Digital Rights Weekly | October 20 to 25
Team CommUNITY
team at digitalrights.community
Fri Oct 24 15:17:01 CEST 2025
Hello Digital Rights Defenders!
Here is your weekly update on digital rights around the world for the
week of October 20 to 25. As a reminder, you can submit your news for
the newsletter here:
https://www.digitalrights.community/weekly-newsletter
What is in this issue:
This Week’s Highlight
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. Have You Ever Been to a Digital Craft Fair? My Experience at the
Global Gathering
Each little booth, where at a regular craft fair you’d see handmade
goods, was instead a showcase of digital craftwork…A moment to talk and
connect beyond the internet, with people doing similar and dissimilar
things, broadening horizons to keep moving forward in strengthening the
right to communicate and express ourselves, to be human.
https://www.apc.org/en/blog/have-you-ever-been-digital-craft-fair-my-experience-global-gathering
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### Community News ###
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1. BIRN Invites Journalists: Apply for Grants for Investigative Stories
Journalists covering EU member countries and EU aspiring countries are
invited to apply for grants to produce investigations shedding light on
critical social, political and economic issues. Only individual
journalists may apply, and each journalist can propose one investigative
story. Selected journalists will receive grants of €1,140. Twenty grants
in total are available and the ongoing call for applications will be
closed once they are all distributed. The second deadline after which
applications received so far will be evaluated is October 31st, 2025
https://birn.eu.com/news-and-events/birn-invites-journalists-apply-for-grants-for-investigative-stories/
2. Common Wealth Grants Now Open
The Common Wealth Foundation has an open call for civil society working
on Freedom of Expression. Only civil society organizations in the
Commonwealth are eligible, with maximum being £60,000. Deadline is
October 23
https://commonwealthfoundation.com/grants/annual/
3. Malaysia: Financial Support to Young Women Human Rights Defenders
ARTICLE 19 and the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) are offering
small grants to young women human rights defenders in Malaysia to
support research and monitoring on data governance, focusing on how the
government and social media platforms protect women and HRDs online.
Grantees will receive tailored guidance, technical support, and training
on secure research and documentation to strengthen digital rights
advocacy. Deadline: 10 November 2025.
https://www.article19.org/resources/malaysia-financial-support-to-young-women-human-rights-defenders/
4. EU Launches New LGBTIQ+ Strategy
This month, the European Commission released its LGBTIQ+ Equality
Strategy 2026–2030. The strategy aims to strengthen the EU’s legal and
policy framework against discrimination, calling for the full
implementation of the Equal Treatment Directive and stronger safeguards
against hate speech, hate crimes, and “conversion practices.” The new EU
strategy seeks to anchor LGBTIQ+ equality as essential to democratic
resilience, linking internal coherence with external credibility.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/10/20/eu-launches-new-lgbtiq-strategy
5. WSA Call Open for Young Innovators Award
The WSA Young Innovators Award empowers young people who are using
digital solutions to create local impact. They currently have an open
call for applications. All winners will have their travel and
accommodation covered to attend WSA’s Global Congress, a three day
conference where winners present their solutions to the global WSA
community. Deadline is October 31
https://wsa-global.org/
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### NEW Job Opportunities ###
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You can access these and other jobs by visiting our job board:
https://www.digitalrights.community/job-board
✎ Program Coordinator Levane, CPJ
+ Remote
✎ Creative Lead
+ United Food & Commercial Workers International (UFCW)
✎ Communications and Program Director, Chosen Family Law Center
+ Hybrid, NYC
✎ Account Executive, The Pivot Group
+ Remote
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### Community Resources ###
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1. Internet-in-a-Box
Internet-in-a-Box is a “learning hotspot” that works without the
Internet. Working on Raspberry Pi, users can customize it with free
content of their choosing on their own Raspberry Pi, or purchase it at
the Wikipedia store fully assembled.
https://internet-in-a-box.org/
2. A Law Professor Uncovers Internet Pricing Discrimination
Professor Catherine Sandoval’s research reveals how broadband providers
are disproportionately charging low-income neighborhoods in Los Angeles
in a form of digital redlining. Her ongoing research examined 160 census
tracks in Los Angeles, where she uncovered that the city’s leading
Internet Service Provider charges residents of low income neighborhoods
significantly more for high-speed internet than those in wealthier
neighborhoods - at least $240 more per year.
https://www.scu.edu/news-and-events/feature-stories/2025-feature-stories/stories/a-law-professor-uncovers-internet-pricing-discrimination.html
3. New Report Explores Neurotechnology and Human Rights
The Australian Human Rights Commission has published a new report
looking at how we can
embrace the benefits of neurotechnology while making sure human dignity
stays front and centre. Specifically, the report looks at how
neurotechnology could impact rights such as freedom of expression, the
right to privacy and freedom of thought. Check out key findings here:
https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/rights-and-freedoms/publications/peace-mind-new-report-explores-neurotechnology-and-human
4. Digital Literacy Primer: Why It's Important to Digital Rights and the
Health of Civil Society
Technology has become the basis for how we learn, work and participate
in our society. In this context, digital literacy strengthens their
ability to critically think about what we see online. Learn about basic
steps to strengthen your digital literacy, and why it has become central
to a healthy civil society and democracy.
