Digital Rights Weekly | October 23 - 27

[Team CommUNITY]

Hello Digital Rights Defenders!

Here is your weekly update on digital rights around the world for the
week of October 23 - 27. As a reminder, you can submit your news for
the newsletter here:
https://www.digitalrights.community/weekly-newsletter

### Team CommUNITY (TCU) ###

November 21, "Getting to Know our Stress & Anxiety":

RSVP for the next "The Wellbeing Monthly", a monthly free virtual
educational workshop series led by diverse mental health
professionals.

https://digitalrights.formstack.com/forms/wellbeingmonthly5

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### Digital Rights in the Community ###

1. Civil Organizations Ask To Restore Telecoms & Internet Connectivity
Now in Gaza

ARTICLE 19, the MENA Alliance for Digital Rights and dozens of other
civil society organizations condemn, in the strongest terms, Israel’s
targeting of the means of communication and access to information in
Gaza. They express deep alarm by Israel’s cutting off of civilian
telecommunication infrastructure, internet, electricity, mainstream
media, journalists, and human rights defenders.

https://www.article19.org/resources/gaza-restore-telecoms-and-internet-connectivity-now/


2. Applications Open for Commonwealth Africa Cyber Fellowships

Apply for the one year program for cybersecurity experts from
Commonwealth countries in Africa, open to applicants with experience
in cybersecurity in law, policymaking, telecommunications, academia.
Selected experts will get exclusive access to academic research
opportunities, networking events and annual conferences, with a focus
on enhancing cybersecurity policies and institutions across
Commonwealth countries in Africa. Deadline: December 10, 2023.

https://thecommonwealth.org/news/applications-open-commonwealth-africa-cyber-fellowships


3. Digital Freedom Fund Speaker Series

Digital Freedom Fund's fifth speaker series focuses on collective
redress mechanisms and case studies from around the world including
Kenya, Brazil and Ireland. The series aims to explore opportunities to
harness collective power and strategic litigation to protect human
rights, in the wake of the EU Representative Actions Directive’s
recent entry into force. These weekly sessions started on October 11
and run till November 22. You can register for upcoming sessions here
and stream previous sessions:

https://digitalfreedomfund.org/collective-redress-lessons-from-around-the-globe/


4. Yemen: Human Rights Groups Condemn Internet Blocking & Censorship

Local and international human rights organizations strongly condemn
the ongoing internet blocking and censorship in Yemen. They call for
immediate action to put an end to this alarming violation of digital
freedom, the right to access information, and the right to protest.

https://www.article19.org/resources/yemen-human-rights-groups-condemn-internet-blocking-and-censorship/


5. Contesting the Digital Space: The Role of Laws and Tech Policy in
the MENA Region

On Tuesday, October 31 at 11:00 am ET, join the Tahrir Institute for
Middle East Policy for a virtual panel discussion on the intersection
of the law, tech policy, and digital rights across the MENA region.

https://timep.org/2023/10/24/contesting-the-digital-space-the-role-of-laws-and-tech-policy-in-the-mena-region/


6. Reports from the Community:

a)  The Future of the Internet Ecosystem

Check out the new report titled  "The Future of the Internet
Ecosystem: Fostering Collaborative Growth for Practitioners" produced
under the Greater Internet Freedom (GIF) project at Internews. This
research looks into the digital rights and digital security ecosystem
with the aim of identifying the needs and concerns of practitioners
working across the Internet freedom landscape. You can access the
report here:

https://greaterinternetfreedom.org/publications/?_search=ecosystem


b) Rights Based Approach to Digital Public Spaces

Check out the new white paper from OpenFuture explaining why digital
public space is necessary for the realization of digital rights. In
it, author Zuzanna Warso argues for a stronger emphasis on
socioeconomic rights and environmental protections within the context
digital rights.
https://openfuture.eu/publication/digital-rights-revisited/

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### Digital Rights Resources ###

1. New Search Engine: Well-Known.dev

Well-Known.dev is a new resource you can use to learn who is
advertising where. It's a search engine for "well-known resources."
These are text-only pages (like ads.txt) that a website is required to
have posted if it wants to use certain services, like advertising
marketplaces, the Apple App Store, or Apple Pay. Having a search
engine for these pages is useful, for example, to know who funds or
owns malicious websites or to find out who is placing paid ads on a
website full of malware, election manipulation, hate speech, or
doxxing.

