Digital Rights Weekly | April 20 to 24
Team CommUNITY
team at digitalrights.community
Fri Apr 24 01:56:18 CEST 2026
Hello Digital Rights Defenders!
Here is your weekly update on digital rights around the world for the
week of April 20 to 24. As a reminder, you can submit your news for the
newsletter here:
https://www.digitalrights.community/weekly-newsletter
___________________
What is in this issue:
TCU
Community News
NEW Job Opportunities
Digital Rights in the Wider World
Community Resources
Events Calendar
Grants, Fellowships, & Awards
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### TCU ###
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1.Global Gathering: Apply Before June 30
The Global Gathering will take place on September 4, 5 and 6 in
Portugal. Want to be a part of the GG’s unique programming? Make sure to
check this year’s themes and learn about what makes a good proposal.
Please note, this year we will not be accepting applications after June
30, so apply as soon as possible!
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=2026_Global_Gathering_Programming
2. Help Support the Equity Fund!
We continue to fundraise for the Equity Fund in order to support the
numerous applicants who are on the waitlist. If your organization wants
to help bring someone from the community to the GG, or if you have any
suggestions about funding, please let us know!!! Email us at
gather at digitalrights.community.
Additionally, if you have not registered, please do so as soon as
possible here:
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=Global_Gathering_2026
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### Community News ###
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1. How US Foreign Aid Cuts Threaten Free Expression and Its Defenders
Worldwide
The United States government implemented massive and immediate cuts to
foreign aid spending between January and April 2025.. Article19’s new
report, Targeted, explores the global impact of those cuts on freedom of
expression and the people working to defend it. Based on quantitative
analysis of affected programmes, 64 interviews with civil society
representatives from around the world and hundreds of secondary sources,
Targeted provides the first in-depth assessment of the scale and
consequences of these cuts on free expression worldwide. In total,
ARTICLE 19 identified at least 283 free expression-related projects that
were cut, the value of which was at least USD 1.7 billion.
https://www.article19.org/resources/targeted/
2. Interledger Fellowship Program
The Interledger Fellowship Program is a 12-month initiative supporting
individuals who are researching, advocating for, and building solutions
to help underserved populations access and meaningfully engage with
digital financial systems. Fellows receive a stipend of USD $72,000 and
a project budget of USD $20,000. Applications are now open and will be
accepted until June 15th, 2026.
https://interledger.org/grant/fellowship
3. April 29 Webinar | AI in PRC Influence Operations – Insights from the
GoLaxy Papers
On April 29, Doublethink Lab will be hosting a webinar on the GoLaxy
documents, a cache of nearly 400 pages of leaked internal documents
discovered by researchers at Vanderbilt University in 2025. These
documents provided a rare insight into how PRC information operations
are evolving from large-scale bot farms toward more sophisticated,
AI-enabled systems designed for precise profiling, targeting, and
influencing audiences outside the PRC. Researchers Jasper Hewitt and
Athena Tong will present key takeaways from the leaked GoLaxy documents
and unpack what they reveal about the changing nature of the PRC Foreign
Information Manipulation and Interference infrastructure. Additionally,
they will share how AI is increasingly being used to map audiences,
identify targets, and tailor messaging in ways that can shape public
debate, deepen divisions, induce fatigue, and gradually erode trust in
information and institutions.
https://dtl.tw/0429eng
4. Trust and Safety Research Conference 2026 Accepting Applications |
Deadline April 30
The Stanford Tech Impact and Policy Center will be hosting its fifth
annual Trust & Safety Research Conference, to be on October 1–2, 2026 in
Stanford University’s Alumni Center.
The conference brings together trust & safety researchers and
practitioners across academia, industry, civil society, and government.
