Digital Rights Weekly | May 25 to 29
Team CommUNITY
team at digitalrights.community
Thu May 28 23:02:13 CEST 2026
Hello Digital Rights Defenders!
Here is your weekly update on digital rights around the world for the
week of May 25 to 29. 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. June 30 is the HARD Deadline for the GG!
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 in time.
Reviewing and vetting applications to ensure the safety and security of
the GG is a time-consuming task. We will not be extending the deadline
as we have done in previous years. If you want to support our security
and safety efforts, encourage your friends and colleagues to apply soon!
https://gathering.digitalrights.community/
2. Pre-Event Mental Health Workshops for GG Participants
We are offering four mental health online workshops pre-event to all
registered Global Gathering participants. Topics range from
understanding burnout and your nervous system, to best practices when
confronting a crisis. If you have already applied and have been approved
for attendance, you should have received a form with the workshop
details, allowing you to RSVP. Want to take advantage of this
opportunity? Apply to join the GG before June 30, the final day to
submit your application (and program proposals).
https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=2026_Global_Gathering_Programming
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### Community News ###
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1. Surveillance: Journalists Worldwide Call for Stronger Action on
Spyware Abuse
Hundreds of journalists from across the globe have endorsed a call for
the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) to lead lobbying
efforts to tackle the abuse of spyware and unlawful surveillance to
defend media freedom. The call, unanimously backed by delegates at the
IFJ’s Congress in Paris, held from 4 to 7 May, came following the
publication of a ground-breaking report on the impact of growing and
abusive surveillance on sources, journalists and independent media. The
report was led by a computer and communications engineer and expert in
digital security and rights, Samar Al Halal, and is part of the Brave
Media project, a global consortium of nine organisations led by BBC
Media Action.
https://www.ifj.org/media-centre/news/detail/category/centenary-congress-2026/article/surveillance-journalists-worldwide-call-for-stronger-action-on-spyware-abuse
Meanwhile, the Committee to Protect Journalists joined 10 other civil
society organizations in filing an amicus brief in the U.S. Ninth
Circuit Court of Appeals calling for the safeguarding of encryption from
NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware to prevent the surveillance of journalists
and other human rights defenders. In the brief, which was led by Access
Now, CPJ and fellow amici argue that without the permanent injunction,
NSO will continue enabling human rights violations.
https://cpj.org/2026/05/cpj-partners-file-amicus-brief-to-project-encryption-from-pegasus-spyware/
2. Community-Organized Alternative RightsCon's Internet Shutdown Track |
June 17-18
A coalition of organizations have come together to run a
community-organized alternative to the Internet Shutdown Track which was
going to be held at RightsCon. The hosts include Connections Labs,
Digital Society of Africa and CIPESA. Registration is free, and it will
be held online. Learn more and Register: https://connectionlabs.network.
For the password to enter, please contact hello at connectionlabs.network
3. Tech Worker Conference | October 17-18
Circuit Breakers is a gathering for all workers, organizers, and
activists in the tech industry to come together and learn, build
community, strategize, and recognize our collective power. It will take
place in New York City, from October 17 to 18.
https://techworkerscoalition.org/circuit-breakers/
4. OpenMLS Security Audit Published
OpenMLS is a software library, available to anyone, that provides a
standardized, efficient way for apps to offer highly secure end-to-end
encrypted group communications that works well at large scale. To date,
it's one of the reference implementations of the Messaging Layer
Security Protocol. OpenMLS has most recently undergone a security audit,
and the results have been published. This is an important milestone for
OpenMLS, which is maintained by Phoenix R&D, as well as their secure
messenger Air, still in beta. Other open source apps that use OpenMLS
include Nostr, XMTP, Cloudflare’s Meet, Wire, and CoverDrop in the
Guardian’s news app. OpenMLS is also used in various closed-source
applications that have not made its use public.
https://blog.phnx.im/openmls-independent-security-audit/
5. A Collective Call from Inside Iran for Free and Equal Internet Access
A broad coalition of civil society organizations in Iran has published a
statement urgently calling for a free and open internet in the country,
arguing that it is inseparable from the defense of education, children’s
futures, economic dignity, and equal citizenship.
https://iranhumanrights.org/2026/05/a-collective-call-from-inside-iran-for-free-and-equal-internet-access/
6. Charting the Transatlantic Far Right Campaign Against Europe’s
Digital Rules
Tech Policy Press has produced a timeline of events, beginning at the
time of the 2024 presidential election, where prominent far-right
figures such as Elon Musk, Trump administration officials, tech industry
leaders, and right-wing European politicians intersected.
