Digital Rights Weekly | June 30 - July 4

[Team CommUNITY]

Hello Digital Rights Defenders!


Here is your weekly update on digital rights around the world for the 
week of June 30 - July 4. As a reminder, you can submit your news for 
the newsletter here:

https://www.digitalrights.community/weekly-newsletter



What is in this issue:



Team CommUNITY

Community News

NEW Job Opportunities

Community Resources

Digital Rights in the Wider World

Events Calendar

Grants, Fellowships, & Awards


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### Team CommUNITY (TCU News) ###

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1. Upcoming Digital Rights Town Halls and Community Knowledge Shares:


July 10 | The Social Networking Glitter Meetup

https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=July_10_2025_GM


July 17 | Back To The Source: App Store Politics With F-Droid

https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=July_17_2025_GM


July 24 | What is Happening in Digital Rights Around the World?

https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=July_24_2025_GM


July 31 | The Power and Relevance of Humanizing Tech and Digital Rights 
Through Storytelling

https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=July_31_2025_GM


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### Community News ###

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1. Call for Applications: African Women in Data Science Fellowship


African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) is 
pleased to announce the launch of the African Women in Data Science 
Fellowship. They invite ambitious African women with foundational 
experience in data-related work and a strong motivation to deepen their 
skills and apply data science for transformative impact in agrifood 
systems and climate resilience. The program targets African women from 
Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Malawi with demonstrated 
experience in data-related roles and a commitment to applying data for 
development. Deadline to apply: Application Deadline: July 31, 2025.


https://awardfellowships.org/news/call-for-applications-now-open-for-the-inaugural-cohort-of-the-african-women-in-data-science-fellowship-2025/ 




2. Submit Your Session to #PrivacyCamp25


Privacy Camp is organised by European Digital Rights (EDRi), in 
collaboration with its partners the Research Group on Law, Science, 
Technology & Society at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Privacy Salon, the 
Institute for European Studies at Université Saint-Louis – Bruxelles, 
and the Racism and Technology Center. It will take place on Tuesday, 
September 30, 2025 in a hybrid format (in Brussels, with online 
broadcast). Deadline for submitting session proposals: July 21, 2025.


https://privacycamp.eu/2025/07/02/privacycamp25-call-for-sessions-open/



3. Reports From Our Community:



a) Tunnel Vision: Anti-censorship Tools, End-to-End Encryption and the 
Fight for a Free and Open Internet


Review the new report on VPNs and end-to-end encryption from Freedom 
House and the European University Institute called "Tunnel Vision: 
Anti-Censorship Tools, End-to-End Encryption, and the Fight for a Free 
and Open Internet". It explores rising government restrictions on 
anti-censorship tools and end-to-end encrypted platforms, including new 
data detailing where these services have been blocked. The report also 
showcases stories of resilience, many of them driven by civil society 
organizations.


https://freedomhouse.org/report/special-report/2025/tunnel-vision-anti-censorship-tools-end-end-encryption-and-fight-free



b) US Press Freedom Tracker: US President Targets the Press on Average 
Once a Day — For 10 Years And Counting


The US Press Freedom Tracker is a project of the Freedom of the Press 
Foundation. Senior Reporter Stephanie Sugars reviewed nearly 62,000 of 
President Donald Trump’s posts, first on Twitter then on Truth Social, 
and sorted them into this incredible dataset when those posts targeted 
the press. This dataset spans from June 16, 2015, the day he launched 
his winning campaign, through his removal from Twitter in January 2021 
in the wake of the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. It picks back up on 
Nov. 15, 2022, when Trump officially launched his latest campaign, and 
will continue through his tenure in the White House.


https://pressfreedomtracker.us/blog/on-social-media-trump-targets-the-press-on-average-once-a-day-for-10-years-and-counting/


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### NEW Job Opportunities  ###

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✎ Full Stack Developer | The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation

+ Remote

http://jobs.lever.co/mcgovern/631186df-9f5b-453b-b81b-d38b13891980


✎ Postdoctoral Research Officer in EdTech and children's rights | Open 
Briefing

+ London, UK

http://jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/3615/0/453848/15539/research-officer-digital-futures-for-children


✎ Response coordinator | Digital Futures for Children centre, London 
School of Economics and Political Science

+ Global

https://www.openbriefing.org/blog/job-alert-response-coordinator/


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### Community Resources  ###

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1. Now Available in Farsi: Human Rights Documentation Key Resources


