Digital Rights Weekly | October 28 - November 1

[Team CommUNITY]

Hello Digital Rights Defenders!

Here is your weekly update on digital rights around the world for the
week of October 28 - November 1. 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 Regional Meetups in November!

Nov. 13 | Digital Rights Asia Meetup
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=November_13_2024,_Asia_Meetup

Nov. 14 | Digital Rights in Francophone Africa and MENA Meetup
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=Novembre_14_2024,_Digital_Rights_in_Francophone_Africa_and_MENA_Meetup

Nov. 20 | Digital Rights LATAM Meetup
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=20_de_Noviembre,_2024_LATAM

Nov. 21 | Digital Rights Africa Meetup
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=November_21_2024,_Africa_Meetup

Nov. 27 | Digital Rights MENA Meetup
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=November_27_2024,_MENA_Meetup


2. Next Digital Rights Town Halls (Glitter Meetups)!

Nov. 7 | The Social Networking Glitter Meetup
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=November_7_2024_GM

Nov. 14 | Advancing Digital resilience for African CSOs (Glitter Meetup)
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=November_14_2024_GM

Nov. 21 | What is Happening in Digital Rights Around the World? (Glitter Meetup)
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=November_21_2024_GM


3. Guardian Project: Getting to Know their Work Creating Easy-to-Use,
Secure and Open Source Apps for Mobile Devices

Guardian Project creates easy-to-use secure mobile tech apps,
open-source software libraries, tools, and services used by activists,
journalists, and citizens. We spoke with Guardian Project’s Community
Manager about their celebrated tools, such as Clean Insights, Orbot,
and Butter Box, as well as their user-focused approach to development.

https://www.digitalrights.community/blog/community-series-the-guardian-project

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### Digital Rights in the Community ###


1. Registration Now Open for the 2024 Global Voices Summit

The 2024 Global Voices Summit will take place on December 6 and 7 in
Kathmandu, Nepal at the Hotel Yak & Yeti. The Summit will convene
journalists, translators, activists, technologists, policymakers,
development experts and others from around the world to discuss
digital media, knowledge and activism from a Global Majority
perspective.

https://summit2024.globalvoices.org/


2. Statements from Our Community

a) Disability Rights are Technology Rights

Assistive technologies are a crucial part of living a full and
fulfilling life, which gives people with disabilities motivation to be
some of the most skilled, ardent, and consequential technology users
in the world. There’s a whole world of high-tech assistive tools and
devices out there, with disabled technologists and users intimately
involved in the design process. Unfortunately, the same tech companies
that devote substantial effort to building in assistive features often
devote even more effort to ensuring that their gadgets, code and
systems can’t be modified by their users.

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2024/06/disability-rights-are-technology-rights


b) Campaign to ‘Standardize’ Use of Language in China Signals Further
Clampdown on Online Expression

PEN International is concerned by reports that China’s state internet
regulator plans to mount a new campaign to ‘standardize the use of
online language’, further restricting online expression through
increased state censorship of words and phrases. The organization
calls on the Chinese government to respect citizens’ constitutional
right to freedom of expression and to end the practice of online
censorship to silence dissent.

https://www.pen-international.org/news/china-new-campaign-to-standardise-use-of-language-signals-further-clampdown-on-online-expression


3. Reports from Our Community

a) The Great Firewall of Myanmar - Implications Of The Military’s 2024 VPN Block

On 30 May 2024, Myanmar's military regime imposed a nationwide block
on Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), restricting internet access and
violating multiple human rights. Before the block, VPNs became widely
used after the 2021 coup to bypass censorship, access blocked
websites, including Facebook, and ensure online privacy. This report
analyses the first three months of the VPN block and over three
billion interactions on Facebook, revealing the block’s far-reaching
consequences for Myanmar's population.

https://humanrightsmyanmar.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/HRM-the-great-firewall-of-myanmar.pdf

b) Gaza Telecommunications Infrastructure: Assessment to Damages &
Humanitarian Impact

7amleh new report highlights the extensive damage and humanitarian
impact caused by Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza. The telecommunications
sector has experienced widespread destruction, significantly affecting
the lives of citizens in the territory and disrupting essential
services. The report outlines the damage inflicted on the
telecommunication sector in Gaza, with an estimated cost of $90
million by March 2024.

https://7amleh.org/2024/10/29/impact-of-war-on-gaza-s-telecommunications-infrastructure-en


c) Research on Californians Attitudes About Media & Technology During
2024 Election Year