https://www.digitalrights.community/blog/what-is-digital-literacy
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### Digital Rights in the Wider World ###
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1. A Lighthouse Reports Journalist Has Exposed a Global Surveillance Empire
A major Lighthouse Reports investigation has exposed a powerful
surveillance technology used to spy on thousands worldwide, offering one
of the most detailed looks at the modern spying industry. Confidential
documents and insider interviews reveal how First Wap marketed its
hacking tools to authoritarian regimes and corporations, boasting of
WhatsApp breaches and evading sanctions.
https://www.lighthousereports.com/investigation/surveillance-secrets/
2. Netherlands Curtails Intelligence-Sharing with US over ‘Human Rights’
The Netherlands has curtailed intelligence co-operation with the US over
fears it could be used to violate human rights or assist Russia. The
heads of civilian and military intelligence said in a join interview
with Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant that they had becomoe more cautious
in what they share given the "politicisation of our intelligence."
https://www.ft.com/content/af8042f0-5de9-4509-bcb2-2d98d26a3d21
3. US Court Bars Israeli Spyware firm from Targeting WhatsApp Users
A United States judge has granted an injunction barring Israeli spyware
maker the NSO Group from targeting WhatsApp users, saying the firm’s
software causes “direct harm.” Evidence at trial showed that NSO
reverse-engineered WhatsApp code to stealthily install its spyware
Pegasus on users’ phones, and repeatedly redesigned it to escape
detection and bypass security fixes.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/18/us-court-bars-israeli-spyware-firm-from-targeting-whatsapp-users
4. Cameroon's Internet Access Disrupted as Election Protests Continue
Internet access in Cameroon is significantly disrupted as protests
continue over alleged irregularities in this month's presidential election.
https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/internet-connectivity-cameroon-is-significantly-disrupted-netblocks-says-2025-10-23/
5. Israeli Government Hires New Firm to Create Content, Train ChatGPT to
be Pro-Israel
The Israeli government has hired a new firm, Clock Tower X, to produce
content aimed at Gen Z audiences and to train ChatGPT to take a more
pro-Israel stance. Clock Tower will be building new websites designed to
influence how artificial intelligence systems, including ChatGPT, frame
issues by training them on large datasets. The firm will also use a
search engine optimisation tool called MarketBrew AI, which allows
clients to adapt to algorithms and boost their visibility on platforms
like Google.
https://www.newarab.com/news/israel-hires-new-firm-create-content-train-chatgpt
6. Georgia: Police Round up Protesters as New Restrictions on Public
Rallies Take Effect
In Georgia, police have detained over a dozen protestors after new
restrictions on public gatherings are enforced. These restrictions are
part of new amendments to Georgia’s Administrative and Criminal Codes
which introduce harsher penaltiesx for things such as protests, covering
one’s face, or setting up temporary structures.
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/10/georgia-police-round-up-protesters-as-new-restrictions-on-public-rallies-take-effect/
7. Civil Groups Ask EU to Investigate Privacy Regulator Following
Appointment of Former Meta Lobbyist
More than 40 civil society organisations have asked the European
Commission to investigate Ireland’s privacy regulator - the Irish Data
Protection Commission (DPC) - following the appointment of a former Meta
Lobbyist as the DPC’s third commissioner. The appointment of Niamh
Sweeney has triggered concerns among digital rights groups that oversee
compliance with GDPR.
https://dig.watch/updates/civil-groups-question-independence-of-irish-privacy-watchdog
8. Canadian Bill C-8 Would Allow Minister to Secretly Cut off Phone,
Internet Service
The Canadian Constitution Foundation is concerned about the civil
liberties implications of the Carney government’s proposed cyber
security bill, C-8, which would allow the minister of industry to
secretly order telecommunications service providers like Telus, Bell and
Rogers to stop providing services to individual Canadians.
https://theccf.ca/bill-c-8-would-allow-minister-to-secretly-cut-off-phone-internet-service-ccf-warns/
9. EFF Joins Labor Unions to Sue the US Admin to Stop Ideological
Surveillance of Free Speech Online
EFF has joined labor unions to sue the Departments of State and Homeland
Security for their viewpoint-based surveillance and suppression of
protected expression online. The complaint asks a federal court to stop
this unconstitutional surveillance program, which has hampered the
ability of the unions to associate with their members and potential
members.
https://www.eff.org/press/releases/labor-unions-eff-sue-trump-administration-stop-surveillance-free-speech-online
10. Amazon’s Ring to partner with Flock, a Network of AI Cameras
Amazon’s surveillance camera maker Ring announced a partnership on
Thursday with Flock, a maker of AI-powered surveillance cameras that
share footage with law enforcement. Now agencies that use Flock can
request that Ring doorbell users share footage to help with “evidence
collection and investigative work.”
https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/16/amazons-ring-to-partner-with-flock-a-network-of-ai-cameras-used-by-ice-feds-and-police/
11. ICE to Buy Tool that Tracks Locations of Hundreds of Millions of
Phones Every Day
Ice has bought access to a surveillance tool that is updated every day
with billions of pieces of location data from hundreds of millions of
mobile phones, according to an investigation done by 404 Media. ICE is
planning to use location data remotely harvested from people’s
smartphones after previously saying it had stopped the practice.
https://www.404media.co/email/0ba0f6a2-9195-4ced-9c40-92bb72367e7a/?ref=daily-stories-newsletter
In September, the US spent a record 1.4 Billion in surveillance tech.