According to The Guardian, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed a
cable instructing US diplomats to confront foreign propaganda and tell
“America’s story” on the continent by working with local European
influencers, embracing Elon Musk’s X, and working more closely with “the
Department of War’s Psychological Operations.” The White House strategy
regards American technology firms as an asset that the US can utilize to
achieve its economic, military, and diplomatic goals. Consistent with
that view, the administration is also pursuing an active campaign
against European tech regulations, such as the Digital Services Act
(DSA), which Republican leaders regard as “censorship.”
https://www.techpolicy.press/charting-the-transatlantic-far-right-campaign-against-europes-digital-rules/
7. Speaking In Greece, Citizen Lab’s Ron Deibert Shares “Accountability
May Be Delayed, but the Truth Will Emerge”
Citizen Labs Ron Deibert recently spoke at a public event in Athens on
spyware, democratic oversight and the rule of law. He shared that
Greece’s recent spyware scandal remains a live test case for Europe’s
rule of law. He also shared that the work by the local investigative
journalists played a decisive role in bringing the scandal into public
view. Deibert also highlighted cooperation with Greek data protection
authorities, saying efforts to preserve telecommunications records and
identify possible surveillance targets helped expand the investigation.
https://www.dnews.gr/eidhseis/news-in-english/589746/citizen-lab-s-ron-deibert-accountability-may-be-delayed-but-the-truth-will-emerge
_________________________________________
### 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
+ Principal Threat Researcher - Iranian Surveillance, Holistic Resilience
- Remote
+ Director, Audience Engagement (Leave Coverage), Human Rights Watch
- Multiple Locations Considered
+ AI Learning Specialist, IRC
- Nairobi, London, NY
+ Social Media Governance Consultant, IRC
- Remote
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### Digital Rights in the Wider World ###
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1. Iran Approves Restoration of Internet After Months-Long Blackout
The Iranian government on Monday approved a decision to restore internet
access in the country, after it was cut off by the Supreme National
Security Council three months ago following the joint US-Israel attacks.
The decision to restore access came following a meeting held by the
government committee responsible for regulating cyberspace, the Iranian
Fars news agency reported.
https://www.newarab.com/news/iran-approves-restoration-internet-after-months-long-blackout
Cloudflare radar confirms it is partially restored.
https://blog.cloudflare.com/iran-internet-partially-restored-may-2026/
2. Meanwhile, a who’s who of the Iranian diaspora will meet at Uber HQ
in coming days to discuss tech and the future of Iran, according to an
email about the event viewed by 404 Media. The guest list includes
venture capitalists, angel investors, tech CEOs, and the son of Iran’s
former leader who was deposed almost 50 years ago.
https://www.404media.co/tech-companies-to-discuss-irans-future-during-private-conference-at-uber-hq/
3. Self‑Censorship, More Stress, Tougher Recruiting: US Researchers on
How Federal Science Policies Have Affected Them
Researchers affiliated with Arizona State University’s scientist opinion
panel survey, known as SciOPS, a 5-year research program designed to
monitor, understand and improve how scientists communicate with the
public, asked researchers about their new reality following the
implementation of new federal policies in January 2025.
They obtained responses from 280 scientists from several fields,
including computer and information science engineering, from 131
universities. Just over half of the scientists surveyed report that
their overall funding has declined. They also shared that it has
hampered their ability to recruit internationally and domestically. Over
half reported having reviewed or adjusted key words in research
proposals, and almost half said they had reframed research topics.
https://theconversation.com/self-censorship-more-stress-tougher-recruiting-we-asked-us-researchers-how-the-trump-administrations-science-policies-have-affected-them-280968
4. Indonesian Official Calls Algorithm Dominance New Digital Colonialism
Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Nezar Patria warned
Indonesia's younger generation about the dangers of algorithmic
dominance, which he described as a new form of colonialism in the
digital era. He urged young people to strengthen their science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills and digital
literacy to avoid falling into algorithmic manipulation.
https://en.antaranews.com/news/416844/indonesian-official-calls-algorithm-dominance-new-digital-colonialism
5. Vietnamese Firms Hit Hardest by Spyware Attacks in Southeast Asia
Vietnamese enterprises faced nearly 323,000 spyware attacks in 2025, the
highest number recorded in Southeast Asia, according to a report
released by cybersecurity firm Kaspersky. The figure far exceeded those
of Malaysia and Indonesia, which each reported some 194,600 attacks.
