Digital Rights Weekly | June 17 - 21

[Team CommUNITY]

Hello Digital Rights Defenders!

Here is your weekly update on digital rights around the world for the
week of June 17 - 21. 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. Join the Digital Rights Weekly Town Halls on Mattermost, also known
as Glitter Meetups. Next up:

June 27: Rosenpass – Securing Cryptographic Applications Against
Quantum Computer Attacks
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=June_27_2024_GM

July 4: The Social Networking Glitter Meetup
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=July_4_2024_GM

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

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### Digital Rights in the Community ##

1. Call for Film Submissions to the Africa International Human Rights
Film Festival

The Human Rights Journalists Network Nigeria (HRJN) is organizing the
3rd edition of the Africa International Human Rights Film Festival
(AIHRFF): Documenting Resilience. Submit your films that document
stories of resilience, inspiring action, and empowering communities to
fight for their rights. Submit your film, and check out the guidelines
and deadlines here:

https://filmfreeway.com/AfricaInternationalHumanRightsFilmFestival


2. Masterclass: Investigating Information Disorder & Manipulation

Code For Africa (CfA) is organizing a masterclass on information
manipulation, exploring transparency, ethics, and the fundamental
techniques for investigating information disorder and manipulation. It
will start on 16 July, 2024. Register as soon as possible:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfd1wMuqyFXomPP81QcWUzhDBBLMtkfbcGqMlOV-T_BkSVUXw/viewform


3. Commercial Bank of Ethiopia: Stop Public Shaming, Respect Human Rights

Following the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia’s (CBE) decision to publish
people’s private data, Access Now and the Centre for Advancement of
Rights and Democracy (CARD) are calling on the bank to cease its
public shaming campaign immediately and respect privacy and data
protection laws.

The state-owned bank’s decision to publish hundreds of names, account
numbers, and photographs of people the bank alleges to have withdrawn
unauthorized funds due to a systems glitch, grossly violates people’s
data and privacy rights.

https://www.accessnow.org/press-release/cbe-ethiopia-protect-data/


4. Privacy Win: LinkedIn Limits Ad Targeting After Complaint

LinkedIn gave in to pressure from civil society and Digital Services
Act (DSA) enforcers based on a complaint by four digital rights
organizations. The platform will no longer allow advertisers to target
ads based on sensitive personal data from users. This is a big win for
privacy and the DSA, but it also exposes the DSA’s more hidden
weaknesses.

https://edri.org/our-work/privacy-win-linkedin-limits-ad-targeting-after-edri-complaint/


5. Reports from Our Community

a) Creative Strategies to Overcome Digital Poverty in Latin America

‘Far Apart but Close at Heart Latin America’ is a research project
exploring how five arts organizations used online platforms to support
the mental health of young people during the COVID-19 pandemic, and
how young people and arts workers experience this change. The paper
explores the strategies, creative actions and methodologies applied by
these organizations to tackle one specific challenge: digital poverty.

https://www.barcelona.cat/culturopolis/en/digital-repository/far-apart-close-heart-creative-strategies-overcome-digital-poverty-under-covid


b) How Israel Tried to Use AI to Covertly Swar US Americans about Gaza

Websites that appear to covertly target mostly younger, progressive
Americans with a pro-Israeli spin on the war in Gaza are linked to a
company that’s being paid by the Israeli government to sway lawmakers
and public opinion in the US.

https://fakereporter.net/pdf/pro-Israeli_influence_network-new_findings-0624.pdf?v=3


c) The Challenges of Biometric & Digital identity Systems

Across the African continent, biometric data collection systems are
being implemented at an increasing pace. However, there is no
simultaneous roll-out for safety measures to ensure that biometric
data collection and processing systems are secure and to the actual
benefit of the societies in which they are being implemented.

https://www.apc.org/en/node/39279/


d) Research Exploring US-Israeli Influence on Palestinian Digital Rights

Communication Law and Policy’s recent study delves into the dynamics
of how the US, alongside Israel, exerts significant control over
Palestinian digital rights. The research highlights the cooperation
between US intelligence agencies and Israel on “counterterrorism”
measures that heavily impact Palestinians, particularly focusing on
Internet policing in Gaza and the West Bank.

https://law4palestine.org/new-research-explores-us-israeli-influence-on-palestinian-digital-rights/


e) Gaming Hate: Social Media Accountability in Malaysia’s 2022 General Elections

Check out this new report on social media accountability in the 15th
Malaysia General Election from Digital Reach and the Southeast Asian
Coalition on Tech Accountability (SEACT). Findings reveal that
disinformation, misinformation, and hate speech were widely
disseminated during the election, and not properly handled by social
media companies. This is part of their Southeast Asia social media
accountability in general elections series which examines the role
social media plays in democracy and human rights.

