Digital Rights Weekly | December 2 - 6

[Team CommUNITY]

Hello Digital Rights Defenders!

Here is your weekly update on digital rights around the world for the
week of December 2 - 6. As a reminder, you can submit your news for
the newsletter here:
https://www.digitalrights.community/weekly-newsletter

Have feedback on how to improve this newsletter? Share it anonymously
in this Riseup Pad:
https://pad.riseup.net/p/TCUFeedback-keep


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### Team CommUNITY (TCU) ###


1. 2025 Global Gathering | Save the Date!

The 2025 Global Gathering will take place on September 8, 9 and 10 in
Estoril, Portugal.
This year we will have over 1,500+ spots available, marking the end of
our three-year plan to grow the event in a safe and sustainable way.
Registration will open in January - stay tuned!


2. GG24 Report is Out! Conversation Notes, Regional Feedback,
Demographics, and More!

We are also glad to share the GG24 Report, which contains notes from
the strategic conversations that took place, feedback from diverse
regions on their needs and plans, and demographic breakdown of
participants. Notably, for 2024, more than 51% of the 1,000
participants live in the Global Majority, 54% identified as women or
gender non-conforming, and regional presence was almost equally
distributed! Read more here:

https://www.digitalrights.community/blog/global-gathering-2024-report

In addition, check out this recent piece by The Thai Netizen Network
(TNN), which shares their reflection on the GG24, as well as the rise
of digital transnational repression in Southeast Asia.

https://www.apc.org/en/blog/silencing-beyond-borders-alarming-rise-digital-transnational-repression-southeast-asia


3. Join the Last TCU Event Until 2025!

Dec. 12 | Goodbye! Until 2025
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=December_12_2024_GM

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### Digital Rights in the Community ###


1. Impact Academy’s Global AI Safety Fellowship is Open

The Impact Academy’s Global AI Safety Fellowship is a fully funded
6-month research program for exceptional STEM talent. Fellows will
work with top AI safety organizations to promote the safe development
of AI. The program offers expert-led technical assessments, interview
preparation, access to a global AI safety network, and a competitive
compensation package of up to USD 30,000. The priority application
deadline is December 10, 2024, with the final deadline on December 31,
2024. Applications after the priority deadline will be considered
based on available spots.

https://globalaisafetyfellowship.com/


2. Fellowship at Migration & Tech Monitor

Migration and Tech Monitor announced their third annual fellowship
program to support work on border and migration technologies. The MTM
fellowship program’s main goal is to support members of mobile
communities or people in occupied spaces outside of Europe and
North-America. Fellows will begin in April 2025 and continue until May
2026, receiving a stipend of $30,000 USD for 12 months. Deadline to
apply: December 31, 2024.

https://www.migrationtechmonitor.com/aboutmtmfellowship


3. ConnectBridge Hackathon in Brussels on January 24–26, 2025

Check out the ConnectBridge Hackathon, where participants will address
challenges like combating misinformation, countering fake news,
ensuring free access to information and developing tools for
solidarity and support. The target audience includes communities
across Europe, the Caucasus, and Asia. Working languages are Russian
and English. Apply by 10 December, 2024.

https://connecthack.org/


4. 2025 Pulse Research Fellowship & Mentorship

The Internet Society Pulse Research Fellowship is a six-month program
that supports researchers in conducting data-driven analysis or
developing tools that contribute to an open, globally connected,
secure, and trustworthy Internet. You can also apply to be a mentor.
Deadline: 23 December 2024.

https://pulse.internetsociety.org/blog/apply-now-for-the-2025-pulse-research-fellowship-and-mentorship


5. Etica's Foundation Needs Your Help: Language Models & Traditional
Search Engines

Help Eticas Foundation by filling out the following three minute
survey. They are conducting research into how people use large
language models (LLMs) and traditional search engines. Your answers
will help them assess the environmental impact of these technologies
and guide future initiatives. Your response will be completely
anonymous:

https://forms.office.com/e/uYYUwMbj3Q


6. Campaign: Rise Against Big Tech

The Rise Against Big Tech campaign promotes and supports open-source
software alternatives to Big Tech, ensuring that people,
organizations, and communities are aware of the importance of
technologies that respect their rights, data, and digital sovereignty.
The campaign is run by Cloud68. Learn how to get involved:

https://cloud68.co/blog/rise-against-big-tech


7. Centering Public Interest in EU Technology Policies & Practices: A
Civil Society Call to the New European Leadership

ARTICLE 19 and a number of other civil society organizations working
on human, digital and consumer rights call for increased transparency
and participation of civil society in policy-making, particularly as a
new college of European Commissioners is being put into place. The
signatories call for a digital environment that is just, safe, open,
sustainable and inclusive.

