Digital Rights Weekly | June 8 to 12
Team CommUNITY
team at digitalrights.community
Thu Jun 11 16:13:38 CEST 2026
Hello Digital Rights Defenders!
Here is your weekly update on digital rights around the world for the
week of June 8 to 12. 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
__________________________________________
### TCU ###
__________________________________________
1. June 18 Answering your Global Gathering Questions, Improving Security
Knowledge
During our next Digital Rights Social (DRS) on June 18, TCU staff will
answer all your questions about the Global Gathering, and provide
guidance on developing program proposals. We will also be hosting a
virtual Security Clinic where you can ask any questions you may have
about your or your organization’s security. DRSs are text-based chats
that take place virtually on TCU’s Mattermost. Follow these instructions
to request an account:
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=TCU_Mattermost
2. June 30 Deadline For Global Gathering Fast Approaching
The hard deadline to submit an application for the Global Gathering is
June 30. If you need to bring a partner or spouse to the GG to support
childcare, they must also submit an application before this date—do not
run the risk that their application is not approved because it was not
submitted on time.
https://gathering.digitalrights.community/
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=2026_Global_Gathering_Programming
__________________________________________
### Community News ###
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1. A Review of Internet Censorship: Modern Measurement and Circumvention
Techniques
This study provides an overview of the current state of the affairs in
the field of Internet censorship measurement and circumvention research,
providing an in-depth analysis of
146 contemporary Internet censorship measurement and circumvention
studies, predominantly those published within the last ten years. It
also visualizes the geographical focus of censorship measurement
studies, and it provides an overview of Internet protocols used to
measure censorship. In addition, the study presents a taxonomy of
censorship circumvention tools, analyzes their key characteristics, and
examines the prevalence of the underlying network protocols used in
circumvention tools. The findings suggest that, while there are numerous
solutions for circumventing censorship, many are niche or theoretical,
and their practicality remains unknown. Although there is an observable
trend toward large-scale longitudinal censorship measurement studies,
the real-world effectiveness of (academic) censorship circumvention
methods is rarely evaluated. Since both censorship measurement and
circumvention research go hand-in-hand, there is an increasing number of
measurement studies which directly translate their findings into
practical circumvention strategies.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1574013726001103
2. Pulitzer Center AI Accountability Fellowship | Deadline July 12
The Al Accountability Fellowships seek to support journalists working on
in-depth AI accountability stories that examine governments' and
corporations’ uses of predictive, generative, and surveillance
technologies to guide decisions in policing, medicine, social welfare,
criminal justice, hiring, and more. The remote fellowship lasts 10
months, and a $25,000 stipend will be provided. Journalists around the
world are eligible. The deadline is July 12.
https://pulitzercenter.org/grants-fellowships/opportunities-journalists/ai-accountability-fellowships
3. LaborTech’s Book, Grad Student Paper, and Social Justice Awards I
Deadline June 15
The Labor Tech Research Network (LaborTech) is announcing a call for
three awards -- Book, Graduate Student Paper, and Social Justice. These
will honor projects which: (1) have distinctive intellectual merit or
activist impact; (2) advance knowledge about labor and technology in the
global society; and (3) address our core focus on labor and technology
which may simultaneously address feminism, anti-racism, and/or
transnationalism. The deadline has been extended to June 15.
https://labortechresearchnetwork.org/awards
4. Spearphishing Campaign Targeting Ukrainian Organizations
Digital Security Lab Ukraine published a new incident report on a May
25, 2026 spearphishing campaign targeting Ukrainian organizations. The
campaign impersonated the State Tax Service of Ukraine and used tax debt
threats to trick recipients into downloading a malicious file. The
report explains how the attack delivered LiteManager Pro RAT, outlines
the likely connection to UAC-0050/DaVinci Group, and provides indicators
of compromise and defensive measures for at-risk organizations.
