Digital Rights Weekly | May 13 - 17

[Team CommUNITY]

Hello Digital Rights Defenders!

Here is your weekly update on digital rights around the world for the
week of May 13 - 17. As a reminder, you can submit your news for the
newsletter here: https://www.digitalrights.community/weekly-newsletter

____________________________________________

### Team CommUNITY (TCU) ###

1. The Community Series | The Calyx Institute: Getting to Know their
Work and Tools that Make Privacy and Security Accessible to Everyone

The Calyx Institute is a unique organization whose mission is to make
privacy and security accessible to everyone through public education
initiatives and developing accessible tools, such as their celebrated
open source, Android-based mobile operating system, CalyxOS. Learn
more about them and Nicholas Merrill, Calyx’s founder, who was the
first person to file a constitutional challenge against the USA
Patriot Act statute, and the first to have a national security letter
gag order completely lifted in the country:

https://www.digitalrights.community/blog/the-calyx-institute-getting-to-know-their-work-and-tools-that-make-privacy-and-security-accessible-to-everyone

Missed last month’s Community Series Story? Check out Border Center
for Journalists and Bloggers here:

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


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

May 23: What is Happening in Digital Rights Around the World?
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=May_23_2024_GM

May 30: Open Technology Fund's Ask-Me-Anything
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=May_30_2024_GM

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

June 13: Kwanele's Journey Navigating Ethical Tech for GBV Justice
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=June_13_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 for the following meetups
on the TCU’s wiki:

May 23: Africa
May 22: Latin America
May 29: MENA

https://wiki.digitalrights.community/

____________________________________________

### Digital Rights in the Community ##

1. Internet Shutdowns in 2023: 283 Shutdowns in 39 Countries

Access Now has released a report documenting internet shutdowns in
2023 - the worst year for  internet shutdowns ever recorded with 283
shutdowns in 39 countries. Shutdowns are continuing to emerge as the
go-to tool for both democratic and authoritarian regimes to suppress
fundamental human rights.

https://www.accessnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2023-KIO-Report.pdf

One ongoing example of such a shutdown with violent implications is in
Sudan, which has become the world’s worst displacement crisis and is
on the brink of becoming the world’s worst hunger crisis. The
#KeepItOn coalition, urgently appeal for the re-establishment of
telecommunications infrastructure across Sudan:

https://paradigmhq.org/telecommunications-blackout-in-sudan-parties-to-the-conflict-must-end-collective-punishment-and-enable-access-to-life-saving-telecommunications/

Iraq is another country experiencing shutdowns, which is having an
economic cost, and human rights implications.

https://t4p.co/blog/2024-05-13-the-cost-effectiveness-of-internet-shutdowns-in-iraq?lang=en
(english)
https://t4p.co/blog/2024-05-13-the-cost-effectiveness-of-internet-shutdowns-in-iraq
(arabic)


2. Digital Rights and Resistance in Francophone Context

Digital Rights and Resistance in a French-speaking event which will be
held on May 21 to 24 in Montreal, Canada, and in hybrid format. It
will feature diverse panels, practical workshops and round tables, and
will have representation from over a dozen countries. Register soon!

Rencontres « Droits et résistances numériques en contexte francophone
» du 21 au 24 mai à Montréal, Canada, et en format hybride. Sous forme
de panels, d’ateliers pratiques et de tables rondes, les Rencontres «
Droits et résistances numériques en contexte francophone » se
déroulent au pavillon J.A.-DeSève de l’UQAM à Montréal. Ce sont au
total une cinquantaine de présentations de personnes provenant d'une
douzaine de pays qui vous attendent ! La date limite pour s’inscrire
est le 10 mai. Pour connaître le programme et vous inscrire, visitez:

https://www.labdelta.ca/rencontres2024


3. India: Telecom Bill & the New Era of Digital Colonialism

In December 2023, India took a step towards reshaping its
telecommunications landscape by introducing a new Telecommunication
Bill. ARTICLE 19 joins the international digital rights community in
raising concerns about the bill’s threats to privacy and the power it
gives the central government to enforce decisions that could directly
harm citizens’ right to freedom of expression.

https://www.article19.org/resources/india-telecom-bill-and-the-new-era-of-digital-colonialism/