Thailand was the only country in Southeast Asia to record a significant
decline, with spyware attacks dropping by 53 percent from the previous year.
https://news.tuoitre.vn/vietnamese-firms-hit-hardest-by-spyware-attacks-in-southeast-asia-10326052217372537.htm
6. In the US, ‘BusPatrol’ Put AI Cameras in Tens of Thousands of School
Buses. Now They Want to Give Cops Access
BusPatrol, a company that has installed AI-powered cameras in tens of
thousands of school buses around the U.S., now plans to turn those
cameras into automatic license plate readers (ALPRs), capturing the
location of every vehicle the buses drive past, and giving that data to
law enforcement.
https://www.404media.co/buspatrol-put-ai-cameras-in-tens-of-thousands-of-school-buses-now-they-want-to-give-cops-access/
______________________________________
### Community Resources ###
______________________________________
1. These Special Phone and App Features Can Help Protect You from Spyware
For the last 15 years, government hackers have targeted and successfully
compromised journalists, human rights defenders, critics, and political
opponents using expensive, sophisticated, and stealthy tools that allow
their operators to hack into and install spyware on computers. In
response to these attacks, Apple, Google, and Meta now offer opt-in
features specifically designed to counter targeted spyware attacks.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/23/you-dont-have-to-click-anything-to-get-hacked-anymore-heres-how-to-fight-back/
2. An Incomplete List of Successful Anti-Data Center Legislation in the US
In the US, opposition to the massive data centers that power AI is
bipartisan and growing across the country. More states and local
communities are passing moratoriums and bans on construction of the
noisy, power and water hungry buildings. It’s clear that the fight
against these computer warehouses will shape American politics for years
to come. A coalition is taking shape, one that cuts across party lines
and has people engaging with politics on a local level in a way that
hasn’t been seen in decades.
https://www.404media.co/an-incomplete-list-of-successful-anti-data-center-legislation/
3. Black in AI Safety & Ethics (BASE) Creating Mentor DataBase
BASE is building a global network of Black scholars, researchers, and
professionals contributing to AI safety, ethics, governance, and security.
https://airtable.com/app2G9C400ntVfMvm/pagqsDQGzCUD302BU/form
4. Cartographic Justice for Africa
Maps are never neutral. They are instruments of knowledge, yes, but also
of power, ideology, and often manipulation.
Nowhere is this more evident than in the depiction of Africa. For
centuries, the Mercator projection — still ubiquitous in classrooms,
media, and digital platforms — has misrepresented Africa’s true scale,
making one of the world’s largest landmasses appear deceptively small. A
global initiative, Correct the Map, seeks to address this imbalance, not
merely by adjusting cartographic conventions, but by challenging the
deeper distortions that shape how the world sees Africa — and how Africa
sees itself.
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/amp/opinion/20260524/cartographic-justice-for-africa
_____________________________________
### 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
Making and Distributing Media Under Surveillance
June 2
https://www.interruptingcriminalization.com/events/all/resistance-lab-june-2
Digital Rights Asia-Pacific Assembly (DRAPAC)
June 8 to 10
Manila, Philippines
https://engagemedia.org/2025/drapac26-manila/
Reproductive Access through Technology
June 10
Online
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rxt-reproductive-justice-in-the-digital-age-tickets-198888522324
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
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### Grants, Fellowships, & Awards ###
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Lebanese Journalists At Risk or Pressure
No Deadline
https://www.skeyesmedia.org/en/News/News/07-04-2026/13133
Human Rights Projects in Sri Lanka
Deadline: May 6
https://www.netherlandsandyou.nl/web/sri-lanka/w/open-call-for-applications-embassy-funded-human-rights-projects-sri-lanka
ISOC Community-Centered Connectivity Grant Program
May 7
https://www.isocfoundation.org/grant-programme/community-centered-connectivity/
FemFirst Lab
Deadline: May 15
https://itforchange.net/call-for-applications-femfirst-lab
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
Sinar Project Civic Tech Fellowship 2026
May 17
https://sinarproject.org/projects/enabling-tech/sinar-project-civic-tech-fellowship-2026
Goethe Institute Grant
May 19
https://www.goethe.de/ins/ng/en/kul/sup/co9/dnw26/dnwoc.html
Digital Justice Fund
You must register on the platform by May 24, and submit an application
by June 21
https://apply.hypha.digitalfreedomfund.org/
.ORG Impact Awards
May 27.
https://enter.orgimpactawards.org/
DiploFoundation Knowledge Fellow
May 31
https://dig.watch/opportunity-become-a-knowledge-fellow
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
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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Team CommUNITY at ARTICLE 19
www.digitalrights.community
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