.co/bloomtraining
More information on the Bloom application here: https://bloom.chayn.co

2. Iraq: Drop Draft Digital Content Legislation & Protect Free Speech Online

ARTICLE 19 and 11 other civil society organizations have appealed to
Iraq’s Communications and Media Commission, urging it to abandon plans
for digital content regulations that, if passed, would threaten rights
to freedom of opinion and expression online, as well as access to
information.

https://www.article19.org/resources/iraq-drop-draft-digital-content-legislation-protect-free-speech-online/

3. France: Intrusive Olympics Surveillance Technologies Could Usher in
a Dystopian Future

Amnesty International calls on French lawmakers to reject any plans to
use video surveillance powered by artificial intelligence (AI) at the
2024 Paris Olympics. Such draconian technologies of mass surveillance
violate the rights to privacy and can lead to violations of the rights
to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/03/france-intrusive-olympics-surveillance-technologies-could-usher-in-a-dystopian-future/

4. New Reports from the Digital Rights Community:

How Vietnam’s State Trolls are Undermining Free Speech & Democracy

Vietnam has deployed an army of online trolls and cyber troops who are
spreading not just disinformation but also conducting vicious hate
campaigns against human rights activists and suspected critics of the
state. The extent of the operations of these trolls is detailed in a
new report released by the human rights watchdog Viet Tan. Titled
“#StopVNtrolls — Combatting Force 47 and Cyber Censorship,” the report
“exposes the harmful networks that have been responsible for
coordinated social harm and suppressing public discourse in Vietnam.”

https://viettan.org/en/stopvntrolls/

5. ADC’s New Argentina Report Flags How ISPs Can Do More for User’s Data Privacy

According to a new report by digital rights group ADC, Argentinian
telecommunications providers have made strides in their commitments to
protecting users’ data privacy, but the gains are uneven. They are
doing a better job at informing about data processing and users' data
rights, but still a poor job at disclosing how they handle government
demands for user data.

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2023/03/adcs-new-argentina-report-flags-how-isps-can-do-more-users-data-privacy

6. UN: Ongoing digital dictatorship in Myanmar

ARTICLE 19 and Access Now delivered this statement on the ongoing
digital dictatorship in Myanmar during the Interactive Dialogue with
the Special Rapporteur on Myanmar at the 52nd Session of the UN Human
Rights Council.

https://www.article19.org/resources/un-ongoing-digital-dictatorship-in-myanmar/

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### Digital Rights Resources ###

1. Why Does the Global Spyware Industry Continue to Thrive? Trends,
Explanations, and Responses

The global spyware and digital forensics industry continues to grow
despite public backlash following an array of surveillance scandals,
many linked to NSO Group’s Pegasus program. This paper explores the
resilience of the commercial spyware market and offers ideas about how
to limit the spread of invasive cyber surveillance tools. It
highlights several factors driving the industry, including elevated
demand for intrusion technology from government clients and private
customers, as well as inconsistent political will from democratic
governments to crack down on these technologies.

https://carnegieendowment.org/2023/03/14/why-does-global-spyware-industry-continue-to-thrive-trends-explanations-and-responses-pub-89229

2. Opinion Piece on TikTok Bans: Short-Sighted Solutions to the Wrong Problem

TikTok’s not the root of U.S. privacy problems and outlawing it is no
solution, says U.S. Policy Analyst at Access Now, a global human
rights organization that defends and extends the digital rights of
people at risk around the world. None of these crackdowns would
dramatically enhance the privacy of people using the app. On the
contrary, they would violate users’ rights to express themselves
online.

https://techpolicy.press/tiktok-bans-short-sighted-solutions-to-the-wrong-problem/

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

1. Indian Officials Cut Internet for 27 Million People Amid Search for Fugitive

The ban in Punjab state, as officials looked for Sikh separatist
Amritpal Singh, is one of the country’s broadest shutdowns in recent
years.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/03/19/india-punjab-intermet-ban-amritpal-singh/

The founder of Indian tech policy outlet, Medianama, told Forbes: “An
internet shutdown essentially is a suspension of the fundamental
rights of citizens… It’s really worrying how governments don’t take
this seriously.”