https://digitalreach.asia/blog/report-gaming-hate-social-media-accountability-in-the-15th-malaysia-election/


f) Intentionally Vague: How Saudi Arabia & Egypt Abuse Legal Systems
to Supress Online Speech

Egypt and Saudi Arabia are weaponizing vaguely written domestic media,
cybercrime, and counterterrorism laws to target and suppress dissent,
opposition, and vulnerable groups. This report explores the
development of media, cybercrime, and counterterrorism laws in both
countries, and demonstrates through case studies how Saudi Arabia and
Egypt weaponize the laws to prosecute opposition figures and control
narratives online.

https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-research-reports/report/intentionally-vague-how-saudi-arabia-and-egypt-abuse-legal-systems-to-suppress-online-speech/

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### Community Resources ###

1.The Promise & Perils of Human Rights for Governing Digital Platforms

Check out these Tech Policy posts offering critical and
interdisciplinary reflections on the evolving relationship between
human rights and digital platforms. The symposium emerged from a
two-day hybrid workshop held at Leiden University in January 2024. New
posts will be shared till June 30, 2024.

https://www.techpolicy.press/the-promise-and-perils-of-human-rights-for-governing-digital-platforms-symposium-introduction/


2. Why the UN Security Council Should Prioritize Digital Rights

The United Nation Security Council (UNSC) mandate includes “to
maintain international peace and security” as well as “to cooperate in
solving international problems and in promoting respect for human
rights.” Attacks on or against digital systems have devastating
consequences on people and on the enjoyment of human rights by whole
communities, and hence addressing this reality would fall within the
UNSC mandate, the highest decision-making body of the UN.

https://www.accessnow.org/un-security-council-digital-rights/

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

1. Political Attacks Threaten the Stanford Internet Observatory (SIO)

The Stanford Internet Observatory, a prominent research group at
Stanford University studying how social media platforms are abused,
has lost its top leadership and faces an uncertain future amid a
sustained right-wing campaign targeting the study of online
falsehoods.

https://www.npr.org/2024/06/14/g-s1-4570/a-major-disinformation-research-teams-future-is-uncertain-after-political-attacks

SIO and its researchers have been sued three times by conservative
groups alleging that its researchers colluded illegally with the
federal government to censor speech, forcing Stanford to spend
millions of dollars to defend its staff and students.

https://www.platformer.news/stanford-internet-observatory-shutdown-stamos-diresta-sio/

Renée DiResta, the former research manager at the Stanford Internet
Observatory, writes about her difficult experience with online
conspiracy theorists and how they turned her into “CIA Renee”.

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/06/cia-renee-censorship-conspiracy-twitter/678688/
(paywall)


2. Firefox Browser Blocks Anti-Censorship Add-Ons at Russia’s Request

Mozilla, the maker of the popular web browser Firefox, said it
received government demands to block add-ons that circumvent
censorship.

https://theintercept.com/2024/06/12/mozilla-firefox-russia-censorship-blocked/


3. From Trumpists to Communists. The Forces in the US Impeding Aid to
Ukraine & How They Do It

Ukrainian media organization texty.org.ua published a report on the
connection between US individuals and organizations that have been
advocating for anti-Ukraine positions in the US. The report was based
on analysis of social media, articles, and public speaking of relevant
people and organizations.

http://texty.org.ua/projects/112617/roller-coaster

After a stir from certain US far-right politicians, the organization
is being attacked and threatened on social media, including by Elon
Musk who calls for it to “be added to the list of sanctioned terrorist
organizations”.

https://x.com/JaneLytv/status/1801214706599813255

You can read the organization’s statement in response to these attacks here:

https://x.com/Textyorgua_Eng/status/1799755948787187900


4. Why Are So Many Books Listed as "Borrow Unavailable" at the Internet Archive?

More than 500,000 books have been taken out of lending as a result of
Hachette v. Internet Archive, the publishers’ lawsuit against the
digital library, including more than 1,300 banned and challenged
books. Internet Archive is appealing the decision that led to these
takedowns in an effort to restore access to these books for all of
their patrons.

https://help.archive.org/help/why-are-so-many-books-listed-as-borrow-unavailable-at-the-internet-archive/


