Digital Rights Weekly | January 27 - 31

Tue Feb 4 17:00:23 CET 2025

Hello Digital Rights Defenders,
Current funding freezes are affecting organizations within the digital 
rights ecosystem. Given the rapid developments and the uncertainty 
surrounding the future of government grants, we’ve decided to limit 
coverage to avoid adding to the confusion. However, we will share 
reliable information as it becomes available. What is clear is that the 
current freeze is jeopardizing security both in the U.S. and abroad.

NOTE: We are temporarily changing the placement of specific sections in 
the newsletter to better respond to members’ current needs. 
Specifically, the NEW Jobs and Funding Opportunities sections have been 
placed further up.

Team CommUNITY
Community News
Community Resources
NEW Job Opportunities
Statements from our Community
Reports from Our Community
Digital Rights in the Wider World
Grants, Fellowships, & Awards

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### Team CommUNITY (TCU News) ###
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1. Support for Furloughed Employees Town Halls

For the upcoming town halls of February 6 and 20, we will be 
transforming these to facilitate support for individuals that have been 
furloughed. TCU staff will be available to provide resume reviews and 
any other guidance where possible. The February 27 meetup will still 
feature the Hong Kong Accountability.

2. Regional Meetups

Based on feedback, we will be continuing the following February Regional 
meetups:

Feb 18 | Digital Rights Asia Meetup
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=February_18_2025,_Asia_Meetup

Feb 19 | Digital Rights LATAM Meetup
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=19_de_Febrero,_2025_LATAM

Feb 26 | Digital Rights Africa Meetup
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=February_26_2025,_Africa_Meetup

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### Community News ###
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1. Fellowship Opportunity: Reuters Institute Journalist Fellowship

Applications are now open for our Journalist Fellowship Programme, one 
of the world’s leading schemes for practising, mid-career journalists to 
take some time out from their day jobs to explore journalism in depth. 
This is a programme for working journalists and editors who will return 
to journalism after spending a few months with them. Applications are 
open for the 2025-26 academic year. Deadline to apply: Thursday 13, 
February 2025, 23:59 (UK time).

https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/fellowships

/// Note: Community Reports and Statements sections have been 
temporarily placed further down in the newsletter ///

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### Community Resources ###
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1. Segal Family Foundations' Grant Directory for Sub-Saharan Africa

This directory contains links to corporations, foundations, governments, 
impact investors, intermediaries, and x-laterals in our database who are 
funding in Sub-Saharan Africa. You can use this list as a starting point 
for your own research to identify donor funding in your geographic area 
or sector.

https://www.segalfamilyfoundation.org/tools/funder-directory/

2. Upcoming Digital Rights Grants, Fellowships and Awards (with Deadlines)

TCU maintains a list of upcoming funding opportunities with 
corresponding deadlines. Additionally, it also lists opportunities 
received on a rolling basis.

https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=Fundraising_Opportunities

3. NLNet Foundation Alternative Sources

Check out NLNet’s list of alternative funding sources of opportunities 
for projects focused on creating a more open information society through 
establishing open standards, security technology, research and 
development in open source, open hardware and open content.

https://nlnet.nl/foundation/network.html

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### NEW Job Opportunities ###
___________________________________________

Below is a short list of jobs sent to us in the last week:

✎ Partnerships Lead | The MyData Company
+ Helsinki, Finland
https://themydatacompany.com/careers/

✎ Head of Product, Local Lab | New_Public
+ United States or Canada (fully remote)
https://newpublic.org/head-of-product-local-lab

✎ Head of External Engagement | New_Public
+ United States or Canada (fully remote)
https://newpublic.org/jobs/head-of-ext-eng

✎ Research Project Administrator | Oxford Internet Institute, University 
of Oxford
+ Oxford, England
https://my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecruit/erq_jobspec_version_4.display_form?p_company=10&p_internal_external=E&p_display_in_irish=N&p_process_type=&p_applicant_no=&p_form_profile_detail=&p_display_apply_ind=Y&p_refresh_search=Y&p_recruitment_id=177824

