Digital Rights Weekly | July 8 - 12

[Team CommUNITY]

Hello Digital Rights Defenders!

Here is your weekly update on digital rights around the world for the
week of July 8 - 12. As a reminder, you can submit your news for the
newsletter here: https://www.digitalrights.community/weekly-newsletter
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### Team CommUNITY (TCU) ###

1. Upcoming Regional Digital Rights Meetups:

Asia Regional Meetup | July 17
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=July_17_2024,_Asia_Meetup

Francophone Africa and MENA Meetup | July 17
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=Julliet_17_2024,_Digital_Rights_in_Francophone_Africa_and_MENA_Meetup

Latin America Regional Meetup | July 24
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=24_de_Julio,_2024_LATAM

MENA Regional Meetup | July 24
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=July_24_2024,_MENA_Meetup

Africa Regional Meetup | July 25
ttps://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=July_25_2024,_Africa_Meetup


2. Join the Digital Rights Weekly Town Halls on Mattermost, also known
as Glitter Meetups.

July 18: What is Happening in Digital Rights Around the World?
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=July_18_2024_GM

July 25: Butter Box - Life Without Internet Made Smoother
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=July_25_2024_GM

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### Digital Rights in the Community ###

1. DRILL Call for Applications

Paradigm Initiative (PIN) has opened applications for its virtual 4th
Edition of the Digital Rights and Inclusion Learning Lab (DRILL),
which is a four-month fellowship running from 10 August, 2024 to 10
December, 2024. Paradigm Initiative (PIN) connects young Africans with
digital opportunities, aiming to ensure the protection of their
rights.

https://paradigmhq.org/drill-call-for-applications/


2. Globaleaks Looking for a DevOps Engineer!

GlobaLeaks is a free and open source software project intended to
enable anyone to easily set up and maintain a secure whistleblowing
platform. They are currently looking for a DevOps Engineer with
experience in sysadmin and software development.  Know someone that is
a good fit? Send them the link below!

https://www.globaleaks.org/get-involved/work-with-us/


3. New App Allow Venezuelans to bypass Digital Blockades

People in Venezuela have a new alternative to avoid digital censorship
and stay informed. Last week, the digital rights NGO Conexión Libre y
Segura unveiled “Noticias Sin Filtro,” a brand-new app whose promise
is to harness VPN technology to enable users to easily access
information and bypass existing blocks on over 60 online media outlets
and political criticism sites.

https://www.caracaschronicles.com/2024/07/10/noticias-sin-filtro-expects-to-break-through-chavista-censorship/


4. Digital Threats to Elections: Learning From What Has Worked in Africa

The Global Public Policy Institute (GPPI) has launched its report
“Digital Threat to Elections: Learning from what has worked in
Africa.” Authors of the report spent the past year engaging with 100+
experts and practitioners who are involved in efforts to safeguard
elections across Africa. Through these conversations they identified
the shared traits of projects that successfully mitigated digital
elections threats in African countries. What emerged from the research
are four building blocks for success that also apply to the rest of
the world. These can help funders and implementers develop more
effective interventions ahead of future elections.

https://gppi.net/2024/07/09/digital-threats-to-elections-learning-from-what-has-worked-in-africa


5. Hundreds of Tech Companies Want to Cash In on Homeland Security
Funding. Here's Who They Are and What They're Selling.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has released the U.S.
Border-Homeland Security Technology Dataset, a multilayered dataset of
the vendors who supply or market the technology for the U.S.
government’s increasingly AI-powered homeland security efforts,
including the so-called “virtual wall” of surveillance along the
southern border with Mexico.

The four-part dataset includes a hand-curated directory that profiles
more than 230 companies that manufacture, market or sell technology
products and services, including DNA-testing, ground sensors, and
counter-drone systems, to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
components engaged in border security and immigration enforcement.
Vendors on this list are either verified federal contract holders, or
have sought to do business with immigration/border authorities or
local law enforcement along the border, through activities such as
advertising homeland security products on their websites and
exhibiting at border security conferences.

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2024/06/hundreds-tech-companies-want-cash-border-security-funding-heres-who-they-are-and


6. Tech Systems Worldwide are Fueling Gender Inequalities

Growing poverty and pervasive forms of gender-based violence around
the world often place women and LGBTQI+ people in a double bind: they
may rely more on technology while at the same time face more human
rights violations as a result of its use, including violations of the
rights to privacy, equality and non-discrimination, health, social
protection, and more. This briefing by Amnesty  is intended as a
primer for activists, researchers, civil society organizations, and
others who are seeking to understand and address gender discrimination
and its various intersections with technology across a variety of
issues.

https://www.amnestyusa.org/reports/briefing-gender-and-human-rights-in-the-digital-age/


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

1.  Russia Forces Apple to Remove VPNs From App Store

At least two VPN services said that Russian authorities forced Apple
to delete their applications from its App Store in Russia. Identically
worded messages from Apple’s app review team to Red Shield VPN and Le
VPN state that their applications will be removed “per demand from
Roskomnadzor.” Roskomnadzor is Russia’s state media watchdog. It has
banned a number of Western social media platforms and blacklisted
opposition media websites since the country invaded Ukraine in 2022.

