Digital Rights Weekly | April 29 - May 3

Tue May 7 15:48:33 CEST 2024

Hello Digital Rights Defenders!

Here is your weekly update on digital rights around the world for the
week of April 29 - May 3. 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. The Community Series | Border Center for Journalists and Bloggers:
Improving Journalistic Safety at the US-Mexico Border

Our NEW Community Series will showcase monthly the stories of the
amazing people and projects bringing glitter to the digital rights
community. This month we cover The Border Center for Journalists and
Bloggers (BCJB), which defends the rights of journalists working on
the Mexican-US border, one of the most dangerous borders in the world.
Started by seasoned investigative journalist Jorge Luis Sierra, the
center now supports journalists working in other borders. To
understand the large scope of their work, from 2016 to 2017 alone they
provided over 800+ journalists with in-person security training and
workshops.

https://www.digitalrights.community/blog/bcjb-getting-to-know-their-work-improving-journalistic-safety-in-the-us-mexico-border

2. Join the Digital Rights Weekly Town Halls on Mattermost (Glitter Meetups)!

May 9: Convite - the Security and Self-care Communication Program for
Indigenous, Black and Rural Communities in Colombia
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=May_9_2024_GM

May 16: sheEsecures - a Platform for an Inclusive and Feminist Internet
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=May_16_2024_GM

May 30: Open Technology Fund's Ask-Me-Anything
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=May_16_2024_GM

June 6: The Social Networking Glitter Meetup
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=June_6_2024_GM

3. Digital Rights Regional Meetups in May!

Digital Rights Regional meetups are an opportunity for people working
in specific regions to come together to network, share their work,
seek support, and celebrate with each other. For more information,
check out the corresponding regional pages on the TCU’s wiki:

May 15: Asia
May 23: Africa
May 9: Francophone Africa and MENA
May 22: Latin America
May 29: MENA

https://wiki.digitalrights.community/

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### Digital Rights in the Community ###

1. A Web of Surveillance – Unraveling a Murky Network of Spyware
Exports to Indonesia

Amnesty International’s Security Lab released a brief outlining the
expansive range of highly invasive spyware and surveillance products
being imported and deployed in Indonesia. The Security Lab found
evidence of sales and deployment of highly invasive spyware and other
surveillance technologies to companies and state agencies in Indonesia
between 2017 and 2023.

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/05/unravelling-a-murky-network-of-spyware-exports-to-indonesia/

2. 7amleh Launches Agenda and Opens Registration for the Forum’s 8th Edition

Registration is now open for 7amleh’s 8th edition of the Palestine
Digital Activism Forum 2024 (PDAF). This year’s theme is "Artificial
Intelligence (AI): Revolutionary Promises & Discriminatory Realities."
It will take place on June 4 and 5, 2024. The forum aims to put
Palestinian digital rights in the spotlight both regionally, and
globally, as it discusses various aspects of AI technologies’ impact
on Palestinian digital rights and its permeation into various aspects
of life, especially during times of crises and the war on Gaza.

https://pdaf.net/

3. New Grant Supports Mid-Career Software Developers working in Open Source

The Processing Foundation Software Development Grant or pr05
(pronounced “pros”) is a new grant and mentorship initiative by the
Processing Foundation designed to support the professional growth of
early to mid-career software developers through hands-on involvement
in open-source projects. Participation in the program is entirely
online. Deadline: May 31, 2024.

https://pr05.formstack.com/forms/pr05_grant

4. 4D Call: Digital Rights by Design

Fundació.cat and Xnet just launched the 4D Call - Digital Rights by
Design which offers financial support to solutions for democratic
digitalisation, digital rights and commons. These financial endowments
aim to support individuals, organizations, or consortiums working at a
European level. Deadline: June 28, 2024.

 https://4d.cat/convocatoria/en/home/

5. Digital Rights in the Caribbean: Not to be Lost in the Eternal Darkness

The #DigiCariRights campaign exposes secrets about digital
technologies that are often hidden behind polished silhouettes. These
problems are especially acute in Caribbean islands, an often forgotten
geography that has long suffered from the impact of colonial and
imperialist powers. What ideologies from the past are being
highlighted in digital solutions? How can we come together to
transform them into instruments of collective power and liberation?
You can engage with this campaign across social media with the hashtag
#DigiCariRight.

https://www.techpolicy.press/digital-rights-in-the-caribbean-not-to-be-lost-in-the-eternal-darkness/

6. #NoExamShutdown: End Internet Shutdowns During Exams for Good

>From Algeria to Syria, governments have no right to prevent access to
information for millions of students and beyond. Through the
#NoExamShutdown campaign, Access Now, the Internet Society (ISOC), and
SMEX are continuing the fight to end internet shutdowns during
national secondary and high school exams in the Middle East and North
Africa (MENA) region, building on progress made in 2023.