✎ Senior Financial Analyst/Assistant Controller | Access Now
+ San José, Costa Rica, and other Locations in Latin America or the US 
(Hybrid)
https://accessnow.bamboohr.com/careers/223

✎ Information Security Director | Human Rights Watch
+ Multiple Locations Considered
https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/humanrightswatch/jobs/7833377002

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### Recent Statements from our Community ###
____________________________________________

1. #KeepItOn: Authorities Must Restore Access to Social Media in South 
Sudan & Uphold Human Rights

A number of organizations and members of the #KeepItOn coalition — a 
global network of over 334 human rights organizations from 105 countries 
working to end internet shutdowns — urgently demand the government of 
South Sudan to put an immediate end to the ongoing social media 
shutdowns in the country. The shutdown is in gross violation of national 
and international human rights frameworks and must not be allowed to 
continue.

https://www.accessnow.org/press-release/keepiton-in-south-sudan-restore-social-media/ 

2. Malaysia: Seizure of News Organisation’s Laptop Undermines Press Freedom

The Malaysian police recently confiscated a laptop from the website 
Malaysiakini as part of their ongoing investigation into a former Health 
Minister. ARTICLE 19 is deeply concerned that this action constitutes 
unnecessary harassment of independent media and poses a direct threat to 
press freedom and freedom of expression in Malaysia.

https://www.article19.org/resources/malaysia-investigation-and-seizure-of-malaysiakini-laptop-undermines-press-freedom/

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### Reports from Our Community ###
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a) Iran Cyber Threat Intelligence Report: The Silent War Against Ethnic 
Minorities and Civil Society

https://filter.watch/english/2025/01/06/iran-cyber-threat-intelligence-report-the-silent-war-against-ethnic-minorities-and-civil-society-second-half-of-2024/ 

b) Online Narratives and Manipulations: Tunisian and Regional Panorama

This paper explores the evolving landscape of online manipulation and 
disinformation in Tunisia, particularly in the wake of the July 2021 coup.

https://www.arab-reform.net/publication/online-narratives-and-manipulations-tunisian-and-regional-panorama/

c) Challenges of Digital Safety for Palestinian Children in East Jerusalem

Learn about the pressing challenges and digital violations faced by 
Palestinian children in East Jerusalem in the digital space, as well as 
their awareness of risks and digital protection tools.

https://7amleh.org/2025/01/22/digital-safety-children-jerusalem-en

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### Digital Rights in the Wider World ###
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1. WhatsApp Says Journalists and Civil Society Members Were Targets of 
Israeli Spyware

Nearly 100 journalists and other members of civil society using 
WhatsApp, the popular messaging app owned by Meta, were targeted by 
spyware owned by Paragon Solutions, an Israeli maker of hacking 
software, the company alleged on Friday.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/31/whatsapp-israel-spyware

2. Filipino Tech Workers Demand Protections in AI Bill

Filipino digital workers launched a coalition to lobby for labor and 
free speech protections in the workplace as artificial intelligence is 
deployed. The AI tools raise new risks, and the firing of a worker who 
spoke to Rest of World in November signals an industrywide “code of 
silence” around the impact of AI on the workplace.

https://restofworld.org/2025/code-ai-filipino-tech-workers/

3. Leaked Documents Expose Deep Ties Between Israeli Army & Microsoft

An investigation revealed that since October 7, the Israeli military 
relied heavily on cloud and AI services from Microsoft and its partner 
OpenAI, while the tech giant’s staff embedded with different units to 
support the rollout.

https://www.972mag.com/microsoft-azure-openai-israeli-army-cloud/

4. Pakistani Journalism Body Criticizes New Law Regulating Social Media

A new law in Pakistan aimed at regulating social media content has 
angered journalism groups and rights activists, who say it is aimed at 
curbing press freedom.

