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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240923T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240923T110000
DTSTAMP:20260916T050044Z
CREATED:20240916T184631Z
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UID:10000092-1727085600-1727089200@www.accessnow.org
SUMMARY:War\, famine\, and satellites: Connecting the dots of the humanitarian impact of shutdowns in Sudan
DESCRIPTION:Venue: Access Now office – 54 W. 21st Street\, Suite 404\, New York 10010. Nearest subway: F  Train stops at 23rd and 6th Avenue (and virtual on YouTube) \n\n\n\n\n\nSpeakers: \n\n\n\n\nMosaab Baba\, Editor\, Ayin\n\n\n\nShayna Lewis\, Senior Advisor and Sudan Specialist\, PAEMA\n\n\n\nMoneim Adam\, Program Director\, Sudan Human Rights Hub (SHRH)\n\n\n\nKholood Khair\, Founding Director\, Confluence Advisory\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nRemote participants: \n\n\n\n\nKhattab Hamad\, Digital rights activist\n\n\n\nRawh Nasir\, Researcher\n\n\n\nJawhara Kanu\, Political economy analyst\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nModerator: \n\n\n\n\n Aymen Zaghdoudi\, MENA Senior Policy Counsel\, Access Now\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nInterventions from the floor:  \n\n\n\n\nTom Rhodes\, Managing Editor\, Ayin\n\n\n\nKassem Mnejja\, MENA Campaigner\,  Access Now\n\n\n\nPeter Micek\, General Counsel and UN Policy Manager\, Access Now\n\n\n\nTrevor Snapp\, Executive Director\, Gisa Group\n\n\n\n\n\n\nInternet shutdowns are playing a direct role in the  preventable\, human-caused famine in Sudan\, where faltering peace negotiations and humanitarian efforts struggle to bring some relief to populations living in areas disputed by warring parties. With this event\, we aim to supplement those crucial negotiations by exploring telecommunications and the role of digital connectivity in advancing peace and humanitarian access.  \n\n\n\nThis discussion alongside UNGA 79 is led by experts from leading platforms\, research\, and advocacy organizations at the forefront of digital human rights\, access to knowledge\, and humanitarian response online in Sudan and beyond\, including those looking at the role of low-earth orbit satellites (LEO) internet providers like Starlink.  \n\n\n\nGISA group will present findings from their briefing Digital Lifelines: How Internet Connectivity Enables Vital Aid in Sudan. The report is the result of the Sudan Crisis Response project\, launched to enhance communication resilience for local humanitarian actors\, journalists\, and human rights defenders\, and also tested a variety of connectivity solutions\, including LEOs.  \n\n\n\nAccess Now will present the #KeepItOn coalition’s most recent report\, Shrinking democracy\, growing violence: internet shutdowns in 2023\, using data on shutdowns in Sudan collected by the coalition\, together with case studies and testimonies shared by people in Sudan to demonstrate the humanitarian impact of shutdowns.  \n\n\n\nInviting participants to join the discussion live\, the panel of experts will focus on the effects of shutdowns on vulnerable communities in conflict areas\, how civil society\, communities\, and people are fighting back\, and what the international community must do to change this situation\, covering: \n\n\n\n\nGISA findings from the Sudan Crisis Response project\n\n\n\n#KeepItOn report highlights and campaign actions against internet shutdowns in Sudan\n\n\n\nFraming the humanitarian impact of shutdowns\, and challenges to accountability within the existing legal and regulatory frameworks\n\n\n\nDigital security tips and tools\n\n\n\n\nFurthermore\, the experts will propose a set of concrete and actionable recommendations for stakeholders to address the ongoing situation.  \n\n\n\nEvent goals: \n\n\n\nWe will offer actionable opportunities for participants\, including: \n\n\n\n\nto strengthen their digital security and data privacy practices\, while engaging more safely in online platforms and services \n\n\n\nto support locally-led responses to the challenges posed by shutdowns in conflict\n\n\n\nto engage in ongoing workstreams at the United Nations\, including the further promotion of digital access and connectivity related issues in UNGA resolutions\, and the improvement of UNSC digital language overall\n\n\n\nto join the fight against internet shutdowns in the #KeepItOn movement and beyond\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWatch the event discussion
URL:https://www.accessnow.org/event/unga79-sudan/
CATEGORIES:Past event
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Dakar:20240925T090000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Dakar:20240927T180000
DTSTAMP:20260916T050034Z
CREATED:20240919T135831Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260916T050034Z
UID:10000093-1727254800-1727460000@www.accessnow.org
SUMMARY:Access Now at the 11th edition of CIPESA’s FIFAfrica