5. The ‘Network Tree” Defying Israel’s Connectivity Blockade on Gaza

Using items such as buckets, smartphones, and e-SIMs, these relatively
simple technologies provided much-needed connectivity to Palestinians
suffering due to Israel’s genocidal war on them, which includes
damaged infrastructure.

https://advox.globalvoices.org/2024/06/13/the-ingenious-network-tree-defying-gazas-connectivity-blockade/


6. Voting in South Africa: Lies & Dodgy Date

>From deepfake Donald Trumps endorsing key contenders, to claims the
vote was rigged, South Africa is awash with online disinformation as
political players thrash out a coalition deal after an historic
election.

https://www.context.news/digital-rights/fake-news-in-south-africa-voting-prompts-data-demands

Digital activists want to monitor who is behind all the post-vote
propaganda, but say they are hampered by high costs and high-walled
platforms. Digital rights groups released a statement last month
demanding Big Tech to provide data access for researchers studying the
South African elections.

https://researchictafrica.net/2024/05/20/statement-call-for-data-access-for-researchers-studying-the-south-african-elections/


7. ‘Rushed’ Deadline for UK Digital Visas Puts Millions at Risk of
Losing Legal Rights

Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) – given to all foreign nationals
with permission to live in the UK for at least six months –
demonstrate proof of an individual’s right to study, access public
services and claim benefits. However, they are being replaced under
the Home Office’s digitisation programme. More than 4 million non-EU
migrants living in Britain will need to switch to digital “eVisas” by
the end of this year or risk being unable to prove their legal rights.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/jun/15/rushed-deadline-for-uk-digital-visas-puts-millions-at-risk-of-losing-legal-rights


8. Influencer Banned from Social Media for Flaunting Wealth

A social media influencer in China, who earned the title of “China’s
Kim Kardashian” for his overt displays of wealth, was taken off
China’s social media sites for bragging about the large amounts of
money he spends on clothing and other goods.

https://www.aol.com/china-kim-kardashian-banned-beijing-184038706.html

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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 Democracy Initiative Call for Proposals
Deadline to submit concept notes: June 17, 2024
https://digitaldemocracyinitiative.net/

Digital Rights & Commons Initiatives
Deadline: June 28, 2024
https://4d.cat/convocatoria/en/home/

Global Fellowship Program on AI & Market Power
European Artificial Intelligence & Society Fund
Deadline: July 8, 2024
https://europeanaifund.org/newspublications/call-for-proposals-global-fellowship-programme-on-ai-market-power/

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

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

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 ###

Reviewing SCOTUS
Electronic Frontier Alliance
June 26, 2024
1pm PT / 8pm UTC
Online
https://www.eff.org/event/efa-video-conference-fighting-bad-laws-litigation-0

Rosenpass – Securing Cryptographic Applications Against Quantum
Computer Attacks (Glitter Meetup)
Team CommUNITY
June 27, 2024
9am EDT / 1pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=June_27_2024_GM

#DataFestAfrica2024
Create-a-thon
Deadline: June 30, 2024
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfX_zyWndL9S_Xk5AAfvqZol-V7AFw4ChxewDWmMqhfA7NUZQ/viewform

Social Networking (Glitter Meetup)
Team CommUNITY
July 4, 2024
9am EDT / 1pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=July_4_2024_GM

Masterclass: Investigating Information Disorder & Manipulation
Code For Africa
Starting 16 July, 2024
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfd1wMuqyFXomPP81QcWUzhDBBLMtkfbcGqMlOV-T_BkSVUXw/viewform

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

✎ Communications Project Manager | Digital Freedom Fund
+ Remote
https://digitalfreedomfund.freshteam.com/jobs/qJc-79TE1pBn/communications-project

✎ Program Associate | Center for Intimacy Justice
+ Remote in USA
https://www.intimacyjustice.org/careers

✎ Chief of Staff | Algorithmic Justice League
+ Remote
https://diversifiedsearchgroup.com/search/21047-ajl-chief-of-staff/

✎ Researcher | Cairo52 Legal Research Institute
+ Remote in Egypt
https://cairo52.docdroid.com/BhwAr4k/tor-researcher-firn-research-project-pdf

✎ Assistant Director, Francophone Africa | Digital Forensic Research Center
+ Remote (West Africa Preferred)
https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/job-opportunity/assistant-director-francophone-africa-digital-forensic-research-lab/

✎ Legal Officer | Privacy International
+ London, UK
https://privacyinternational.org/opportunities/5333/legal-officer

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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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
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