https://www.article19.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/TSS_Joint_Statement.pdf


10. Reports from our Community

a) NEW 2023-204 Digital Violations Report by Balkans Insight Digital
RIghts Monitoring (BIDRM)

BIDRM just published their annual Digital Violation Report looking at
the period of September 2023 to August 2024, for the countries of
Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Hungary, Kosovo, Montenegro,
North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Turkey. The report summaries main
trends and issues of the region, as well as major developments in each
country, and much more!


https://balkaninsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/DRVAR-2024.pdf


b) Digital Blackout in Northern Gaza & Incitement Against Lebanese Safety

There was a significant escalation in digital violations against
Palestinian content last month. Sada Social Center for Digital Rights
documented over 500 violations across various platforms. Meta
platforms accounted for the largest share of violations at 57%,
followed by TikTok at 23%, X at 7%, and YouTube at 13%. Additionally,
30 WhatsApp accounts belonging to Palestinians were removed, including
two news groups and one local group, with digital blackout persisting
in northern Gaza due to the ongoing internet outage, and an escalation
in Israeli incitement against Lebanese people.

https://sada.social/post/nofmbr-2024-taatym-rkmy-aal-shmal-ktaaa-ghz-othryd-dd-slam-allbnanyyn

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### Community Resources  ###


1. The State Massacre Hidden by an Internet Blackout

The Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) partnered with Middle East
Images to present photographs that offer a glimpse into Iran’s brutal
state crackdowns on protesters in 2019. The Iranian authorities
imposed a near-total internet shutdown for nearly a week to conceal
the scale of the killings by security forces.

https://iranhumanrights.org/2024/11/photos-from-iran-bloody-november-in-2019-the-state-massacre-hidden-by-an-internet-blackout/




2. Digital Welfare Payments Across Africa: What Happens to Those
Without Internet Access or Smartphone?

Social protection systems in some African countries are being
digitised, which makes it possible to apply for and receive payments
online or directly to one’s phone. But what happens to the millions of
people without access to the internet or a smartphone? Or the digital
literacy necessary to use online forms or websites?

https://theconversation.com/welfare-payments-are-going-digital-in-africa-but-this-isnt-helping-those-without-internet-access-or-smartphones-243184


3. Opinion | The ChatGPT Secret: Is That Text Message from Your
Friend, Your Lover – or a Robot?

People are turning to chatbots to solve all their life problems, and
they like its answers. But are they on a very slippery slope?

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/dec/03/the-chatgpt-secret-is-that-text-message-from-your-friend-your-lover-or-a-robot

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


1. Pakistan Web Controls Quash Dissent & Potential

Pakistan's government is turning to draconian internet censorship
which threatens to cut the country off from a promising future.

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20241127-pakistan-web-controls-quash-dissent-and-potential


2. Many Unable to Access eVisas to Prove Right to be in UK

The UK Home Office admitted that many people who have the right to
live and work in the UK cannot access their eVisas and provide proof
that they are allowed to be in the country.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/dec/01/home-office-immigration-evisas-right-to-live-work-uk


3. Meta Says It Took Down 20 Covert Influence Operations

Meta has intervened to take down about 20 covert influence operations
around the world this year. The tech firm said fears of AI-fuelled
fakery warping elections did not materialise in 2024.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/dec/03/meta-says-it-has-taken-down-about-20-covert-influence-operations-in-2024


4. Why Silicon Valley Panicked Over Australia’s Under-16 Social Media Ban

Australia’s children account for a tiny portion of users, but tech
companies are worried about the law setting a precedent.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/dec/02/australia-social-media-children-ban


5. Did TikTok Help Romanian Far-Right to Get Closer to Power?

Authorities in Romania are considering the role of TikTok in a
far-right candidate’s first-round win in the country’s presidential
election. Some influencers on the platform admit they took money to
promote him.

https://balkaninsight.com/2024/12/03/from-the-heart-did-tiktok-help-take-romanian-far-right-to-cusp-of-power/