https://dslua.org/publications/uac-0050-spearphishing-campaign-state-tax-service-lure-delivers-litemanager-pro-rat/
5. Oxfam in Africa Retracts LGBTQ Censorship Guide
Oxfam in Africa (OiA) has walked back internal guidelines that would
have barred staff from mentioning LGBTQ rights in public, work-related
communications. The purpose of the 10-page guide, it states, was “not to
step away from Oxfam’s values”, but to keep the organisation’s work
“context-sensitive” and avoid creating risks to LGBTQ communities,
partners, and staff in Africa. However, current and former Oxfam staff
told The New Humanitarian that the guide was the latest move in a
multiyear effort by OiA leaders to restrict advocacy for LGBTQ rights in
Africa.
https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news/2026/06/10/avoid-using-term-oxfam-africa-retracts-lgbtq-censorship-guide
_________________________________________
### 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
+ Cybersecurity & Data Governance Intern, C4ADS
- Washington DC / Remote
+ Tech Policy Research Associate, Open MIC
- Remote
+ Congressional Innovation Fellow, TechCongress
- Washington DC
+ Associate Director, Investor Alliance for Human Rights, Interfaith
Center On Corporate Responsibility
- Remote USA
+ Android developer for the decentralized web, eQualitie
- Remote Global
+ Data Analyst – network measurement and platform security, eQualitie
- Remote Global
+ UX Designer, eQualitie
- Remote Global
+ Software Developer for the Federated Web, eQualitie
- Remote Global
______________________________________
### Digital Rights in the Wider World ###
______________________________________
1. Russia Upgrades Rules for Its Digital Spy System to Better Track
Citizens Online
Russia has spent decades building one of the world's most sophisticated
digital surveillance systems. Known as SORM, the platform gives Russia's
security and intelligence agencies access to telephone calls, internet
traffic and other electronic communications passing through domestic
networks. New regulations published by Russia's Ministry of Digital
Development at the end of May updated the technical standards governing
SORM, formally known as the System for Operative Investigative Activities.
https://therecord.media/russia-upgrades-rules-for-digital-spy-system-sorm
Meanwhile, the Russian book market has collapsed—book circulation fell
by 26%, the lowest level in six years.
https://meduza.io/amp/en/news/2026/06/08/russia-s-book-print-runs-fell-26-in-the-first-quarter-of-2026-the-steepest-drop-in-at-least-six-years
And Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder of Telegram, criticized
Russia’s internet censorship and domestic tech policies, arguing they
unwittingly play directly into U.S. cyber espionage.
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/06/05/telegram-founder-durov-slams-russias-internet-censorship-as-a-boon-for-us-spying-a92944
2. Indian Minister Rejects Censorship Claims, Says Social Media
Takedowns Target Only Deepfake Content
The Centre's action against online content is confined to deepfake
material and does not extend to legitimate content creation, Union
Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw said, dismissing
allegations that the government is censoring social media posts. The
remarks come amid recent claims that videos posted by independent online
creators and YouTube-based channels were being removed at the
government's request. Among those raising concerns was Cockroach Janata
Party leader Abhijeet Dipke, who alleged that a video backing a student
affected by an alleged CBSE assessment error had been taken down
following government intervention.
https://www.storyboard18.com/how-it-works/union-minister-ashwini-vaishnaw-rejects-censorship-claims-says-social-media-takedowns-target-only-deepfake-content-100615.htm
3. Spain Calls for United Nations Action on Children’s Digital Rights
Spain has proposed the creation of a permanent multilateral working
group within the UN to strengthen the regulation of digital environments
and improve protections for children online. The proposal was presented
by Minister of Youth and Childhood, Sira Rego, during a ministerial
roundtable at the Global Alliance of Pioneer Countries to End Violence
Against Children in Turin. According to Rego, stronger international
cooperation is needed to regulate digital environments and protect
children’s rights in response to abuses by major technology platforms.