They are currently soliciting proposals, which are due before April 30.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc63q1yE2hZzc5viRUC_3cfkF0OBqy5lkYRXNVCsliMLnaRoA/viewform
5. CYPLP to Host TFGVB Workshop for State Prosecutors on April 28 and
Court Registrars on May 6
Children and Young People Living for Peace (CYPLP) will be hosting two
training sessions in Nigeria focused on tackling technology-facilitated
gender-based violence. (TFGVB) One for state prosecutors on April 28,
and another one for court registrars on May 6. The workshops will
address the rising tide of cyberstalking, cyber-bullying, and
non-consensual sharing of intimate images, among other topics. By
engaging directly with the judiciary, CYPLP aims to dismantle the
barriers survivors face when seeking redress. CYPLP is a
non-governmental organization dedicated to fostering peace, protecting
human rights, and advocating for the safety of children and youth.
www.cyplp.net.ng
6. From Click to Collapse: When AI Overwhelms Care Infrastructures
Artificial intelligence promises efficiency and scale. But what happens
when automated systems begin redirecting large volumes of people in
distress toward human care networks that were never designed to absorb
that demand? This new report from Vita Activa examines a growing
tension: the impact of AI-driven systems on care
infrastructures—particularly in the Global South—that operate with
limited resources yet provide essential support.
https://vita-activa.org/2026/04/15/from-click-to-collapse-when-ai-overwhelms-care-infrastructures/
7. Amnesty Flags Growing Censorship Risks in India’s Proposed Digital
Media Framework
Amnesty International called for the immediate withdrawal of India’s
proposed digital media amendments, warning that the new rules would
grant the government “abusive powers” to censor and monitor ordinary
citizens online. Amnesty submitted a detailed legal analysis to the
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), arguing that
the draft regulations would effectively turn social media platforms into
“enforcement arms of the state” by removing vital legal protections for
users and platforms alike.
https://www.jurist.org/news/2026/04/amnesty-flags-growing-censorship-risks-in-indias-proposed-digital-media-framework/#
8. China’s Censorship of Cultural Institutions Must Be Challenged
ARTICLE 19 is alarmed by the recent decision of one of the United
Kingdom’s leading museums to cede to the demands of Chinese censors. The
Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) has on several occasions agreed to
remove maps and images from exhibition catalogues following pressure
from their Chinese publisher. Such acts of censorship at European
cultural institutions are part of broader trends in information
manipulation and interference. Considering recent legislation that
claims extraterritorial jurisdiction for acts that fall afoul of
official Chinese Communist Party (CCP) narratives, this trend is at risk
of escalating. ARTICLE 19 calls on Chinese authorities and affiliated
entities to cease acts of transnational information manipulation and
interference, and for global cultural institutions to resist such
pressure. Authorities should use diplomatic channels to respond to China
and increase support for cultural institutions and those tracking
China’s foreign information manipulation and interference operations.
https://www.article19.org/resources/europe-chinas-censorship-of-cultural-institutions-must-be-challenged/
9. EPIC, U.S. Civil Society Groups, Call on EU Leaders to Stand Up for
Digital Rights
In a letter sent to multiple European leaders, EPIC and other U.S. civil
society organizations called on Europe to hold firm against attempts by
the U.S. administration and tech industry to weaken EU digital
regulation and enforcement. “The U.S. administration and tech industry
have attempted to frame protecting digital rights as an attack on the
U.S. and its businesses,” said Calli Schroeder, EPIC Senior Counsel.
“Privacy is a fundamental human right and the U.S. government’s failure
to protect that right cannot and should not result in the rest of the
world lowering their own standards.”
https://epic.org/epic-u-s-civil-society-groups-call-on-eu-leaders-to-stand-up-for-digital-rights/
10. Data Privacy Threats Persist Across Balkans and Turkey
Check out BIRN’s monthly update on digital rights and safety in the
Western Balkans and Turkey for March. Among the many covered, BIRN
shares that there were significant breaches affecting major telecom and
internet service providers across the West Balkans and Turkey, which
exposed the personal data of hundreds of thousands of individuals. They
also state that digital attacks targeting women, feminist groups, and
LGBTQ+ activists across the region are concerning trends.
