Digital Rights Weekly | December 9 - 13

Thu Dec 12 21:19:51 CET 2024

Hello Digital Rights Defenders!

Here is your weekly update on digital rights around the world for the
week of December 9 - 13.

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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### TCU News ###

1. Follow us on BlueSky

We are transitioning to BlueSky! Follow us
here:

https://bsky.app/profile/teamcommunity.bsky.social

2. The Dates for the 2025 Global Gathering Dates are Out:
September 8, 9, and 10!

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!

Check out the following links to see what the GG24 edition was like:

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

Colnodo

Digital Security School on their GG24 experience:
https://escueladeseguridaddigital.co/global-gathering-la-construccion-colaborativa-e-intercambio-de-conocimientos-para-la-defensa-de-los-derechos-digitales/

3. D3 - Getting to Know Their Work Advocating for Digital Rights for
Portuguese Citizens

Defesa dos Direitos Digitais (D3) fight and advocate for digital
rights in Portugal. We talked with D3’s president, Ricardo Lafuente,
who shared his views on the most pressing digital rights issues in
Portugal, and the D3’s history.

https://www.digitalrights.community/blog/community-series-d3-defesa-dos-direitos-digitais

4. TCU’s Office Holiday Break: December 23 to January 6

Team CommUNITY’s office will be on holiday break from December 23 and
will reopen on January 6. Our Newsletter, Job Board, and Digital
Rights Town Halls (Glitter Meetups) will be paused during this period.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our staff,  2024
featured guests, and our community!

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### Community News ###

1. Last Call | Tor Project + SEEKCommons Fellowship Opportunity

This year SEEKCommons is reserving one fellowship to sustainability
studies of community networks in partnership with the Tor Project,
particularly on the sustainability of the Tor network with a focus on
energy consumption and relay metadata. Deadline: December 15, 2024.

https://forum.torproject.org/t/tor-project-tor-project-seekcommons-fellowship-opportunity-now-available-for-2025/15731

2. She Escaped an Abusive Marriage—Now She Helps Women Battle Cyber Harassment

Inspired by her own experience of abuse, Nighat Dad fights for women’s
social and digital rights in Pakistan and beyond.

https://www.wired.com/story/nighat-dad-digital-rights-foundation/

3. Funding to Accelerate Digital Inclusion for Women in India

The Women in the Digital Economy Fund (WiDEF) in India, a joint effort
between USAID, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Reliance
Foundation, will support initiatives that are working to close the
gender digital divide in India. Deadline: January 13, 2025.

https://widef.global/widefinindia/

4. Open Call for Free or Open Source Projects

Apply for the fifth call of the NGI Zero Commons Fund. The goal of
this fund is to help deliver, mature and scale new internet commons
across the whole technology spectrum. Deadline: February 1, 2025 at
12:00pm CET.

https://nlnet.nl/commonsfund/

5. Reports from Our Community

a) Device Confiscated by Russian Authorities Returned with
Monokle-Type Spyware Installed

This joint investigation from CitizenLab and First Department found
spyware covertly implanted on a phone returned to a Russian programmer
accused of sending money to Ukraine after he was released from
custody.

https://citizenlab.ca/2024/12/device-confiscated-by-russian-authorities-returned-with-monokle-type-spyware-installed/

b) Intensified Surveillance and Digital Rights Violations in East Jerusalem

7amleh - The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media released
a report that sheds light on the escalation of Israeli digital
surveillance policies and their impact on the civil and political
rights of Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem since 7 October
2023.

https://7amleh.org/2024/12/09/surveillance-and-digital-rights-violations-in-east-jerusalem-en

c) The Systematic Suppression of Independent Media in Russia

OONI and RKS Global published a new research report on the systematic
suppression of independent media in Russia. Their findings are based
on OONI data analysis and interviews, and confirmed the blocking of
279 news media domains -- including foreign and numerous independent
Russian news media websites.

https://ooni.org/post/2024-russia-report/

d) Protecting Freedom of Expression in Armed Conflict

ARTICLE 19’s new policy brief, Clearing the Fog of War, is a framework
addressing freedom of expression during armed conflict. It looks at
the intersection of international humanitarian law, human rights, and
the responsibilities of tech companies in conflict zones.

https://www.article19.org/free-expression-war-conflict/

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### Community Resources  ###

1. What We Learned from Reporting on Global Tech This Year

Rest of World contributors from Dhaka to Buenos Aires share their
highlights, low points, and key takeaways from covering technology in
2024.

https://restofworld.org/2024/what-we-learned-from-reporting-on-global-tech-this-year/

2. Podcast: Mejorando la Resiliencia Frente a los Contenidos Nocivos
en Línea en Colombia

María Juliana Soto explora cómo las redes sociales afectan la libertad
de expresión, el debate público y los derechos humanos en Colombia a
través de entrevistas a expertos y activistas.

https://www.article19.org/resources/podcast-enhancing-resilience-against-harmful-online-content-in-colombia/

3. Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence: Forms of Resistance
Amid Violence

Check out the highlights of a discussion hosted by APC at the recent
GG, on the nuanced experiences of TFGBV and hate speech targeting
women, LGBTQIA+, feminist and sexual rights activists.

https://www.apc.org/node/40453

4. New Video Series from EFF: Gate Crashing

In this series, EFF highlights people who preserve and nurture the
nontraditional paths to success that the internet creates, with the
aim to learn from their examples.