Free Press conducted research through a poll, indicating that as the
2024 election approaches, Californians are concerned about the spread
of online misinformation and feel they do not have enough sources of
independent news to make informed voting decisions.

https://www.freepress.net/news/press-releases/poll-californians-finds-need-action-against-spread-election-disinformation-and

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### Community Resources ###

1. Is Internet Freedom Slipping Away in Southeast Asia?

Countries across the region are trending towards restricting free
speech online, limiting access and censoring content. War-torn Myanmar
ranked alongside China as the world's worst country for online
freedom, marking the first time Beijing has shared the bottom spot in
US-based Freedom House's annual "Freedom on the Net" report, released
recently.

https://www.dw.com/en/is-internet-freedom-slipping-away-in-southeast-asia/a-70625075


2. The Censorship of LGBTQ+ Content Online Corresponds with Declines
in Freedom for Everyone

Although the LGBTQ+ community has been one of the main targets of
content censorship by governments, states are not the only actors that
restrict content. Big Tech companies and social media platforms are
the main content moderators, which is why it is crucial to examine
their role. The restriction or banning of LGBTQ+ content has the
impact of shrinking the pool of possibilities for LGBTQ+ individuals.
It prevents them from enjoying their digital rights and, in turn,
limits their ‘right to thrive with dignity and freedom.’

https://www.techpolicy.press/the-censorship-of-lgbtq-content-online-corresponds-with-declines-in-freedom-for-everyone/


3. Digital Struggle & Resistance in the Myanmar Revolution

Myanmar faces regular digital repression by the military and
challenges such as surveillance, doxxing and security threats. Despite
these challenges, people in Myanmar are finding ways to resist and
mitigate risks by using digital security tools, alternative
communication methods and community-driven solutions.

https://www.apc.org/en/node/40396


4. The Crimes & Punishments of China’s ‘Internet Auditors’

Those who grew up as the “internet generation” have also been reared
inside the walls of online censorship - and some have come to become
censors themselves. How do the people within the system operate its
machinery? And what goes on the heads of those working as “screws”
within that machine?

https://chinamediaproject.org/2024/10/31/the-crimes-and-punishments-of-chinas-internet-auditors/


5. Iran Regime’s Struggle to Silence Cyberspace Critics Amid Increased
Repression

The Iranian regime continues to intensify its crackdown on cyberspace
and social media critics. Recently, the regime publicly directed
Iran’s judiciary and security apparatus to target dissenting voices
under the guise of “providing the psychological security of society.”

https://irannewsupdate.com/news/human-rights/iran-regimes-struggle-to-silence-cyberspace-critics-amid-increased-repression/

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


1. EU Events on Curbing Big Tech ‘Distorted’ by Attenders With Industry Links

Researchers at three NGOs analyzed nearly 4,000 registrations at
European Commission workshops organized earlier this year to test
companies’ compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a law to
curb anti-competitive behavior. More than one in five attenders at EU
events on regulating big tech companies did not disclose links to the
industry when applying to take part. Transparency campaigners say
hidden networks are distorting public debate.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/29/eu-events-curbing-big-tech-distorted-attenders-hidden-industry-links


2. Russia Fines Google More than the World’s Total GDP Over YouTube Bans

Google has been fined in Russia for removing Russian TV channels from
YouTube. The size of the penalty, however, swelled to an unprecedented
level over the past 4 years, since the court case started in Russia
against the tech giant.

https://www.euronews.com/business/2024/10/30/russia-fines-google-more-than-the-worlds-total-gdp-over-youtube-bans


3. Strava, the Exercise App Filled with Security Holes

In recent years, journalists and curious observers have discovered
that individuals tasked with sensitive operations have shared their
physical activity on Strava, a sports social media app, endangering
their mission, their identity and even their safety. This first part
of the investigation looks into how the French president can be
tracked thanks to his bodyguards' love of running.

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2024/10/27/how-emmanuel-macron-can-be-tracked-watch-the-first-episode-of-stravaleaks_6730708_7.html
(paywall)


4. Army of Bots Promotes Petrostate Hosting Global Climate Talks

At least 1,800 bots on the social media site X are promoting the
controversial choice of Azerbaijan, a major oil and gas producer, to
host next month’s U.N. Climate Change Conference known as COP29.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/10/29/cop29-bots-fake-accounts-azerbaijan/

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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

Harvard Tech Fellows for WECode 2025
Deadline to apply: November 3, 2024.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UGMoHqmwx7xMCMIqkdeLsS75xS-gEI0P870OJUDDt9M/edit?tab=t.0