https://balkaninsight.com/2026/04/20/data-privacy-threats-persist-across-balkans-and-turkey/bi/
_________________________________________
### NEW Job Opportunities ###
__________________________________________
These are new jobs we have received in the past week. You can access
these and other jobs by visiting our job board:
https://www.digitalrights.community/job-board
+ Regional Research Consultants, The Engine Room
- Remote
+ Junior DevOps Engineer, Patrick J. McGovern Foundation
- Remote
+ Assistant Director of EU Policy, EFF
- Remote
+ Communications and Marketing Manager, Tactical Tech
- Berlin
+ Finance & HR Admin Manager, Tactical Tech
- Berlin
+ Senior Digital Campaign Associate, Brennan Center for Justice
- New York
+ Senior Counsel, Brennan Center for Justice
- New York
+ Digital Fellowship, US Senate / Office of Edward Markey
- Washington, DC
+ Grants Coordinator – East & Southern Africa, Frontline Defenders
- Remote/Based in Africa
+ Head of ICT - MSF Ubuntu, Médecins Sans Frontières
- Kenya or South Africa
+ Specialist [Digital Technologies Expert] Retainer, UNOPS
- Remote
+ Fellowship Manager, Singapore AI Safety Hub
- Singapore
+ Program Advisor, Learning and Training, Internet Society Foundation
- Remote
+ Engineering Manager (Elections & AI for Democracy Action Lab), Protect
Democracy
- Remote
______________________________________
### Digital Rights in the Wider World ###
______________________________________
1. Iran Expands Limited Internet Access But Restrictions Remain For Most
Iranian authorities have been slowly expanding a list of individuals and
entities deemed eligible to have limited internet access. This week,
tens of thousands of people and organisations selected by the state
based on their positions and professions signed up or received text
message invitations to connect through a service called Internet Pro—a
limited and metered internet connection through which thousands of sites
and most global messaging services are blocked but some applications,
app stores and Google services function. The service is being sold in
the form of 50-gigabyte data packages by three top state-linked
telecommunications companies.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/20/iran-expands-limited-internet-access-but-restrictions-remain-for-most
Residents inside Iran say the economics of access have become absurd.
Starlink kits that once sold for around $1,000 USD on the black market
are now going for more than $5,000 USD. Virtual private networks (VPNs)
are still available, but often at prices most Iranians cannot afford.
Internet access has become a luxury that is unavailable to the vast
majority of Iranians. Satellite television has become one of the few
remaining ways many households can still get outside news. Additionally,
some Persian-language media outlets abroad have responded by reviving
shortwave broadcasts, a reminder that in moments of deep censorship,
technology can move backward as well as forward.
https://www.dw.com/en/iran-internet-blackout-highlights-real-toll-of-censorship/a-76832488
2. European Civil Servants Are Being Forced Off WhatsApp, Signal
Governments in France, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and
Belgium have started rolling out in-house messaging services for
officials to exchange sensitive information, in an effort to stop staff
from using popular encrypted apps and switch to local alternatives they
can control. Defense alliance NATO also has its own messenger, and the
European Commission plans to make the switch by the end of the year. The
move toward government-controlled messaging apps is part of Europe's
search for alternatives to American technology, sparked by fears of
being strategically dependent on Washington.
https://www.politico.eu/article/european-civil-servants-new-messaging-services/
3. Bitwarden CLI Backdoored in Latest Supply Chain Campaign
The Shai-Hulud worm is back on NPM, this time targeting the
@bitwarden/cli package. It extracts keys, credentials, and cloud
configurations, then uploads them encrypted to public GitHub repositories.
https://www.ox.security/blog/shai-hulud-bitwarden-cli-supply-chain-attack/
4. The Bitter Rift Behind a Landmark Mobile Privacy OS: A Story of
Trust, Code, and Control
In the world of cybersecurity few narratives are as charged with human
drama as the partnership that birthed a pioneering mobile privacy tool
GrapheneOS. The story offers profound insight into the complexities of
open-source development, data control, and the inherent tension between
ethical principles and commercial imperatives.
https://arsa.technology/machine-state/the-bitter-rift-behind-a-landmark-mobile-privacy-o-8g6tenrx/
5. What Mythos AI Could It Be a Threat to Global Cybersecurity?
Anthropic has ruled out releasing its latest AI model, Claude Mythos, to
the public because of the threat it poses to global cybersecurity.