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2024/12/introducing-effs-new-video-series-gate-crashing

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

1. Experts Tells Spanish Government that Smartphones Should Carry Health Warning

A 50-member committee of experts wrote a 250-page report that
recommends that the Spanish government put health warnings on
smartphones, warning users about their potential health impacts. The
committee also called for minors to have limited exposure to digital
devices until they are 13 to mitigate what they see as a public health
problem.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/dec/03/smartphones-should-carry-health-warning-spanish-government-told

2. In Pakistan, Lack of Internet Access is Costing Livelihoods

A protest by thousands in Pakistan's capital last month demanding the
release of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan triggered the
arrest of hundreds. Digital rights campaigners say it also triggered
more nationwide internet outages and slow-downs.

https://www.context.news/digital-divides/in-pakistan-lack-of-internet-access-is-costing-livelihoods

3. From X to Bluesky: Why Are People Fleeing Elon Musk’s ‘Digital Town Square’?

Musk’s platform has lost 2.7 million active US users in two months,
while Bluesky gained 2.5 million.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2024/dec/11/from-x-to-bluesky-why-are-people-abandoning-twitter-digital-town-square

4. AFP Defends Use of Artificial Intelligence to Search Seized Phones & Emails

The Australian federal police says it had “no choice” but to lean into
using artificial intelligence and is increasingly using the technology
to search seized phones and other devices, given the vast amount of
data examined in investigations.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/dec/11/australia-police-using-ai-search-phones-emails-ntwnfb

5. ‘It Shouldn’t Be This Easy”: Inside the Illegal Wildlife Trade
Booming on Social Media

Social media has become a crucial tool for wildlife traffickers,
experts say. A growing number use Facebook, for example, to advertise
endangered animals or their byproducts for sale, often switching to
messaging apps such as WhatsApp to complete the sale.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/dec/09/inside-the-illegal-wildlife-trade-booming-on-social-media-aoe

This October report from the Global Initiative Against Transnational
Organized Crime flagged 477 ads for 18 protected species in Brazil and
South Africa alone in a three-month period this year. Social media
accounted for 78% of these.

https://globalinitiative.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Monitoring-illegal-wildlife-trade-Brazil-and-South-Africa-GI-TOC-October-2024.pdf

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### Recent Statements from Our Community ###

a) Twenty One Romanian Civil Society Organizations Demand the
Implementation of DSA

21 organizations from Romania wrote an open letter to the main
institutions responsible in the EU and Romania to implement Digital
Services Act (DSA) Regulations. This call comes after political
advertisements on TikTok impacted the country’s elections last month,
which benefited an extremist candidate.

https://edri.org/our-work/tiktok-catalyses-extremist-views-and-breaches-electoral-legislation-in-romania/

b) Malaysia on International Human Rights Day 2024: Our Rights Today
Shape Our Future Tomorrow

2024 saw worrying developments in the regulation of online spaces in
Malaysia. These measures risk transforming Malaysia’s digital spaces
into stricter and highly regulated environments, stifling open
discourse and innovation while deepening state control over the
internet.

https://www.article19.org/resources/malaysia-international-human-rights-day-2024-our-rights-today-shape-our-future-tomorrow-preserve-our-freedom-of-expression/

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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
✎ Organisational Development Coordinator | EngageMedia
+ Remote (South and Southeast Asia)
https://engagemedia.org/job/organisational-development-coordinator/

✎ Senior Director of Campaigns and Organizing | Color of Change
+ New York, NY or Washington, DC, USA
https://colorofchange.org/careers/#op-647413-senior-director-of-campaigns-and-organizing

✎ Project Manager | Gisa Group
+ East Africa and/or Remote
https://www.gisa.media/jobs

✎ Product Manager | Gisa Group
+ East Africa and/or Remote
https://www.gisa.media/jobs

✎ Algorithmic Justice Fellow | ACLU
+ New York, USA
https://www.aclu.org/careers/apply/?job=7742482002&type=national

✎ Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, Civic Defenders | Internews
+ Remote in US or UK
https://phf.tbe.taleo.net/phf04/ats/careers/v2/viewRequisition?org=INTERNEWS&cws=38&rid=2351

✎ NobleReach Scholar | NobleReach Foundation
+ Washington, DC, USA
https://noblereach.smapply.us/prog/2025_noblereach_scholars_program_/

✎ Sales Manager | Kaleidoscope
+ Remote
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nZncwvevT9d-zgPrLAKvm2DYSkEWKsvZYtuETwJPKG4/edit?tab=t.0

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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### Events Calendar ###

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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### 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/

Tor Project + SEEKCommons Fellowship
Deadline: December 15, 2024
https://forum.torproject.org/t/tor-project-tor-project-seekcommons-fellowship-opportunity-now-available-for-2025/15731

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/

Fellowship on Digital Rights & Gender Justice
Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law, & Development (APWLD)
Deadline: January 15, 2025
https://ijnet.org/en/opportunity/fellowship-digital-rights-and-gender-justice-opens-asia-pacific

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

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