https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2023/03/20/indian-state-blocks-internet-and-text-messaging-for-27-million-residents-heres-why/?sh=61e885845803

2. Israeli Army Conducted Online Psy-op Against Israeli Public During Gaza War

The Israel Defense Forces’ Spokesperson’s Unit conducted a
psychological warfare operation against Israeli citizens during the
May 2021 Guardian of the Walls campaign in Gaza, with the aim of
boosting public awareness of the IDF’s offensive maneuvers and the
“toll” these moves take on the Palestinians. Soldiers used fake social
media accounts to conceal the campaign’s origin. They took to Twitter,
Facebook, Instagram and TikTok and uploaded images and clips of the
army’s strikes in Gaza using the hashtag #Gazaregrets.

https://twitter.com/marwasf/status/1638470274071900161

3. Mexico Probes Army’s Use of Spyware Against Human Rights Activists

Last week, lawmakers in Mexico said they would launch a federal
commission to look into potential human rights abuses by the country's
military. Listen to the interview with one of the journalists that got
an early look at the report that triggered this investigation:

https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1164565631

4. Russian Disinformation Looks to US Far Right to Weaken Ukraine Support

The Kremlin is deploying new tactics by drawing on favorite themes and
conspiracy theories of rightwing Republicans.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/16/russia-disinformation-us-far-right-republicans-ukraine

5. Predator Scandal: the European Surveillance Market is a Black Hole

They call it the Greek Watergate, but the case of illegal wiretapping
concerns all of Europe. And Italy is the leading exporter of
surveillance systems in the EU.

https://irpimedia.irpi.eu/en-predator-scandal-european-surveillance-market-black-hole/

6. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Says He’s a ‘Little Bit Scared’ of A.I.

Altman said he’s concerned about potential disinformation and
authoritarian control of AI technology, even though AI will transform
the economy, labor and education.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/20/openai-ceo-sam-altman-says-hes-a-little-bit-scared-of-ai.html

7. Journalist Plugs in Unknown USB Drive Mailed to Him -- It Exploded
in His Face

As reported by the Agence France-Presse on Tuesday, five Ecuadorian
journalists have received USB drives in the mail from Quinsaloma. Each
of the USB sticks was meant to explode when activated.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/03/journalist-plugs-in-unknown-usb-drive-mailed-to-him-it-exploded-in-his-face/

8. Zuckerberg was Warned of Social Media Addiction

According to claims in a court filing, employees at Meta and ByteDance
were aware of the harmful effects of their platforms on young children
and teenagers but disregarded the information or in some cases sought
to undermine it.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-03-13/zuckerberg-was-warned-on-social-media-addiction-filing-shows#xj4y7vzkg

9. All Social Media Platforms have Tik Tok-Like Risks, Transparency Group Says

The national-security and mental-health risks posed by TikTok are
shared by other social media platforms, according to an advocacy group
that’s urging Congress to also hold US companies accountable ahead of
high-profile testimony from TikTok’s chief executive officer.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-03-20/tiktok-like-risks-shared-by-meta-google-amazon-and-apple-group-says#xj4y7vzkg?leadSource=uverify%20wall

10. The Internet Archive Defends Its Digital Library in Court

A potentially landmark copyright lawsuit could affect how libraries
are able to scan their own book collections.

https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/20/23641457/internet-archive-hachette-lawsuit-court-copyright-fair-use

11. Florida ‘Digital Rights’ Push Big Tech into DeSantis Culture War

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is targeting Big Tech with a plan he
says will bolster consumer privacy protections, guard against
censorship, and enshrine other “digital rights”—though critics charge
aspects designed to appeal to the GOP base may not meet constitutional
muster.