However, the US tech startup behind the Claude chatbot confirmed on
Wednesday it was investigating a report that a group of people had
gained unauthorised access to Mythos. The alleged incident has raised
concerns over the pace of development and the ability of tech companies
to keep their riskiest products out of the public domain.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/apr/22/what-is-anthropic-mythos-ai-threat-global-cybersecurity
6. DHS Moves Forward on Autonomous Surveillance Towers at the Border
Despite the 60-plus-day shutdown, the US Department of Homeland Security
is continuing to advance its plans to build a “smart” border wall,
according to a top official at Customs and Border Protection. One
industry player that has been providing surveillance tech to DHS is
Anduril, which previously employed current agency CIO Antoine McCord.
DHS awarded more than $360 million to Anduril in December for its
towers. GDIT is another provider, unveiling new autonomous surveillance
towers last month.
https://fedscoop.com/dhs-budget-border-wall-surveillance-shutdown/
7. How Bill C-8 Could Break Canadian Internet Freedom
A bill advancing through Canada’s parliament explicitly authorizes the
government to “direct telecommunications service providers to do
anything, or refrain from doing anything, that is necessary to secure
the Canadian telecommunications system.” Under the guise of national
security and protecting vital federal infrastructure, Bill C-8 is
creating directives that, if misused, could impact Canadian internet
privacy rights.
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/04/16/opinion/canada-internet-privacy-bill-c8
A new poll reported by OpenMedia found that Canadians trust political
parties the least when it comes to protecting their personal data,
ranking them below other institutions on privacy.
https://openmedia.org/press/item/new-poll-political-parties-dead-last-on-privacy-trust
8. New Report Says a Complex Surveillance System Tracks Fans at a Famous
New York Arena
New York City’s Madison Square Garden is one of the most famous areas in
the US for live events. But according to reporting by Wired, the arena
may also function as a highly controlled surveillance environment, where
facial recognition technology is used not just for security, but also to
track and exclude specific individuals based on the leadership’s
personal and corporate boundaries.
https://www.inc.com/leila-sheridan/madison-square-garden-facial-recognition/91332577
______________________________________
### Community Resources ###
______________________________________
1. Eticas Guide to Community Led Audits
Eticas has recently published a guide on how to conduct community-led
audits, a transformative approach to ensuring transparency and
accountability in AI technologies.
https://www.eticasfoundation.org/community-led-ai-audits
2. The Silencing of Women HRDs and Other Pro-Democracy Activists in Myanmar
Since the military coup in 2021, Myanmar has witnessed an alarming
escalation in digital repression. The military junta has imposed
internet shutdowns, deployed surveillance technologies and weaponised
legal tools to silence dissent. These tactics have disproportionately
affected human rights defenders (HRDs), particularly women human rights
defenders (WHRDs), who are subject to harassment and threats both online
and offline and persecuted through the criminalisation of free speech.
https://www.apc.org/en/pubs/ecosystem-digital-repression-silencing-women-human-rights-defenders-and-other-pro-democracy
3. Time for Government, Business Leaders to Figure Out AI Cybersecurity
Regulation
A group of cybersecurity experts were recently brought together for a
Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society discussion, during which
all agreed that it’s high time for business and government leaders to
regulate the tech — before it’s too late. According to a 2026 IBM study,
cyberattacks aimed at public-facing software and systems applications -
many of which utilize AI - had a year-over-year increase of 44 percent.