4. Reports from Our Community

a) “Being Ourselves is too Dangerous”: Digital Violence & the
Silencing of Women and LGBTI Activists in Thailand

Amnesty International released a report documenting the stories of
women and LGBTI activists in Thailand who sought to leverage digital
technology for advancing their peaceful activism amid the shrinking
civic space since the 2014 military coup. These activists faced
technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TfGBV), including
targeted digital surveillance and online harassment.

https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/asa39/7955/2024/en/


b) Internet Usage Gap in People with Disabilities

In recognition of Global Accessibility Awareness Day on May 16,
Surfshark released a study that shows that internet usage among EU
residents with limited accessibility is 17% lower than those without
limits. On average, over 91% of people without activity limitations in
the EU use the internet regularly, yet less than 76% of people with
various disabilities do so.

https://surfshark.com/research/chart/internet-usage-gap-in-people-with-disabilities-eu

________________________________________________

### Digital Rights Community Resources ###

1. Fighting Wildlife Trafficking Online with the New EU Digital Services Act

Under the new European Digital Service Act, online wildlife
trafficking platforms are obliged to make ‘reasonable efforts’ - like
random checks - to verify whether the offered wildlife species have
been identified as illegal. They should also implement a harmonized
'notice and action' procedure so that users can report illegal online
content, and respond quickly to reports.

https://www.ifaw.org/international/journal/fighting-wildlife-cybercrime-eu-digital-services-act


2. Niterói Launches Digital Rights Guide in Local Governments

Check out the ‘Digital Rights in Local Governments’, a guide produced
with the aim of providing solutions to prevent inequalities from
occurring during the digital transformation of services, in addition
to presenting actions that can be taken to guarantee people’s digital
rights in accessing technologies.

https://digitalhelpdeskforcities.org/niteroi-launches-digital-rights-guide-in-local-governments-during-webinar/

________________________________________________

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

1. Pakistan Drafts New Social Media Regulatory Law Amid Free Speech
Concerns from Digital Activists

Pakistan is working on a draft law to regulate social media to
“protect digital rights”, encourage responsible Internet use and
regulate online content to prevent hate speech and disinformation.
Digital rights activists are concerned about what may come out of this
law, pointing out how successive governments in Pakistan had drafted
new laws or amended old ones in an effort to repress freedom of speech
and expression. For example, X remains blocked in the country after
widespread allegations of election manipulation during the February 8
national polls.

https://www.arabnews.pk/node/2508436/pakistan

The CIVICUS Monitor, a research tool providing data on the state of
civil society and civic freedoms, added Pakistan to its watchlist of
countries in March 2024, following the repression against the
opposition, the censorship of journalists and attacks on peaceful
protests around the elections.

https://monitor.civicus.org/explore/pakistan-activists-and-journalists-targeted-increased-controls-on-online-expression-and-crackdown-on-protests/


2. Google is Introducing an AI-powered Scam Call Detection Feature for Android

Google is working on new protections to help prevent Android users
from being victims to phone scams; the company announced that it’s
testing a new call monitoring feature that will warn users if the
person they’re talking to is likely attempting to scam them and
encourage them to end such calls. It is not certain when the scam
detection feature will be available, but Google says users will need
to opt in to utilize it and that it’ll share more information “later
this year.”

https://www.theverge.com/2024/5/14/24156212/google-android-ai-gemini-scam-call-detection-feature-io


3. Questions About the EU Lifting Sanctions on an Iranian Tech Company

Last month, the European Union’s update to its Iran sanctions list had
one notable development: the removal of Abr Arvan, the Iranian cloud
technology company that the EU had sanctioned in November 2022 for
human rights violations related to internet censorship. The article
explains why the EU’s removal notice contains no reasoning and raises
questions about the EU's commitment to holding entities accountable
for human rights abuses and its willingness to deter future
collaboration with authoritarian regimes:

https://carnegieendowment.org/emissary/2024/05/hard-questions-about-the-eu-lifting-sanctions-on-an-iranian-tech-company?lang=en


