Digital Rights Weekly | October 14 - 18

[Team CommUNITY]

Hello Digital Rights Defenders!

Here is your weekly update on digital rights around the world for the
week of October 14 - 18. 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. 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


2. Join the Next Digital Rights Town Halls in October!

Oct. 24 | What is Happening in Digital Rights Around the World? (Glitter Meetup)
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=October_24_2024_GM

Oct. 31 | Learn More About Amnezia Software Suite (Glitter Meetup)
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=October_31_2024_GM

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### Digital Rights in the Community ###

1. October 30: RSVP for the Outline Managers Meetup ASAP!

If you are a current user of Outline Manager, join us on October 30 at
9am EST/1pm UTC for the Outline Manager Meetup! This is also a great
place for folks new to Outline Manager to familiarize themselves with
the tool. During this meetup you will have the opportunity to learn
about updates and new developments, get your questions answered by the
Jigsaw team, and network with other users of Outline Manager. Make
sure to RSVP on the following form (for safety reasons we will be
verifying everyone that attends):

https://digitalrights.formstack.com/forms/outline_manager_meetup_october_30


2. Funding Opportunities with European AI & Society Fund

The European AI & Society Fund launched two new funding opportunities
under their Making Regulation Work Programme. The first, the AI
Accountability Grants, are for non-profit organizations and coalitions
from different fields that want to promote social justice by
establishing accountability over the use of AI systems in Europe and
the deadline to apply is January 6, 2025. The second,, the AI Act
Implementation Grants, are for non-profit organizations registered in
Europe that want to promote social justice objectives in the
implementation of the European AI Act and its applications are
reviewed on a rolling basis, but apply by November 10 to have your
proposal evaluated during the first round.

https://europeanaifund.org/funding/


3. Fellowship Program at the Sovereign Tech Fund

Check out Sovereign Tech Fund’s 'Fellowship program for Maintainers',
a new one-year program to support critical digital infrastructure and
the people who work on it. Deadline: October 20, 2024.

https://www.sovereigntechfund.de/news/apply-to-the-fellowship-for-maintainers


4. Reports from Our Community

a) A Year of Digital Censorship & Isolation for Palestinians

Sada Social Center for Palestinian Digital Rights released   "A Year
of Digital Erasure of Palestinians," which includes monitoring digital
violations that coincided with Israeli attacks on Palestinians, from
October 7, 2023, for a full year. According to the report, Palestinian
content on social media platforms was subjected to over 23,000 digital
violations. Meta platforms accounted for 56% of these violations,
TikTok for 25%, X (formerly Twitter) for 15%, and SoundCloud made up
3.7%. During this period, more than 700 Palestinian WhatsApp numbers
were banned, which further isolated the population and made it more
difficult for them to communicate with the outside world.

https://sada.social/post/aaam-mn-albad-alrkmy-llflstynyyn


b) Security Analysis of WeChat’s MMTLS Encryption Protocol

WeChat is a Chinese instant messaging app with over a billion users.
Research from The Citizen Lab reveals that WeChat employs a custom
encryption protocol called MMTLS instead of the standard TLS,
introducing vulnerabilities for its users. Although the protocol
secures messages between users and WeChat's servers, it lacks
end-to-end encryption, meaning that the messaging servers can decrypt
and access users' content.

https://citizenlab.ca/2024/10/should-we-chat-too-security-analysis-of-wechats-mmtls-encryption-protocol/


c) Freedom House’s 2024 Freedom on the Net: The Struggle for Trust Online

According to Freedom House’s 2024 report, Global internet freedom
declined for the 14th consecutive year. Protections for human rights
online declined in 27 of the 72 countries covered by Freedom on the
Net, with 18 improving. Zambia scored the largest score for improving,
and Kyrgyzstan received the sharpest downgrade.

https://freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/2024-10/FREEDOM-ON-THE-NET-2024-DIGITAL-BOOKLET.pdf


d) Panama’s Internet Service Providers Still Lag in Protecting User Data

IPANDETEC’s new Panama report reveals that, with a few exceptions,
providers in Panama continue to struggle to meet important best
practice standards like publishing transparency reports, notifying
users about government requests for their data, and requiring
authorities to obtain judicial authorization for data requests, among
other criteria. The research assessed mobile phone operators Más
Móvil, Digicel, and Tigo.