https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2026/04/time-for-government-business-leaders-to-figure-out-ai-cybersecurity-regulation/
_____________________________________
### Events Calendar ###
______________________________________
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
Additionally, we maintain a calendar of events in our wiki:
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=Calendar_of_Events
AI in PRC Influence Operations – Insights from the GoLaxy Papers
April 29
Online
https://dtl.tw/0429eng
UNESCO World Press Freedom Day 2026 Global Conference
May 4–5, 2026
Lusaka, Zambia
https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/world-press-freedom-day-2026-global-conference-shaping-future-peace
RightsCon 2026
May 5-8
Lusaka, Zambia
https://www.rightscon.org/
2nd Popular Technology Festival of Setúbal
May 8-9
Setúbal, Portugal
https://odet.pt/festival/2026/
Digital Rights Social / Focus: Regional Updates
May 21, 2026 @ 14 UTC
TCU's Mattermost
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=Community_Updates
Digital Rights Asia-Pacific Assembly (DRAPAC)
June 8 to 10
Manila, Philippines
https://engagemedia.org/2025/drapac26-manila/
Digital Rights Social / Focus: Security Clinic Best Practices and Q&A
June 18, 2026 @ 14 UTC
TCU's Mattermost
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=Community_Updates
Global Media Forum
June 23 and 24, 2026
Bonn Germany
https://corporate.dw.com/en/gmf-2026-your-ideas-deserve-the-spotlight/a-75222151
All Things in Moderation 2026: Call for Contributions
June 25 to 26
Online and on demand
https://www.allthingsinmoderation.org/call-for-contributions
Digital Rights Social / Focus: Organizational Sustainability and Resilience
July 16, 2026 @ 14 UTC
TCU's Mattermost
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=Community_Updates
Free and Open Communications on the Internet (FOCI)
July 20, 2026
Hybrid, co-located with PETS in Calgary, Canada
https://foci.community/
Global Gathering
September 4 to 6, 2026
Portugal
https://www.digitalrights.community/blog/applications/global-gathering-2026-applications-open
Trust and Safety Research Conference 2026
October 1–2, 2026
Currently accepting proposals here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc63q1yE2hZzc5viRUC_3cfkF0OBqy5lkYRXNVCsliMLnaRoA/viewform
Digital Commons:Infrastructures, Design, and the Ethics of Autonomy
October 8 to 10
Athens, Greece
www.digicommons.org
__________________________________________
### Grants, Fellowships, & Awards ###
__________________________________________
Lebanese Journalists At Risk or Pressure
No Deadline
https://www.skeyesmedia.org/en/News/News/07-04-2026/13133
OpenMedia Summer Fellowship 2026
Deadline April 19
https://openmedia.org/article/item/openmedia-summer-fellowship-2026-next-gen-policy-changemakers-wanted
EU Grant for Media Freedom, Freedom of Expression, and Journalist
Protection in Pakistan
deadline is April 21, 2026.
https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/prospect-details/186121PROSPECTSEN
Laboratory for Women’s Rights Online Initiative
Deadline: April 21, 2026
https://pops.expertisefrance.fr/sdm/ent2/gen/ficheCsl.action?PCSLID=CSL_2026_4sZQPjYqHf&ongletActif=2
2026 Oxford AI and Media Policy Summer Institute July 20 to 31
Deadline: Early decision March 14; Final deadline April 21
https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/oxford-ai-and-media-policy-summer-institute/2026-oxford-ai-and-media
-policy-summer-institute
Janisha R. Gabriel Movement Protection Fund - Information Session
April 23, 2025
https://solidairenetwork.org/how-we-partner/movement-protection-fund/
ISOC Community-Centered Connectivity Grant Program
May 7
https://www.isocfoundation.org/grant-programme/community-centered-connectivity/
Human Rights Democracy and CSO Support to Sri Lanka and the Maldives
Deadline: May 15, 2026.
https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/prospect-details/186264PROSPECTSEN
Community Access Fund for LGBTQI+ Asylum Seekers
May 31
https://www.rainbowrailroad.org/community-access-fund-application
Promoting Inclusive Digital Services in Kyrgyzstan
Deadline: June 2
https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/prospect-details/185902PROSPECTSEN
Interledger Fellowship Program
Deadline: June 15
https://interledger.org/grant/fellowship
InDiCo-Global. Deadline
Deadline: June 30, 2026
https://indico-global-grants.eu/indico-global-third-open-call
__________________________________________
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(((Hugs & light)))
--
Team CommUNITY at ARTICLE 19
www.digitalrights.community
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