https://well-known.dev/about/

Want to learn more about how to use well-known.dev this way? This
video demonstrates how to use it.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1siXg8dtw-OmCDr0TBOClb55MVdR-o7-n/view


2. New Issue from the New Internationalist: Spying on Dissent

It’s never been easier for governments to spy on dissent. Spyware that
turns dissenters’ phones into weapons, drones that watch protests from
above and facial recognition are just some of the tech diluting our
rights.This edition explores the impact of state surveillance on
society and movements, and looks at how activists are fighting back.

https://newint.org/issues/2023/10/25/surveillance-spying-dissent

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

1. Are Social Media Giants Censoring pro-Palestine Voices Amid Israel’s War?
>From the US to Europe to India, users and activists say the world’s
largest social media platforms are curtailing the reach of content
critical of Israel.

https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2023/10/24/shadowbanning-are-social-media-giants-censoring-pro-palestine-voices

Tech companies have generally failed in protecting people from
dangerous narratives fueled by disinformation, hate speech, and a lack
of authentication checks. This is the current case with the ongoing
war on Gaza, as big tech algorithms attempt to mask deeply-rooted bias
on their platforms.

https://timep.org/2023/10/24/tainted-narratives-tech-giants-harming-users-in-war-time/

As armed conflict continues to play out in the Israel–Gaza war, a
separate battle is raging to control the narrative being presented to
the world. Eyewitness accounts, verified facts and culturally
sensitive reporting are competing with misinformation, political
propaganda and irresponsible journalism.

https://theconversation.com/in-times-of-war-digital-activism-has-power-heres-how-to-engage-responsibly-215882


2. Jordan’s New Cybercrime Law Passes Despite Freedom Concerns

In record time of just under a month, Jordan passed a new cybercrime
law in August 2023, reawakening widespread public criticism with
regards to its impact on freedom of expression and how the law’s
provisions could be used by authorities to counter dissenting voices.

https://timep.org/2023/10/19/jordans-new-cybercrime-law-passes-despite-freedom-concerns/


3. Citizens’ Access to Social Services Obstructed by Uganda’s Digital ID system

More than 15 million Ugandans could be excluded from gaining access to
essential public services and entitlements because they do not have
national digital identity cards.
https://ifex.org/citizens-access-to-social-services-obstructed-by-ugandas-digital-id-system/


4. Hikvision, Whose Kit is Banned in US, Receives Clarification About
Where its Cameras can be Placed

Hikvision, the Chinese surveillance firm identified by the UK
government as a security threat, has “recommitted” to Britain after
receiving clarification that a ban on its cameras being positioned at
sensitive sites does not extend to public authorities or police
stations.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/oct/23/chinese-surveillance-firm-hikvision-recommits-to-uk-after-new-guidance


5. Apple Enforces New Check on Apps in China as Beijing tightens Oversight

Apple has started requiring new apps to show proof of a Chinese
government license before their release on its China App Store,
joining local rivals that had adopted the policy years earlier to meet
tightening state regulations.

https://www.reuters.com/technology/apple-enforces-new-check-apps-china-beijing-tightens-oversight-2023-10-03/


6. Spies, Damned Spies
This article explores the chilling impact of the Spanish state’s
intrusive surveillance tactics against Catalan civil society. Is there
a chance of justice?

https://newint.org/features/2023/10/23/catalonia-surveillance-spies


7. A Controversial Plan to Scan Private Messages for Child Abuse Meets
Fresh Scandal

An EU government body is pushing a proposal to combat child sexual
abuse material that has significant privacy implications. Its lead
advocate is making things even messier.

https://www.wired.co.uk/article/csar-chat-scan-proposal-european-commission-ads


8. Police Love Google’s Surveillance Data. Here’s How to Protect Yourself:

Novel ways of using Google’s data are helping police investigations.
But privacy advocates say it’s violating Americans’ constitutional
rights.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/10/24/google-privacy-police-geofence/


9. Generative AI is Already Catalyzing Disinformation. How Long Until
Chatbots Manipulate Us Directly?

Over the last few years, it’s become clear that unscrupulous companies
and politicians are willing to pursue any new technology that promises
the ability to manipulate opinion at scale. Generative AI represents
the latest wave of such technologies.