She said protecting children online requires regulations, rules, and
control mechanisms that safeguard their rights and freedoms.
https://dig.watch/updates/spain-calls-un-action-on-childrens-digital-rights
4. 2026 Australian Community Attitudes to Privacy Survey
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner's latest
Australian Community Attitudes to Privacy Survey, released on May 28,
provides a comprehensive overview of privacy attitudes and experiences
among people in Australia and how they have been impacted by recent
events. While many organizations frequently treat privacy as an
administrative checklist, the public continues to increasingly view
excessive and unreasonable data collection and use as structurally unfair.
https://iapp.org/news/a/2026-australian-community-attitudes-to-privacy-survey-insights-from-a-digital-rights-perspective
5. Digital Rights Advocates Gather in Manila, Seek Greater Public Role
in Asean Digital Policies
More than 600 digital rights advocates, civil society organizations, and
policy experts from across the Asia-Pacific region gathered in Manila
from June 8 to 10 for the 4th Digital Rights Asia-Pacific Assembly
(DRAPAC26), where participants called for stronger public participation
in shaping regional digital policies. The 2026 report presents a stark
picture of a community experiencing severe friction within its digital
economy.
https://newsbytes.ph/2026/06/10/digital-rights-advocates-gather-in-ph-seek-greater-public-role-in-asean-digital-policies/
6. The US Congress Thinks the Government is Spying on Its Citizens
Congress is deadlocked over renewing Section 702 of the Foreign
Intelligence Surveillance Act as the June 12 deadline approaches.
Lawmakers are divided between privacy concerns, structural reform
demands, and opposition to President Trump’s nominee William Pulte as
acting director of national intelligence, raising fears of a
foreign‑intelligence gap. Section 702 allows U.S. intelligence agencies
to collect foreign communications without a warrant, sometimes
incidentally capturing Americans' data.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/06/10/government-spying-program-fisa-deadline-bill-pulte/90461603007/
Meanwhile, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection is moving forward on
AI-powered autonomous surveillance towers that are expected to be
deployed across the southern border, signing a $71 million task order
with GDIT last week. The award is the latest in a massive indefinite
delivery/indefinite quantity contract, worth up to $1.8 billion, that
kicked off three years ago and is aimed at modernizing and expanding
CBP’s surveillance tower system.
https://fedscoop.com/radio/gdit-is-a-key-player-in-cbps-modernization-plans-as-the-prime-contractor-on-a-remote-video-surveillance-program/
And a coalition of civil rights groups has filed a class-action lawsuit
against Westchester County, New York, urging a state judge to halt the
operation of nearly 600 license plate readers (LPRs). The groups contend
that the system constitutes a warrantless and "indiscriminate
surveillance system" that violates the state constitution.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/westchester-county-license-plate-readers-lawsuit-surevillance-new-york-b2993096.html
7. China Wants to Suppress Independent Cinema. But Young Film-Makers Are
Undaunted by Red Lines
Unless a film is given a longbiao, a ‘dragon seal’ administered by the
China Film Administration, which determines which films can be legally
screened, it will never be released in the country. China’s censorship
regime has tightened in recent years—a law passed in 2016 says the
permit is needed to submit films overseas as well. Additionally, China’s
once lively independent film festival scene has also experienced a
crackdown.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/07/china-independent-cinema-filmmakers-censorship
______________________________________
### Community Resources ###
______________________________________
1. Data, Decisions, and Death: Examining the Role of AI in Contemporary
Warfare
With reference to Palestine, Lebanon, and Iran, Dr. Zena Assaad examines
how data and death are increasingly linked. Where and how is
accountability obscured? Who, or what systems, effectively make wartime
decisions? And what has become of civilian protections? Assaad writes
that "AI has never been the cause of the problem; it has been the
vehicle through which the problem has become so publicly evident."
https://www.arab-reform.net/publication/data-decisions-and-death-examining-ai-in-contemporary-warfare/
2. Censorship Resistance Is Becoming Digital Infrastructure
The architecture of modern censorship operates not only autonomously at
scale but also across multiple layers simultaneously. Meanwhile,
research on censorship measurement and circumvention has attracted
growing and serious academic, institutional, and financial interest.
Against the backdrop of sophisticated modern censorship systems, there
is now a growing demand for censorship resistance that volunteer
platforms alone can’t satisfy.
https://www.securities.io/censorship-resistance-digital-infrastructure/
3. The Signal We Cannot Ignore: What the LONDA 2025 Report Reveals About
Africa’s Digital Rights
Paradigm Initiative recently published the LONDA 2025 report, exposing
the fragile state of digital rights across 29 African countries. The
digital landscape is becoming increasingly dangerous for vulnerable
groups. Technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) is a
growing epidemic that most legal frameworks fail to address adequately.