4. YouTube Blocks Protest Anthem in Hong Kong After Court Order Banning the Song

YouTube has said it will comply with a court decision and block access
inside Hong Kong to 32 videos deemed prohibited content, in what
critics say is a blow to freedoms in the financial hub amid a security
clampdown. The action follows a government application granted by Hong
Kong’s court of appeal requesting the ban of a protest anthem called
Glory to Hong Kong.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/15/youtube-blocks-glory-to-hong-kong-protest-song-anthem


5. Secrecy Concerns Mount Over Spy Powers Targeting US Data Centers

A coalition of digital rights groups is demanding the US declassify
records that would clarify just how expansive a major surveillance
program really is. Last month, US president Joe Biden signed a
surveillance bill enhancing the National Security Agency’s power to
compel US businesses to wiretap communications going in and out of the
country. The changes to the law have left legal experts largely in the
dark as to the true limits of this new authority,

https://www.wired.com/story/section-702-ecsp-civil-liberties-letter


6. YouTube Accused of Censoring Macklemore's 'Hind's Hall'

Last week, YouTube imposed age restriction limitations and a "graphic
and violent content" warning on U.S. musician Macklemore's new
pro-Palestine song. The song was also not appearing when its title was
entered into YouTube's search bar. This week, these restrictions
seemed to have been lifted.

https://www.salon.com/2024/05/08/youtube-macklemore-censor-hinds-hall-song/


7. The Implications of Emotionally Expressive Chatbots?

The emotional mimicry of OpenAI’s new version of ChatGPT could lead AI
assistants in some strange—even dangerous—directions.

https://www.wired.com/story/prepare-to-get-manipulated-by-emotionally-expressive-chatbots

_________________________________________________

### 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
Apply between May 20 & July 15, 2024
https://digitalfreedomfund.org/grants/

Google for Startups Accelerator Africa
Deadline: May 20, 2024
https://startup.google.com/programs/accelerator/africa/

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 ###

Droits et résistances numériques en contexte francophone
Montréal, Canada, et en format hybride
May 21- 24
https://www.labdelta.ca/rencontres2024

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

What is Happening in Digital Rights Around the World? (Glitter Meetup)
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

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

Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) for Scenario-Based Digital Security Training
Internews
May 30, 2024
9am EDT / 1pm UTC
Online
https://forms.office.com/r/BAGHE8Q47F

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

Social Networking Glitter Meetup
Team CommUNITY
June 6, 2024
9am EDT / 1pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=June_6_2024_GM

SplinterCon
equalitie
June 12 & 13, 2024
Brussels
https://splintercon.net/participate-brussels/

Kwanele's Journey Navigating Ethical Tech for GBV Justice (Glitter Meetup)
Team CommUNITY
June 13, 2024
9am EDT / 1pm
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=June_13_2024_GM

What is Happening in Digital Rights Around the World? (Glitter Meetup)
Team CommUNITY
June 20, 2024
9am EDT / 1pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=June_20_2024_GM

Digital Rights in the Asia-Pacific Assembly
EngageMedia
August 18 & 19 2024
Taipei, Taiwan
Deadline: 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/

13th Edition of RightsCon
Access Now
February 2025
East Asia and online
Deadline: 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

✎ Software Engineer | Wikimedia Foundation
+ Remote
https://boards.greenhouse.io/wikimedia/jobs/5931124?gh_src=e90172121us

✎ Project Assistant – Finance | Digital Defenders Partnership
+ Remote from the Sub-Saharan Africa and MENA Regions
https://www.digitaldefenders.org/open-vacancy-project-assistant-finance/

✎ Researcher, China | Human Rights Watch
+ Multiple Locations Considered
https://boards.greenhouse.io/humanrightswatch/jobs/7441458002

✎ Web designer consultancy | Arab Reform Initiative
+ MENA Region
https://www.arab-reform.net/job/web-designer-consultancy/

✎ Digital Protection Coordinator for Francophone Africa | Front Line Defenders
+ Francophone Africa
https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/recruitment-volunteering?width=740&height=500&inline=true#job-57--description

✎ Social Media Content Creator | OpenArchive
+ Remote
https://open-archive.org/jobs/content-creator

✎ Project Manager | GreatFire
+ Remote
https://zh.greatfire.org/xuanshang/10

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

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