https://techpolicy.press/generative-ai-is-already-catalyzing-disinformation-how-long-until-chatbots-manipulate-us-directly/

Artificial intelligence, and its risks and benefits, has rapidly
entered the popular consciousness in the past year. Kat Duffy and Dr.
Rumman Chowdhury discuss how society can mitigate problems and ensure
AI is an asset. How to govern AI?

https://www.cfr.org/blog/governing-artificial-intelligence-conversation-rumman-chowdhury


10. Looking Beyond the Black Box: Transparency and Foundation Models

Foundation models have garnered substantial commercial investment and
public attention due to their role in various generative AI
applications. However, a significant issue looms over their use: the
lack of transparency in how these models are developed and deployed.

https://techpolicy.press/looking-beyond-the-black-box-transparency-and-foundation-models/

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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

Green Web Foundation
Green Web Fellowship
Deadline: October 31, 2023
https://www.thegreenwebfoundation.org/fellowships/call-for-applications/

The Green Screen
Catalyst Fund
Deadline: November 15, 2023
https://greenscreen.network/en/catalyst-fund/

Commonwealth Africa Cyber Fellowships
Deadline: December 10, 2023
https://thecommonwealth.org/news/applications-open-commonwealth-africa-cyber-fellowships

Digital Freedom Fund
Deadline: February 14, 2024
https://digitalfreedomfund.org/grants/

FOSS United
Deadline: Rolling
https://fossunited.org/grants

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

Sovereign Tech Fund
Deadline: Rolling
https://sovereigntechfund.de/en/applications/

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 Feminist Activism
Deadline: Rolling Basis
https://urgentactionfund.org/

Urgent Action Fund - Asia & Pacific
Deadline: Rolling
https://www.uafanp.org/our_grants

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

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### Events Calendar ###

Collective Redress – Lessons from Around the Globe
Digital Freedom Fund
October 11 - November 22
Online
https://digitalfreedomfund.org/collective-redress-lessons-from-around-the-globe/

The Role of Laws and Tech Policy in the MENA Region
TIMEP
October 31
Online
11am ET
https://timep.org/2023/10/24/contesting-the-digital-space-the-role-of-laws-and-tech-policy-in-the-mena-region/

The Glitterest Glitter Meetup
Team CommUNITY
November 2, 2023
9am EDT / 1pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=November_2_2023_GM

Glitter Meetup: Building Trans-national Cooperatives to Advance Public
Interest Technologies
Team CommUNITY
November 9, 2023
9am EDT / 2pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=November_9_2023_GM

The Wellbeing Monthly: Getting to Know our Stress & Anxiety
Team CommUNITY
November 21, 2023
9am EDT / 1pm UTC
Online
https://digitalrights.formstack.com/forms/wellbeingmonthly5

LATAM Meetup
Team CommUNITY
November 22, 2023
6:30pm EDT / 11:30pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=22_de_Noviembre,_2023_LATAM

Africa Meetup
Team CommUNITY
November 23, 2023
9am EDT / 2pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=November_23_2023,_Africa_Meetup

MENA Meetup
Team CommUNITY
November 23, 2023
12pm EDT / 5pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=November_23_2023,_MENA_Meetup

Virtual School on Internet Governance
Jan 22 - April 13, 2024
Online
https://forms.gle/5G8y3NTVMVHwr3MP8

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

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### 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

✎ Several consultants positions | Internews
+ Remote
https://internews.org/call-for-consultants-business-sustainability/

✎ Director of Communications and Advocacy | IFEX
+ Toronto, Ontario (Remote)
https://ifex.bamboohr.com/careers/28?source=aWQ9MTM%3D

✎ Dutch Translator (Part-Time Contract) | Wikimedia Foundation
+ Remote
https://grnh.se/a10dde161us

✎ Planned Giving Officer (Principal level role) | Wikimedia Foundation
+ Remote
https://grnh.se/2aa05c8f1us

✎ Communications Specialist (Contract) | Wikimedia Foundation
+ Remote
https://grnh.se/b1bed17f1us

✎ Deputy Programme Director and Head of Children and Young People's
Digital Rights Team | Amnesty International
+ London, UK
https://careers.amnesty.org/vacancy/deputy-programme-director-and-head-of-the-big-tech-accountability-team-3909/3937/description/

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

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