As communities in Iran have faced heightened risks and barriers to 
communication, WITNESS has worked to adapt key resources into Farsi. 
These resources are designed to support efforts to document human rights 
violations safely, including during times of internet shutdown or 
restricted communication. All resources are shared under a Creative 
Commons license, allowing communities to use or adapt them as needed. 
Explore these resources in Farsi:


https://library.witness.org/resources/?_language_v=farsi



2. Curso de Seguridad Digital: Paso a Paso Para Protegerte en Línea


En Derechos Digitales prepararon esta serie de videos prácticos para que 
mejores tu seguridad y privacidad digital. Aprenderás a proteger tus 
cuentas, navegar de forma más segura y tomar el control sobre tu 
información en línea. Ideal para activistas, periodistas, organizaciones 
o cualquier persona interesada en habitar internet de forma más 
consciente y segura.


https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7tFiuTG0nurZd3NRPZA3fn3k2P2L7JZf&si=9GuFdhgiQekPS3Zm 
<https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7tFiuTG0nurZd3NRPZA3fn3k2P2L7JZf&si=9GuFdhgiQekPS3Zm>


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

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1. US State Department Told to End Nearly All its Overseas Pro-democracy 
Programs


The US State Department has been advised to terminate grants to nearly 
all remaining programs awarded under the Bureau of Democracy, Human 
Rights, and Labor (DRL), which would effectively end the department’s 
role in funding pro-democracy programming in some of the world’s most 
hostile totalitarian nations. Some of the programs focus on internet 
censorship, media literacy, human rights and atrocity prevention 
programs, election assistance programs, and efforts to combat 
transnational repression.


https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/26/us-state-department-overseas-pro-democracy-programs



2. Russian Government-Linked Social Engineering Targets App-Specific 
Passwords


Keir Giles, a prominent expert on Russia, was targeted with a new form 
of social-engineering attack that leverages app-specific passwords. 
Google’s Threat Intelligence Group links the operation to UNC6293, a 
Russian state-backed group. Read Citizen Lab report:


https://citizenlab.ca/2025/06/russian-government-linked-social-engineering-targets-app-specific-passwords/



3. How Iran Used War With Israel To Stress Test Its Chinese-Style 
Internet Controls


As war broke out with Israel, Iran plunged into an unprecedented 
internet blackout — cutting off 91 million people, silencing civil 
society, and tightening the regime’s digital grip. The so-called 
war-related shutdown, along with the entire National Internet Project, 
is being marketed by the state as a show of “digital sovereignty.” In 
reality, it targets the very digital spaces that hold society together, 
says Azadeh Akbari, an Iranian sociologist and journalist.


https://worldcrunch.com/in-the-news/iran-war-with-israel-internet-controls/



4. Russia to Disconnect Foreigners Who Have Not Submitted Biometric Data 
>From Mobile Internet


Foreigners in Russia who have not yet submitted biometric data to the 
authorities will begin to have their mobile phone service disconnected 
starting Tuesday, the Russian Digital Development Ministry announced.


https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/07/01/russia-to-disconnect-foreigners-who-have-not-submitted-biometric-data-from-mobile-internet-a89635 



Also, since June 9, 2025, Internet users located in Russia and 
connecting to web services protected by Cloudflare have been throttled 
by Russian Internet Service Providers (ISPs).


https://blog.cloudflare.com/russian-internet-users-are-unable-to-access-the-open-internet/ 




5. How Internet Shutdowns Silently Drain Africa’s Economy


Internet shutdowns are silently crippling high-potential sectors in 
Africa by disrupting digital trade, mobile payments and SME operations. 
These shutdowns deter investors, reduce trust in digital services and 
widen inequality. Legal safeguards, transparent protocols, 
multistakeholder governance and resilient infrastructure are essential 
to protect digital rights and economic growth.


https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/06/how-internet-shutdowns-drain-african-economies/ 




6. Derechos Humanos en Venezuela Continúan en Deterioro: Advierten de 
Detenciones e Intimidación por Redes


Detenciones arbitrarias, intimidación a través de internet y redes, así 
como desapariciones forzadas y cierre del espacio cívico, son parte de 
las conclusiones a las que llegó la Oficina del Alto Comisionado de las 
Naciones Unidas para los Derechos Humanos en el informe que presentó 
sobre Venezuela.


https://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/venezuela/la-situacion-de-los-derechos-humanos-en-venezuela-continua-en-deterioro-advierte-informe-onu-3466941