European AI & Society Fund
AI Act Implementation Grants
Deadline: Rolling, first round November 10, 2024
https://europeanaifund.org/funding/

Breakout Program
eQualitie
Deadline: November 17, 2024
https://splintercon.net/breakout/

Palestinian Journalist Fellowship
Deadline: November 27, 2024
https://logicmag.io/palestinian-journalist-fellowship/

Residential Institute on Frontiers & Frames for a New Digitality 2025
School of Digital Justice, IT for Change and Fair, Green and Global Alliance
5 days in March 2025 (date and time to be confirmed)
Deadline: November 30, 2024
https://itforchange.net/call-for-applications-residential-institute-on-frontiers-and-frames-for-a-new-digitality-2025

European AI & Society Fund
AI Accountability Grants
Deadline: January 6, 2025
https://europeanaifund.org/funding/

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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### Events Calendar ###

The Social Networking Glitter Meetup
Team CommUNITY
November 7, 2024
9am EST / 2pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=November_7_2024_GM

Festival of Innovation and Social Technology
November 7, 2024
Mexico, and virtually for global participants
https://www.fits.ong

Digital Rights Asia Meetup
Team CommUNITY
November 13, 2024
7am EST / 12pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=November_13_2024,_Asia_Meetup

Digital Rights in Francophone Africa and MENA Meetup
Team CommUNITY
November 14, 2024
8am EST / 1pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=Novembre_14_2024,_Digital_Rights_in_Francophone_Africa_and_MENA_Meetup

Advancing Digital resilience for African CSOs (Glitter Meetup)
Team CommUNITY
9am EST / 2pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=November_14_2024_GM

Digital Investigation Residency
Tactical Tech
November 18 - 22, 2024
Berlin, Germany
Applications closed: August 30, 2024.
https://exposingtheinvisible.org/en/news/call-investigation-institute-2024/

Digital Rights LATAM Meetup
Team CommUNITY
November 20, 2024
5:30pm EST / 10:30pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=20_de_Noviembre,_2024_LATAM

What is Happening in Digital Rights Around the World? (Glitter Meetup)
Team CommUNITY
November 21, 2024
9am EST / 2pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=November_21_2024_GM

Digital Rights Africa Meetup
Team CommUNITY
November 21, 2024
10am EST / 3pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=November_21_2024,_Africa_Meetup

South Eastern European Dialogue on Internet Governance Youth School 2024
Deadline to apply: September 30, 2024
November 25 - 26, 2024
Belgrade, Serbia
https://seedig.net/youth-school/

Digital Rights MENA Meetup
Team CommUNITY
November 27, 2024
9am EST / 2pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=November_27_2024,_MENA_Meetup

2024 Global Voices Summit
December 6 - 7, 2024
Kathmandu, Nepal
https://summit2024.globalvoices.org/

Virtual School of Internet Governance
January 14, 2025 - April 1, 2025
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdxElbmLzzGNUpUuoW3jDieHkNZpvO35hhDDlH9-Ia8jwKNww/viewform

13th Edition of RightsCon
Access Now
February 24 - 27, 2025
February 2025
East Asia and online
https://www.rightscon.org/registration/

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

✎ Executive Director | Media Democracy Fund
+ Remote (preference for East Coast, U.S.)
https://npag.com/mdf-ed

✎ Systems and Security Administrator | Citizen Lab
+ Toronto, Canada
https://jobs.utoronto.ca/job/Toronto-Systems-and-Security-Administrator-ON/586088317/

✎ Development Partner (event website development services) | SMEX
+ Lebanon
https://daleel-madani.org/civil-society-directory/smex/calls/request-proposal-event-website-development-services-breadandnetorg

✎ National Coalitions Lead | Transform Health
+ Remote, Global
https://transformhealthcoalition.org/opportunity/national-coalitions-lead-with-policy-and-programme-management-focus/

✎ Fundraising Manager | CyberPeace Institute
+ Geneva or The Hague, or full-remote (CET timezone)
https://cyberpeace-institute.jobs.personio.com/job/1796499?language=en&display=en#apply

✎ User Support Specialist (Farsi) | The Tor Project
+ Remote
https://www.torproject.org/about/jobs/user-support-farsi-specialist/

✎ Program Associate - MENA | Access Now
+ Berlin, Germany (Hybrid)
https://accessnow.bamboohr.com/careers/221

✎ Software Developer | AI Forensics
+ Remote in Europe
https://ai-forensics.notion.site/Remote-Software-Developer-at-AI-Forensics-11496ca0893d80489dbbe667a9033e9a

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

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