https://www.accessnow.org/press-release/noexamshutdown-2024/

6. Reports from Our Community

a) US: Digital Metering System Exposes Migrants to Harm

Human Rights Watch released a report titled “We Couldn’t Wait: Digital
Metering at the US-Mexico Border”, which describes how the U.S. and
Mexico administrations have made the CBP One phone application
mandatory for people seeking asylum in the U.S. The US Customs and
Border Protection (CBP) app does not provide enough appointments to
meet the demand from asylum seekers each day. Tens of thousands of
people seeking asylum have to wait in Mexico, sometimes for months,
since the Biden administration introduced a new asylum rule in May
2023.

https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/05/01/us-digital-metering-system-exposes-migrants-harm

b) LONDA 2023: Digital Rights & Inclusion in Africa Report

Paradigm Initiative (PIN) annually monitors the environment, documents
violations, and reports on the state of digital rights and inclusion
in Africa. The title ‘Londa’ is of Zulu origin and echoes a call for
action to protect and defend the digital rights and inclusion
environment in Africa. This LONDA report illustrates the state of
digital rights and digital inclusion in 26 African countries; it aims
to present the key concerns in the countries reported on and guides
reformatory actions by stakeholders,

https://paradigmhq.org/londa-23/

c) Empowering Privacy: Civil Society Strategies in East Asia's Digital Landscape

Open Culture Foundation released a report based on insight from 19
activists and civil society organizations. This report presents the
potential advocacy strategies for activists within Asian democratic
regions, particularly Taiwan, South Korea and Hong Kong. You will also
find insight on the possibilities of citizen movement to improve
digital rights in the region.

The report:
https://ocf.tw/en/p/dra/ep/

Watch the webinar recording about the report here:
https://cinemata.org/viewm=LBlhvk4Cv&pl=cqUNOqdKj

e) YouTube’s Impact on Palestinian Digital Rights During the War on Gaza

7amleh released a paper analyzing YouTube's policies and
discriminatory practices, its compliance with international law,
adherence to human rights due diligence, and its impact on Palestinian
digital rights. It provides an assessment of YouTube's advertising
standards, including an analysis of war propaganda dissemination,
particularly advertisements from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign
Affairs which urged viewers to stand by Israel’s actions. Also
YouTube’s discriminatory content moderation policies, such as
demonetization or restrictions on content creators due to their
criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza.

https://7amleh.org/2024/04/25/youtube-s-impact-on-palestinian-digital-rights-during-the-war-on-gaza

f) Developing Global Guidance: Child Rights Impact Assessments in
Relation to the Digital Environment

Under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the
Children’s Rights and Business Principles, businesses have a
responsibility to identify, assess, and address relevant human rights
risks, including risks to children’s rights. UNICEF initiated a
project to assess the current child rights impact assessment landscape
in relation to digital business activities and develop new guidance to
support stronger implementation in the future. A summary of initial
project findings is now available here:

https://www.unicef.org/reports/CRIA-responsibletech

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### Digital Rights Community Resources ###

DefensiveLab Agency and PiRogue Tool Suite Released Guides to Support
Safety on Mobile Devices

DefensiveLab Agency has just released a set of guides to support
individuals at risk, technical users, digital forensic investigators
and security professionals to safeguard sensitive information on
mobile devices with PiRogue tool suite (PTS). Mastering mobile
security empowers you to protect your data, investigate potential
threats, and ensure regulatory compliance.

https://pts-project.org/guides/

________________________________________________

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

1. Burkina Faso Suspends More International News Media

Burkina Faso has suspended several international news organizations,
some of them for an indefinite period. Among those named in the
weekend order are French newspaper Le Monde, British publication The
Guardian, German broadcaster Deutsche Welle and French broadcaster TV5
Monde.

https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/sports/africa/article/2001494059/burkina-faso-suspends-more-international-news-media

They were suspended for reporting on a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report
that accused the army of attacks on civilians.

https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/04/25/burkina-faso-army-massacres-223-villagers

2. Asia & Pacific Regional Brief: Journalists Who ‘Crossed the Line’,
Digital Repression, Blasphemy Prosecutions, & Marriage Equality Bill

India goes to the polls amid continuing media harassment and content
blocking. China’s repressive model of media and internet governance is
increasingly being imposed in the region. A worsening rise in
blasphemy prosecutions in Pakistan. Good news: Thailand parliament
passes Marriage Equality Bill and Indonesian court strikes down
articles on defamation and “fake news”.

https://ifex.org/journalists-who-crossed-the-line-digital-repression-blasphemy-prosecutions-and-marriage-equality-bill/

3. China Seeks to Bring a Booming Micro-Drama Industry Under Tighter Control

Chinese viewers are loving what they can find in internet
“micro-dramas,” the latest big thing in Chinese entertainment of
vertically-shot shows posted on social media with episodes that have
runtimes of just a few minutes or less. But Chinese authorities, wary
of losing control over messaging, aren’t loving the new medium so
much—and are cracking down on the booming micro-drama industry.