7. Entra en Vigor en México la Nueva Ley Que Obliga a Uber, Didi y Rappi 
a Dar Seguro Social


Según el Diario Oficial de la Federación, el trabajo en plataformas 
digitales ahora se reconoce como una relación laboral subordinada. Es 
decir, aunque los repartidores mantendrán su flexibilidad de conexión, 
si alcanzan al menos el salario mínimo mensual al trabajar con una app, 
se considerarán empleados formales. Y como tales, tendrán derecho a 
seguridad social, aguinaldo, vacaciones y utilidades.


https://www.xataka.com.mx/aplicaciones/este-domingo-cambia-todo-para-repartidores-entra-vigor-nueva-ley-que-obliga-a-uber-didi-rappi-a-dar-seguro-social


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### Events Calendar ###

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South-to-South AI Accountability CoLab

The Pulitzer Center

June - July, 2025

https://pulitzercenter.org/south-south-ai-accountability-colabs-peer-learning-circle


The Social Networking Glitter Meetup

Team CommUNITY

July 10, 2025

9am EDT /1pm UTC

Online

https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=July_10_2025_GM


Back To The Source: App Store Politics With F-Droid (Glitter Meetup)

Team CommUNITY

July 17, 2025

9am EDT /1pm UTC

Online

https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=July_17_2025_GM


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

Team CommUNITY

July 24, 2025

9am EDT /1pm UTC

Online

https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=July_24_2025_GM


2025 Oxford Media Policy Summer Institute

Jesus College, Oxford

July 28 - August 8, 2025

https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/oxford-media-policy-summer-institute


The Power and Relevance of Humanizing Tech and Digital Rights Through 
Storytelling (Glitter Meetup)

Team CommUNITY

July 31, 2025

9am EDT /1pm UTC

Online

https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=July_31_2025_GM


HOPE_16

August 15 - 17, 2025

St. John's University in Queens, New York City, and online

https://hope.net/


The Digital Rights Asia-Pacific Assembly (DRAPAC)

August 26 - 27, 2025

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

https://drapac.net/25/


Online Course: Threat Sharing and Digital Forensics from a Feminist and 
Human Rights Perspective

Digital Defenders Partnership

September - December, 2025

https://www.digitaldefenders.org/online-course-threat-sharing-and-digital-forensics-from-a-feminist-and-human-rights-perspective/


Global Gathering 2025

Team CommUNITY

September 8 - 10, 2025

Estoril, Portugal

https://www.digitalrights.community/blog/2025-global-gathering-application


MyData 2025 Conference

Helsinki

September 24 - 26, 2025

https://conference.mydata.org/2025


Hold Before You Send It

Digihub Africa 2025

October 8 - 9, 2025

Johannesburg, South Africa

https://www.digihubafrica.org/events/


SEEDIG Youth School 2025

October 10 - 11, 2025

Athens, Greece

https://seedig.net/youth-school/


Bread&Net

SMEX

October 29 - 31

Beirut, Lebanon

https://breadandnet.org/


Mozilla Festival 2025

November 7 - 9, 2025

In Barcelona, Spain

https://www.mozillafestival.org/en/


Check out a list of our virtual events here:

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


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### Grants, Fellowships, & Awards ###

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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


Research Fellowships on Digital Sentience

Deadline: July 9, 2025

https://www.longview.org/digital-sentience-consortium/research-fellowships-on-digital-sentience/


Fondo para los Derechos Digitales

Fecha límite: 15 de julio de 2025

https://fondos.derechosdigitales.org/home


Digital Freedom Fund Open Call

Deadline: July 15, 2025

https://digitalfreedomfund.org/grants/


African Women in Data Science Fellowship

African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD)

Deadline: July 31, 2025

https://awardfellowships.org/news/call-for-applications-now-open-for-the-inaugural-cohort-of-the-african-women-in-data-science-fellowship-2025/ 



Imperial College Research Fellowships

Deadline: August 18, 2025

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/research-and-innovation/research-office/funder-information/research-fellowships/icrf/ 



Connecting the Unconnected Funding Program

Internet Society

Deadline 2nd window: from 15 July to 27 August, 2025

https://www.internetsociety.org/funding-areas/connecting-the-unconnected


Digital Democracy Centre x TrygFonden Fellowship Program

Deadline: September 15, 2025

https://www.sdu.dk/en/forskning/forskningsenheder/samf/digitaldemocracycentre/ddcxtrygfonden-fellowship-call-2026


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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(((Hugs & light)))


--

Team CommUNITY at ARTICLE 19

www.digitalrights.community

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