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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://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=Fundraising_Opportunities

Digital Freedom Fund
December 2, 2024 and February 17, 2025
https://digitalfreedomfund.org/grants/

Internet Society Pulse Research Fellowship
Deadline: 23 December 2024.
https://pulse.internetsociety.org/blog/apply-now-for-the-2025-pulse-research-fellowship-and-mentorship

Migration & Tech Monitor
Deadline: 31 December, 2024
https://www.migrationtechmonitor.com/aboutmtmfellowship

IDREAM Call For Applications: Capacity Building for Human Right
Defenders in Exile
Deadline: 31 December 2024
https://www.cvt.org/what-we-do/movement-building/building-resilience/idream/idream-call-for-applications

AI-Cybersecurity Essay Prize Competition
Munich Security Conference (MSC) and Binding Hook
Deadline: 2 January, 2025
https://bindinghook.com/ai-cybersecurity-essay-prize-competition/

The Prototype Fund
Deadline: January 2, 2025
https://new.prototypefund.de/en/

European AI & Society Fund
AI Accountability Grants
Deadline: January 6, 2025
https://europeanaifund.org/funding/

Funding Opportunity for Internet Freedom Programs from U.S. Department of State
Deadline for statements of interest: January 9, 2024
https://www.state.gov/bureau-of-democracy-human-rights-and-labor-request-for-statements-of-interest-drl-internet-freedom-annual-program-statement-2/

Digital Rights Fund for WANA Region
Deadline: Rolling
SMEX
https://smex.org/digital-rights-fund/

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

Open Tech Fund
Deadline: Rolling
https://apply.opentech.fund

Digital Impact Alliance Fellowship
Deadline: Rolling
https://dial.global/apply-to-our-fellows-program/

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

Apoyos de Respuesta Rápida
Fondo Acción Urgente
Deadline: Rolling
https://fondoaccionurgente.org.co/es/que-hacemos/apoyos-de-respuesta-rapida

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

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### Events Calendar ###

2024 Global Voices Summit
December 6 - 7, 2024
Kathmandu, Nepal
https://summit2024.globalvoices.org/

Goodbye! Until 2025 (Glitter Meetup)
December 12, 2024
9am EDT / 2pm UTC
Team CommUNITY
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=December_12_2024_GM

Virtual School of Internet Governance
January 14, 2025 - April 1, 2025
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdxElbmLzzGNUpUuoW3jDieHkNZpvO35hhDDlH9-Ia8jwKNww/viewform

ConnectBridge Hackathon
January 24–26, 2025
Deadline to apply: December 10, 2024
Brussels
https://connecthack.org/

FOSDEM
February 1-2, 2025
https://fosdem.org/2025/

RightsCon
February 24 - 27, 2025
Taiwan
https://www.rightscon.org/registration/

Check out a list of our virtual events here:
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=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

✎ Community Program Manager | The Coalition for Independent Tech Research
+ Remote
http://independenttechresearch.org/open-positions/

✎ Program Associate - MENA | Access Now
+ Berlin, Germany (Hybrid)
https://accessnow.bamboohr.com/careers/221

✎ Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Specialist | EngangeMedia
+ Remote (South and Southeast Asia)
https://engagemedia.org/job/monitoring-evaluation-learning-specialist/

✎ Co-Lead: Program Manager Operations | Digital Defenders Partnership
+ The Hague, Netherlands
https://hivos.org/vacancy/co-lead-program-manager-operations-ddp/

✎ Software Engineer | ASL19
+ Remote (global, preferably from UTC+1 to UTC-8 time zones)
https://asl19.org/en/join-us/software-engineer

✎ Project Manager | Institute for War and Peace Reporting
+ Beirut, Lebanon / Remote
https://iwpr.bamboohr.com/careers/453?source=aWQ9MjQ%3D

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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### 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
PGP: 2E1D CC33 A362 0BD6 236E  540A F60A 89AD 6FF9 7A2F

You can now submit your news for the Digital Rights weekly directly.
To post your job opportunities, submit your opportunities to our Job Board.
--
Team CommUNITY at ARTICLE 19
www.digitalrights.community
Organizers of the Global Gathering
PGP: 2E1D CC33 A362 0BD6 236E  540A F60A 89AD 6FF9 7A2F

You can now submit your news for the Digital Rights weekly directly.
To post your job opportunities, submit your opportunities to our Job Board.