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/in-house-counsel/florida-digital-rights-push-big-tech-into-desantis-culture-war

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### 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

National Media Defence Centre Indo-Pacific Region
International Center for Non-Profit Law & Media Defence
Deadline: March 31, 2023
https://www.mediadefence.org/news/special-call-grant-indo-pacific/

Omidyar Network
Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund
Deadline: April 1, 2023
https://www.rtyouthpower.org/apply-now

Ford Foundation
Dignity and Justice Fund
Spyware Accountability Initiative
Deadline: April 16, 2023
https://fordfoundation.forms.fm/spyware-accountability-initiative-spring-2023-request-for-concept-notes/forms/9600

Digital Good Network
Digital Good Research Fund
Deadline: April 28, 2023
https://digitalgood.net

Digital Rights Research Grant
PrivacyCo
Deadline: Rolling
https://www.top10vpn.com/research-grant/

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

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

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/

_________________________________________________

### Events Calendar ###

MENA Monthly Meetup
9:30 EDT / 1:30pm UTC
March 29, 2023
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=March_29_2023,_MENA_Meetup

Glitterest Glitter Meetup
9am EDT / 1pm UTC
March 30, 2023
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=March_30_2023_GM

Bloom Training Workshop
Chayn
3pm BST
March 30, 2023
http://c.chayn.co/bloomtraining

Africa Monthly Meetup
9am EST / 1pm UTC
March 31, 2023
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=March_31_2023,_Africa_Meetup

DRIF23
April 12 to 14, 2023
Hybrid/Nairobi
https://whova.com/portal/registration/draif_202304/

7th Palestine Digital Activism Forum
7amleh
May 23-25, 2023
TBD
https://7amleh.org/2023/01/24/palestine-digital-activism-forum

Advocacy Evaluation Workshop
Center for Victims of Torture
May 29 - June 1, 2023
Mexico City
https://www.newtactics.org/e2a-upcoming-training-opportunities

RightsCon
Access Now
June 5 - 8, 2023
Hybrid
https://www.rightscon.org/attend/

North American School of Internet Governance
June 10 - 11, 2023
Washington DC, USA
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdST3GSV-nNF-8j7H9hO9ZDCaWMHJylM-oo9Z1VSpzUORhoig/viewform

Oxford Media Policy Summer Institute
July 31 - August 11, 2023
Oxford, USA
http://pcmlp.socleg.ox.ac.uk/oxford-media-policy-summer-institute-2023/

Freedom Not Fear
September 1- 4, 2023
Brussels
https://freedomnotfear.org

The Global Gathering
Team CommUNITY
September 15-17, 2023
Portugal
https://www.digitalrights.community/blog/announcing-team-communitys-global-gathering

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

✎ Marketing Generalist for Overlooked Founders | KnowCap Interactive
+ Remote
https://www.knowcap.io/experts/network#leapapply

✎ Communications and Engagement Associate | Access Now
+ Global Location Options
https://accessnow.bamboohr.com/careers/177?source=aWQ9MjA%3D

✎ Communications and Engagement Officer - LATAM | Access Now
+ Global Location Options
https://accessnow.bamboohr.com/careers/178?source=aWQ9MjA%3D

✎ Coordinación de la Membresía | May First Movement Technology
+ Remote within USA and LATAM time zones
https://mayfirst.org/es/jobs/

✎ Program Coordinator | Reporters Shield
+ Remote in East Coast, USA
https://www.occrp.org/en/occrp-jobs/program-coordinator

✎ Technology Researcher (Security and Privacy) | Centre for Internet and Society
+ Remote in India
https://cis-india.org/jobs/call-for-applications-technology-researcher-security-and-privacy

✎ Program Coordinator Consultant | Fundación Avina
+ Panamá
https://avina.bamboohr.com/careers/83

✎ Senior Finance Officer | Access Now
+ Brussels, Belgium
https://accessnow.bamboohr.com/hiring/jobs/172

✎ Senior Systems Administrator | The Center for Victims of Torture
+ Minneapolis/St Paul, Minnesota, USA
https://cvt.simplicant.com/jobs/48244-senior-systems-administrator/detail

✎ Director of Development | OneAmerica
+ Seattle, Vancouver, or Yakima (Washington), USA
https://weareoneamerica.bamboohr.com/careers/29?source=aWQ9MTg%3D

✎ Program & Operations Manager | CPR Action
+ NYC, USA
https://changethenypdaction.org/program-operations-manager/

✎ Coalition Coordinator for the Illinois Green New Deal | Grassroots
Collaborative
+ Chicago, USA
https://grassrootscollaborative.org/job-posting-coalition-coordinator-for-the-illinois-green-new-deal-2/

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

### Know someone that wants to subscribe to our newsletter? ###

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
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