This included the acquisition of an iris-scanning app, spyware that can
remotely hack smartphones without the target even clicking a link, and
location software that can track phone activity without a warrant.
https://english.elpais.com/usa/2025-10-21/ice-intensifies-surveillance-of-immigrants-with-facial-recognition-programs-human-tracking-and-social-media-monitoring.html
12. Idemia Brings Biometrics Expertise to Saudi Arabia
Idemia Public Security has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with
SAMI Advanced Electronics, a regional leader in Saudi Arabia’s
electronics industry. The collaboration will see the two firms jointly
develop and deploy biometric tech for transport and smart city projects,
to accelerate innovation and build technological capacity in the region
https://www.biometricupdate.com/202510/idemia-brings-biometrics-expertise-to-saudi-arabias-digital-transformation
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### Events Calendar ###
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Did you know you could submit your events for inclusion in our
newsletter? It takes a few minutes to submit:
https://www.digitalrights.community/weekly-newsletter
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/
4D European Conference, Democratic Digitalisation and Digital Rights
October 28th, 2025
Barcelona
https://4d.cat/en/conference/
Reproducible Builds Summit
October 28-30
Vienna, Austria
https://reproducible-builds.org/events/vienna2025/
Bread&Net
SMEX
October 29 - 31
Beirut, Lebanon
https://breadandnet.org/
Dash Chat: Secure Chat with or Without Internet
October 29
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdmESNJukuw32YO3TaitAvCx8aH6Sx2Yjy_Lqg0NoEPvFPSFA/viewform?usp=dialog
The Session Design Lab: Strengthen Your Facilitation and Training Skills
October 29 to 30
https://www.fabriders.net/session-design-lab/
Digital Attacks on Human Rights Defenders
October 30
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PAbT9mOhS06jeYTi9pixCg#/registration
Thailand Digital Rights Learning Circle: Connecting Local Struggles to
Regional Movement
October 30
https://engagemedia.org/2025/drapac-series-thailand-digital-rights-learning-circle/
Psychosocial Support & Digital Safety
November 4
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/eaCfH8zYRd6vdiGJG4Pwow
Feminist Perspective on the Fight Against Gender Based Violence,
On November 6
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Gj6-N_OoRCu2bfbV_rDMKQ#/registration
Mozilla Festival 2025
November 7 - 9, 2025
In Barcelona, Spain
https://www.mozillafestival.org/en/
European Young Innovators Festival
November 26 to 28
https://wsa-global.org/events/european-young-innovators-festival/
SplinterCon 2025
December 8–10, 2025
Paris, France
https://splintercon.net/paris/
RightCon 2026
May 5-8
Lusaka, Zambia
https://www.rightscon.org/
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### Grants, Fellowships, & Awards ###
__________________________________________
Common Wealth Grants Now Open
Deadline: October 23
https://commonwealthfoundation.com/grants/annual/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Breakout Fund
Deadline: October 31
https://splintercon.net/breakout
Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation
November 18th, 2025.
https://grants.mfa.no/#call/4421/main
ACLS Digital Justice Grants
November 20, 2025
https://www.acls.org/programs/acls-digital-justice-grants
BIRN Journalists Grants for Investigative Stories
Deadline: October 31st, 2025
https://birn.eu.com/news-and-events/birn-invites-journalists-apply-for-grants-for-investigative-stories/
WSA Young Innovators Award 2025
Deadline: October 31, 2025
https://wsa-global.org/wsa_categories/wsa-young-innovators/
Malaysia: Financial Support to Young Women Human Rights Defenders
Deadline: November 10, 2025.
https://www.article19.org/resources/malaysia-financial-support-to-young-women-human-rights-defenders/
NLnet Zero Commons Fund
Deadline: December 1
https://nlnet.nl/commonsfund/
NLnet Fediversity Programme
Deadline: December 1
https://nlnet.nl/fediversity/
John S. Knight Journalism Fellowship
Deadline: December 3
https://jsk.stanford.edu/become-a-fellow#why-apply
AI Reporting Grant Program
December 31, 2025
https://pulitzercenter.org/grants-fellowships/opportunities-journalists/ai-reporting-grants
InDiCo-Global. Deadline
Deadline: June 30, 2026
https://indico-global-grants.eu/indico-global-third-open-call
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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