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2024/10/new-ipandetec-report-shows-panamas-isps-still-lag-protecting-user-data

IPANDETEC’s Quien Defiende Tus Datos series of reports is part of a
region-wide initiative which tracks and rates ISPs’ privacy policies
and commitments in Latin America and Spain.

https://www.eff.org/pages/quien-defiende-tus-datos

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### Community Resources ###

1. Mobile Forensic Analysis Guide

This  five-part guide provides a comprehensive walkthrough of a
forensic investigation that looks at a potential infection of an
Android device. It covers the entire process from initial case
reception and triage to in-depth technical forensic analysis, focusing
on identifying traces of infection and analyzing the behavior of a
malicious app.

https://greaterinternetfreedom.org/course/mobile-forensic-analysis-a-case-study-walkthrough-part-01-starting-a-case-and-preliminary-triage/


2. Twitter Files Brazil: Elon Musk & Digital Sovereignty

Elon Musk's growing influence in global politics is evident through
his defiance of Brazil's Supreme Court and alignment with right-wing
leaders in other countries. A confrontation with Brazil's Supreme
Court and the removal of X's staff in the country underscore Elon
Musk’s strategy: to align with far-right factions for corporate gain,
highlighting the urgent need for the State to enforce its laws and
regulations.

https://progressive.international/wire/2024-10-15-twitter-files-brazil-elon-musk-and-digital-sovereignty/en


3. The Rampant Spread of Hurricane Disinformation: A Preview of the
Lies We Will See as the Nation Votes in November in the USA

In many ways, the disinformation about Hurricanes Helene and Milton is
a dry run for the disinformation that may arise as the U.S. votes on
November 5, and as those votes are counted. The spread of
storm-related lies is an early test of online platforms’ readiness and
willingness to stem the expected deluge of disinformation about the
voting process and the government workers and volunteers responsible
for managing it.

https://www.freepress.net/news/press-releases/hurricane-helene-milton-disinformation-early-test-election-lies


4. Opinion: Your Privacy Choices Affect Others Too

In the digital age, we’re all interconnected. A decision to overshare
or to use less secure communication doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It can
have real consequences for others.

https://nordictimes.com/tech/your-privacy-choices-affect-others-too/

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

1. Starlink in Sudan: A Thriving Black Market During Times of War

The warring factions in Sudan are deliberately worsening the living
situation by cutting off internet access and communications, thereby
restricting people’s ability to connect with each other and the rest
of the world. The Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary militia, gained
access to the Starlink satellite internet constellation through black
markets in the United Arab Emirates. Despite requests from Sudanese
authorities to SpaceX, the parent company of Starlink, for proper
regulation of service provision, there has been no response from the
company.

https://smex.org/starlink-in-sudan-a-thriving-black-market-during-times-of-war/


2. Pakistan’s Slow Internet Bring Suspicion on the Government

Tech experts and activists accuse the Pakistan government of slowing
down the internet to suppress protests. Officials reject the
allegations and say this is due to technical difficulties, including
fault undersea cables or that people are imagining their problems.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/10/11/pakistan-internet-slowdown/

Pakistan’s internet speed is apparently contributing to brain drains,
with entities like startups paying the price. Broadband internet speed
in the country is about 10–20 Mbps while the global average is 60–120.

https://theprint.in/go-to-pakistan/pakistans-internet-shutdowns-causing-brain-drain-startups-paying-the-price/2314130/