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/07/04/russia-forces-apple-to-remove-vpns-from-app-store-a85608


2. Selfie-based Authentication Raises Eyebrows Among Tech Expert

The use of selfies to verify identity online is an emerging trend in
some parts of the world, including Vietnam and Singapore. Some banks –
and even governments – have begun requiring live images over Zoom or
similar in order to participate in the modern economy.  Just last
Monday the Southeast Asian nation of Vietnam began requiring face
scans on phone banking apps as proof of identity for all digital
transactions of around $400 and above.

https://www.theregister.com/2024/07/08/selfie_authentication_security/


3. Rights Activists Raise Privacy Concerns After Pakistan Authorizes
Top Spy Agency to Tap Calls & Messages

Pakistani analysts and rights activists criticized the Pakistan
government’s authorization of the country’s premier spy agency, the
Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), to intercept and trace calls on the
pretext of national security, saying the move would undermine privacy
of citizens and could be used to suppress political opponents,
activists and media.

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/pakistans-top-spy-agency-gets-legal-powers-intercept-telephone-calls-2024-07-10/


4. Millions Cut Off from Internet in the Last Two Weeks

Both political strife and natural disasters have stripped millions of
people of internet access over the last two weeks, including in
Turkey, Kenya, Mauritania, and a large segment of the Caribbean and
Mexico.

https://therecord.media/internet-outages-protests-turkey-hurricane-beryl


5. Serbia Reacts Fast Over AI Deep Fake Video of Prime Minister --
Unlike Other Cases

In less than a day, prosecutors, police and the Serbian government
reacted to an AI deep fake video of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic
allegedly posted on Facebook.

https://balkaninsight.com/2024/07/04/serbia-reacts-fast-over-ai-deepfake-video-of-pm-unlike-other-cases/

The rapid reaction contrasted with other cases of deep fake content
posted about Serbian citizens and opposition politicians. The Balkan
Insight Digital Rights Violations Annual report documents numerous
cases of published AI generated videos that are released without any
consequences.

https://birn.eu.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/01-BIRN-Digital-Rights-Violations-Annual-Report-2022-2023.pdf


6. Some Syrian Citizens are Paying Internet and Phone Bills Without
Access to Either Service

Telecommunications services are absent from many villages in Syria
including Latakia and Tartus governorates. Internet and communication
services are only available when electricity is on and for no more
than an hour according to the prevailing rationing system. All the
demands of the residents to solve the problem and install a solar
power system for optical assemblies have failed.

https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2024/07/residents-of-latakia-pay-phone-and-internet-bills-without-access-to-either-service/

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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
Grant for strategic litigation to advance digital rights
Deadline: July 15, 2024
https://digitalfreedomfund.org/grants/

Paradigm Initiative
Digital Rights & Inclusion Learning Lab (DRILL)
Deadline: July 19, 2024
https://paradigmhq.org/drill-call-for-applications/

Female EdTech Fellowship Europe
Deadline: July 22, 2024
https://www.edtech-fellowship.eu/

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

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 ###

Digital Rights Asia Meetup
Team CommUNITY
July 17, 2024
8am EDT / 12pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=July_17_2024,_Asia_Meetup

Digital Rights Francophone Africa and MENA Meetup
Team CommUNITY
July 17, 2024
9am EDT / 1pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=Julliet_17_2024,_Digital_Rights_in_Francophone_Africa_and_MENA_Meetup

What is Happening in Digital Rights Around the World? (Glitter Meetup)
Team CommUNITY
July 18, 2024
9am EDT / 1pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=July_18_2024_GM

Digital Rights MENA Meetup
Team CommUNITY
July 24, 2024
10am EDT / 2pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=July_24_2024,_MENA_Meetup

Digital Rights LATAM Meetup
Team CommUNITY
July 24, 2024
5:30pm EDT / 9:30pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=24_de_Julio,_2024_LATAM

Butter Box - Life Without Internet Made Smoother (Glitter Meetup)
Team CommUNITY
July 25, 2024
9am EDT / 1pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=July_25_2024_GM

Digital Rights Africa Meetup
Team CommUNITY
July 25, 2024
11am EDT / 3pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=July_25_2024,_Africa_Meetup

Escuela Virtual de Gobernanza de Internet (Español)
2 de agosto - 25 de septiembre, 2024
Fecha límite para postular: 28 de julio, 2024
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdK-10SQo99_xoTX_dAKe1kyw-wbSmVj5ol02SuHxi6YigH1Q/viewform

Digital Rights in the Asia-Pacific Assembly
EngageMedia
August 18 & 19, 2024
Taipei, Taiwan
Deadline to apply: June 15, 2024
https://engagemedia.org/2024/drapac24-taipei/

2024 Digital Rights Summer School
August 25 - 31, 2024
Perast, Montenegro
https://www.sharefoundation.info/en/apply-for-the-2024-digital-rights-summer-school/

FIFAfrica24: Call for Session Proposals and Travel Support Applications
September 25-27, 2024
Deadline to apply: June 17, 2024
https://internetfreedom.africa/now-open-call-for-session-proposals-and-travel-support-applications/

13th Edition of RightsCon
Access Now
February 2025
East Asia and online
Deadline to apply: June 2, 2024
https://www.rightscon.org/program/

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

✎ Junior Backend Developer for OONI | Open Observatory of Network
Interference Foundation (OONI)
+ Remote
https://ooni.org/post/2024-job-opening-ooni-backend-developer/

✎ Rapid Response Regional Coordinators | Localization Lab
+ Remote
https://www.localizationlab.org/rr-regionalcoordinator

✎ Program Manager | Center for Digital Resilience
+ Remote
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SjUAt8PazO3k9VYflLQBDox3tzsl5mfLUkoR_G-truU/edit?usp=sharing

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

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