Surveillance technologies also pose a massive threat to privacy across
Africa. To bridge the digital divide, many countries established
Universal Service Funds (USF) to finance connectivity in rural and
low-income areas. While Botswana and Malawi actively used these funds to
connect rural schools, many other nations manage their funds with zero
transparency.
https://globalvoices.org/2026/06/05/the-signal-we-cannot-ignore-what-the-londa-2025-report-reveals-about-africas-digital-rights/
4. The Shocking Secrets of MSG’s Surveillance Machine
James Dolan, the billionaire owner of New York City’s Madison Square
Garden and its affiliated sports teams, the New York Knicks and the New
York Rangers, is under fire after a bombshell investigation by Wired
magazine revealed the inner workings of the arena’s extensive
surveillance network. Dolan employs facial recognition technology to
track and profile arena attendees. This reportedly included a trans
woman who, according to a former security staffer, was targeted solely
due to her gender identity, as well as lawyers who have been banned
because their firms are involved in lawsuits against him.
https://www.democracynow.org/2026/6/10/ny_knicks_james_dolan_msg_surveillance
5. What You Need to Know About Helicopters and the Surveillance State
Those circling helicopters above your neighborhood aren’t just
responding to emergencies anymore. Modern police aircraft carry
high-resolution cameras, thermal imaging systems, and live video feeds
that stream directly to officers’ phones—transforming routine patrols
into comprehensive aerial monitoring operations. These capabilities
extend beyond physical surveillance to include digital methods, as seen
with recent reports of a surveillance app targeting specific groups.
https://www.gadgetreview.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-helicopters-and-the-surveillance-state
6. How to Fight Back Against Social Media Bans and Why You Should
Several U.S. states are pushing to ban young people from social media
entirely. This marks the latest wave of censorship bills masquerading as
“children’s online safety” measures, with states like Massachusetts,
Idaho, Minnesota, North Carolina, South Carolina, Illinois, and
California leading the charge. EFF warned that they would not stop
there: once the government established the authority and built the
infrastructure to collect and “verify” massive troves of user data, it
would inevitably sweep broader and broader categories of lawful speech
into this mass surveillance and censorship system - their predictions
came true and the speed of the shift is concerning them. EFF’s recent
primer breaks down the dangerous wave of social media bans: how they
work (and why they don’t), who they harm, and how we can fight back.
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/06/how-and-why-fight-back-against-social-media-bans
_____________________________________
### 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
Community-Organized Alternative RightsCon's Internet Shutdown Track
June 17-18
Register: https://connectionlabs.network.
For the password to enter, please contact hello at connectionlabs.network
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
Fight for Us, Not for Them Event
June 23
Brussels and Online
https://edri.org/our-work/announcing-the-summit-fight-for-us-not-for-them-a-public-interest-vision-for-eu-tech-policy/
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
Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica)
September 28 to October 1
Mauritius
https://internetfreedom.africa
Trust and Safety Research Conference 2026
October 1–2, 2026
Currently accepting proposals here:
https://cyber.fsi.stanford.edu/trust-and-safety-research-conference
Circuit Breaker 26
October 17-18
New York
https://techworkerscoalition.org/circuit-breakers/
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
Interledger Fellowship Program
Deadline: June 15
https://interledger.org/grant/fellowship
LaborTech’s Book, Grad Student Paper, and Social Justice Awards
Deadline: June 15.
https://labortechresearchnetwork.org/awards
Digital Justice Fund
You must register on the platform by May 24, and submit an application
by June 21
https://apply.hypha.digitalfreedomfund.org/
InDiCo-Global. Deadline
Deadline: June 30, 2026
https://indico-global-grants.eu/indico-global-third-open-call
AI Accountability Fellowship from the Pulitzer Center
Deadline: July 12.
https://pulitzercenter.org/grants-fellowships/opportunities-journalists/ai-accountability-fellowships
Cross-Border Collaborative Investigations on the Impact of AI
July 22
https://www.freepressunlimited.org/en/current/grants-cross-border-collaborative-investigations-impact-ai
__________________________________________
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