3. West Bank Israeli Settlers Fundraise Online for Military Equipment

Heavily armed and openly coordinated across a range of online
platforms, networks of connected fighters have emerged to secure and
develop Israeli settlements in the Palestinian West Bank. Israeli
settlers resort to multinational nonprofit status and online
crowdfunding to purchase military equipment that is used against
Palestinians in the West Bank. All this was made possible via the
internet and gaps in nonprofit and online platform regulatory
enforcement across borders.

https://www.newarab.com/investigations/nonprofits-crowdfund-west-bank


4. Digital Rights Review: Websites Promote and Profit from Abuse of Women

Balkan Insight’s monitoring of digital rights violations in August and
September highlighted a threatening Hungarian ‘dark web’ site that
contained illegally obtained images of women. The also documented a
series of arrests for online sexual abuse in Romania.

https://balkaninsight.com/2024/10/15/digital-rights-review-websites-promote-and-profit-from-abuse-of-women/


5. Turkey Blocks Access to Discord

Turkey blocked access to Discord, a social media platform, amid
alleged safety concerns over crimes against minors. According to
Turkiye’s Information Technologies and Communication Authority, its
move to ban Discord was a result of a court ruling by a court
regarding “suspicion” that the platform had been used for “the sexual
abuse of children and obscenity”.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20241009-turkiye-blocks-access-to-discord-amid-safety-concerns-over-minors/


6. Google Chrome’s uBlock Origin Phaseout Has Begun

Google Chrome has begun to phase out uBlock Origin. The developer of
the free ad blocker, Raymond Hill, recently reposted a screenshot that
shows Chrome automatically turning off uBlock Origin because it is “no
longer supported.”

https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/15/24270981/google-chrome-ublock-origin-phaseout-manifest-v3-ad-blocker


7. New York Times Send Perplexity - an AI Startup - a Cease & Desist
Notice Over Content Use

The New York Times has sent Perplexity a "cease and desist" notice
demanding the company stop using the newspaper's content for
generative AI purposes. The news publisher said that the way
Perplexity was using its content, including to create summaries and
other types of output, violates copyright law.

https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/nyt-sends-ai-startup-perplexity-cease-desist-notice-over-content-use-wsj-reports-2024-10-15/

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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

Palestinian Journalist Fellowship
Priority Deadline: October 16, 2024
Final Deadline: November 27, 2024
https://logicmag.io/palestinian-journalist-fellowship/

Sovereign Tech Fund
Fellowship for Maintainers
Deadline: October 20, 2024
https://www.sovereigntechfund.de/news/apply-to-the-fellowship-for-maintainers

Open Tech Fund’s Surge & Sustain Fund
Deadline: October 30, 2024
https://www.opentech.fund/funds/surge-and-sustain-fund

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

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

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 ###

What is Happening in Digital Rights Around the World? (Glitter Meetup)
Team CommUNITY
October 24, 2024
9am EDT / 1pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=October_24_2024_GM

Outline Managers Meetup
Jigsaw, Team CommUNITY
October 30, 2024
9am EDT / 1pm UTC
Online
https://digitalrights.formstack.com/forms/outline_manager_meetup_october_30

Learn More About Amnezia Software Suite (Glitter Meetup)
Team CommUNITY
October 31, 2024
9am EDT / 1pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=October_31_2024_GM

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

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/

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

✎ Institutional Development Coordinator for Mexico and Central America | Wingu
+ Mexico
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSelDSrpJ8iojlawrGm5Nh2RhQZufzvS-w6d62CKfe3cGvwF4A/viewform

✎ Backend Developer | OONI
+ Remote
https://ooni.org/post/2024-job-opening-ooni-backend-developer/

✎ Digital Security Trainer | Freedom of the Press Foundation
+ New York City or remote USA
https://freedom.press/careers/job/?gh_jid=4484792005

✎ Media Publications Officer | Front Line Defenders
+Dublin, Ireland
https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/sites/default/files/media_publications_officer_jd_final.pdf

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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