https://time.com/6971346/china-micro-dramas-industry-popularity-censorship/

4. Op-ed: The Crackdown on Cyberspace Only Cripples Pakistan’s Digital Future

X has been suspended in Pakistan for over 10 weeks now for being,
according to a government explanation to Islamabad High Court, “a
threat to public disorder and integrity [of the country]”. This
sweeping judgment is the state’s way of acknowledging that they find
it hard to respond to an avalanche of criticism regarding the results
of the national election held in February.

 https://www.arabnews.pk/node/2499576

5. U.S. Adults’ Views of Technology Companies

According to a new Pew Research Center survey, most U.S. Americans are
wary of social media’s role in politics and its overall impact on the
country, and these concerns are ticking up among Democrats. In
parallel, Republicans stand out on several measures, with majorities
believing major technology companies are biased toward liberals.

https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2024/04/29/americans-views-of-technology-companies-2/

_________________________________________________

### 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

Women in Digital Economy Fund
Deadline: May 6, 2024
https://widef.global/funding

Internet Society Foundation
Deadline: May 14, 2024
https://isoc.pub/ResearchGrant

FOSS Sustainability Fund
Deadline: May 17, 2024
https://www.opentech.fund/funds/free-and-open-source-software-sustainability-fund/

ICANN Grant Program
Deadline: May 24, 2024
https://www.icann.org/grant-program-en

Software Developing Grant
Deadline: May 31, 2024
https://pr05.formstack.com/forms/pr05_grant

North Korea Information Technology Incubator (NKITI) Program
Deadline: May 31, 2024
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeaGp96ALLj9gKcJYcHwDFSF1A3QD9c9kU-NVHZOoFhGgLOdw/viewform

NGI Zero Commons Fund - Reclaim the Public Nature of the Internet
Deadline: June 1, 2024, 12:00 CEST (noon)
https://nlnet.nl/commonsfund

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

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

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/

_________________________________________________

### Events Calendar ###

Virtual School on Internet Governance
Virtual Course on Digital Capitalism
April 1 - May 12, 2024
https://lnkd.in/eGSKb2PX

Glitter Meetup: "Convite"- the Security and Self-care Communication
Program for Indigenous, Black and Rural Communities in Colombia
Team CommUNITY
May 9, 2024
9am EDT / 1pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=May_9_2024_GM

Digital Rights in Francophone Africa and MENA Meetup
Team CommUNITY
May 9, 2024
9am EDT / 1pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=Mai_9_2024,_Digital_Rights_in_Francophone_Africa_and_MENA_Meetup

Bread&Net Online | Digital Rights in Times of War
May 13 - 15, 2024
Online
https://www.breadandnet.org/en/

Asia Meetup
Team CommUNITY
May 15, 2024
8am EDT / 12pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=May_15_2024,_Asia_Meetup

Glitter Meetup: sheEsecures - a Platform for an Inclusive and Feminist Internet
Team CommUNITY
May 16, 2024
9am EDT / 1pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=May_16_2024_GM

LATAM Meetup
Team CommUNITY
May 22, 2024
5:30pm EDT / 9:30pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=22_de_Mayo,_2024_LATAM

Glitter Meetup: Glitter Meetup: What is Happening with Digital Rights
Around the World?
Team CommUNITY
May 23, 2024
9am EDT / 1pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=May_23_2024_GM

Africa Meetup
Team CommUNITY
May 23, 2024
11am EDT / 3pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=May_23_2024,_Africa_Meetup

MENA Meetup
Team CommUNITY
May 29, 2024
10am EDT / 2pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=May_29_2024,_MENA_Meetup

Glitter Meetup: Open Technology Fund's Ask-Me-Anything
Team CommUNITY
May 30, 2024
9am EDT / 1pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=May_30_2024_GM

7amleh
Palestine Digital Activism Forum (PDAF 2024)
June 4 & 5, 2024
https://2024.pdaf.net/about-theme-en

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

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

✎ Human Resource Consultant | 7amleh
+ Palestine (Haifa or Ramallah)
https://7amleh.org/2024/04/29/call-for-human-resource-expert

✎ Network Health Engineer | The Tor Project, Inc.
+ Remote
https://www.torproject.org/about/jobs/network-health/

✎ Senior UX Designer (6 month contract) | Wikimedia Foundation
+ Remote
https://grnh.se/44a12fbf1us

✎ Software Engineer, iOS | Wikimedia Foundation
+ Remote
https://grnh.se/44a12fbf1us

✎ Research Assistant, Ethics & Tech (Intern) | Eticas
+ Remote
https://zurl.to/Sn2W?source=CareerSite

✎ Research Assistant, AI & Gender (Intern) | Eticas
+ Remote (LATAM preferred)
https://zurl.to/aHXD?source=CareerSite

✎ Senior Auditor | Eticas
+ Remote
https://zurl.to/JTiF?source=CareerSite

✎ Junior Auditor | Eticas
+ Remote
https://zurl.to/VThQ?source=CareerSite

✎ Finance & HR Controller | Eticas
+ Remote based in Spain
https://zurl.to/VNhQ?source=CareerSite

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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