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/pakistani-journalism-body-criticises-new-law-regulating-social-media-2025-01-24/

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/01/pakistan-authorities-pass-bill-with-sweeping-controls-on-social-media/ 

5. Balkan Insight’s Digital Rights Review: Turkey Detains Data 
‘Exploiters’, Serbian Tabloids’ ‘Hate’ Stories Removed

Turkey carried out arrests after disaster victims’ data was stolen, 
while Serbia and Albania faced crackdowns over misinformation and online 
violence

https://balkaninsight.com/2025/01/28/digital-rights-review-turkey-detains-data-exploiters-serbian-tabloids-hate-stories-removed/ 

6. Justice and Privacy: Prioritize Human Rights in the Worldcoin Case

This article highlights the upcoming High Court hearing on February 4, 
2025, regarding Worldcoin’s operations in Kenya, with a focus on human 
rights and privacy. The case centers on concerns over the company’s 
collection and use of biometric data, including iris scans and 
fingerprints, which have raised alarms about privacy risks, identity 
theft, and potential misuse.

https://icj-kenya.org/news/justice-and-privacy-prioritize-human-rights-in-the-worldcoin-case/ 

7. Bangladesh Interim Government’s ‘Right’ to Uninterrupted Internet 
Access is a Sham

The draft Cyber Security Ordinance 2024 has come under fire due to 
definitional ambiguity and other concerns

https://globalvoices.org/2025/01/24/bangladesh-interim-government-right-to-uninterrupted-internet-access-is-a-sham/

8. Meta Discards Fact-Checking: The Fragile Future of Digital Integrity 
in Africa

Given the critical role social media platforms play in Africa's fragile 
democracies, Meta's rollback of fact-checking and other content 
moderation mechanisms leaves Africa at a clear disadvantage.

https://www.techpolicy.press/meta-discards-factchecking-the-fragile-future-of-digital-integrity-in-africa/

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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 

Reuters Institute Journalist Fellowship
Deadline: February 13, 2025
https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/fellowships

Privacy Rights Fellowship 2025-2026
Oakland Privacy
Deadline: February 14, 2025
https://oaklandprivacy.org/oakland-privacy-hiring-2025-2026-privacy-rights-fellow/

Sustainable Protection Fund 2025
Digital Defenders Partnership
Deadline: February 14, 2025
https://www.digitaldefenders.org/sustainable-protection-fund-open-call-for-africa/ 

Digital Freedom Fund
Deadline: February 17, 2025
https://digitalfreedomfund.org/grants/

The Sepal Fund
The Calyx Institute
Deadline: February 19, 2025.
https://calyxinstitute.org/projects/the-sepal-fund

Information Controls Fellowship Program
Open Technology Fund
Deadline: February 28, 2025.
https://www.opentech.fund/fellowships/icfp/

Cross-Border Media Literacy Projects
Deadline: March 6, 2025
https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/funding/call-proposals-cross-border-media-literacy-projects

NGI Zero Commons Fund
Reclaim the Public Nature of the Internet
Deadline: April 1, 2025
https://nlnet.nl/commonsfund/

Are you looking for grants, fellowships and funds open on a rolling 
basis? We curate a long list of opportunities on our wiki: 
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=Fundraising_Opportunities

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

FOSDEM
February 1-2, 2025
https://fosdem.org/2025/

Supporting Furloughed Employees Town Hall
Team CommUNITY
February 6, 2025
9am EST / 2pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=February_6_2025_GM

Digital Rights Asia Meetup
Team CommUNITY
February 18, 2025
7am EST / 12pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=February_18_2025,_Asia_Meetup

Digital Rights LATAM Meetup
Team CommUNIY
February 19, 2025
5:30pm EST / 10:30pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=19_de_Febrero,_2025_LATAM

10th Festival of Innovation and Social Technology
February 20, 2025
Bogota + Online
https://www.fits.ong/

Supporting Furloughed Employees Town Hall
Team CommUNITY
February 20, 2025
9am EST / 2pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=February_20_2025_GM

RightsCon
February 24 - 27, 2025
Taiwan
https://www.rightscon.org/registration/
Digital Rights Africa Meetup
Team CommUNITY
February 26, 2025
9am EST / 2pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=February_26_2025,_Africa_Meetup

The Hong Kong Accountability Archive (Glitter Meetup)
Team CommUNITY
February 27, 2025
9am EST / 2pm UTC
Online
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=February_27_2025_GM

Check out a list of our virtual events here:
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=Calendar_of_Events

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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
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