DESCRIPTION:Radisson Blu Hotel\, Dakar Sea Plaza in Dakar\, Senegal \n\n\n\n\n\nThe Collaboration on International ICT Policy in East and Southern Africa (CIPESA)\, in partnership with Dakar-based AfricTivistes\, will host the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa 2024 (FIFAfrica24) set to take place on September 25-27\, 2024 in Senegal. \n\n\n\nOver the past decade\, the FIFAfrica conference has provided a space and garnered a track record of bringing together multi-stakeholder actors and shared efforts aimed at advancing rights\, freedoms\, participation\, and innovation in the digital sphere.  \n\n\n\nHosting the 11th edition of FIFAfrica in Senegal provides an avenue for civil society actors to engage with the current Senegalese government as well as other relevant actors in improving the human rights landscape in the country while exploring ways to advance digital rights in the country.  \n\n\n\nSenegal saw a deterioration of human rights in the last couple of years with increased reports of attacks on press freedom\, a crackdown on opposition voices\, both online and off\, and the arbitrary arrest and detention of protesters in the lead up to the country’s elections. In 2023\, Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition recorded four incidents of shutdowns in a government attempt to muzzle free speech\, control the flow of information\, and crack down on anti-government protests in the country.  \n\n\n\nAccess Now is a key partner of CIPESA and continues to actively participate in FIFAfrica to strengthen our partnership and expand our network within Africa and beyond. In view of this\, we are happy to be hosting and participating in this year’s FIFAfrica.   \n\n\n\nBelow are some of the events Access Now staff will be hosting or participating in at FIFAfrica24.  \n\n\n\nFor those who cannot join in person\, you can follow the hashtag #FIFAfrica24 on social media for details about how to engage virtually. \n\n\n\nCheck out the official website for more information about the event. \n\n\n\n\nRegistration details\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThursday and Friday\, September 26 – 27\, 2024\n\n\n\n\n\nDigital Security Clinic | Access Now\, CIPESA\, Defenders Protection Initiative (DPI)\, Internews Network Zambia\, 09:00 – 17:00 UTC \n\n\n\n\n\n\nAccess Now’s exhibition booth\, 09:00 – 17:00 UTC at the Exhibition Center \n\n\n\n\nThursday\, September 26\, 2024\n\n\n\n\n\nBenchmarking AI regulations – Assessing Sub-Saharan Africa’s alignment with international norms | CIPIT\, Thomson Reuters Foundation and MISA Zimbabwe\, 11:30-13:00 UTC at Adansonia \n\n\n\n\n\nCIPESA and Access Now FIFAfrica24 Cocktail event \n\n\n\n\nFriday\, September 27\, 2024\n\n\n\n\nBeyond staying or going: Sudan’s insights on the future of digital rights in conflict zones\, 14:00 – 15:30 UTC at Mermoz
URL:https://www.accessnow.org/event/access-now-at-fifafrica-2024/
LOCATION:United Nations Headquarters
CATEGORIES:Past event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.accessnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/FIFAfrica24.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260921T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260921T103000
DTSTAMP:20260924T121319Z
CREATED:20260915T023013Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260924T121319Z
UID:10000117-1789981200-1789986600@www.accessnow.org
SUMMARY:From surveillance to governance: recentering human rights in the UN AI agenda
DESCRIPTION:Hybrid side event during UNGA81 High-Level Week \n\n\n\nIn-person attendance available upon request: email un@accessnow.org \n\n\n\n\njoin the livestream\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPanelists: \n\n\n\n\nLouise Lund Henneberg\, Acting Director/Techplomacy\, Ministry of Foreign Affairs\, Denmark\n\n\n\nWafa Ben Hassine\, Chief\, Digital Technology and Human Rights Section\, Rule of Law\, Accountability and Civic Space\, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights\n\n\n\nBeatriz Busaniche\, Executive Director\, Fundación Vía Libre\n\n\n\nLuda Svystunova\, Head of Social Research\, Amundi\n\n\n\n\nWelcoming remarks: Irina Schoulgin-Nyoni\, Ambassador for Human Rights\, Democracy and the Rule of Law\, Ministry of Foreign Affairs\, SwedenModerator: Alejandro Mayoral Baños\, Co-Executive Director\, Access Now \n\n\n\n\n\nDuring the first session of the Global Dialogue on AI Governance\, governments and stakeholders convened to have open\, transparent and inclusive discussions on artificial intelligence governance. We now gather experts across the spectrum of stakeholders during UNGA81 to reaffirm that human rights should be the stepping stone of this process\, instead of an afterthought. \n\n\n\nNone of this is irreversible\, but the security issues associated with advanced AI tools are the consequences of deliberately prioritizing profit and competitiveness over the security and safety of at-risk communities\, and they will not resolve on their own. Unbridled AI adoption combined with unacceptably lax corporate security practices demands urgent intervention at all levels\, starting from putting human rights back at the center of digital governance mechanisms. \n\n\n\nThis discussion has the objective to explore concrete\, actionable ways in which each stakeholder can contribute to oppose the normalization of surveillance. Experts will also discuss how to chart a way forward to reaffirm digital rights as the natural first line of defense against the abuses of AI technologies. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHosted by: \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCo-sponsors:
URL:https://www.accessnow.org/event/unga81-ai-governance/
CATEGORIES:Past event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.accessnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/UNGA-81-Header.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20261001T090000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20261001T170000
DTSTAMP:20261023T044710Z
CREATED:20260921T123413Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261023T044710Z
UID:10000118-1790845200-1790874000@www.accessnow.org
SUMMARY:Access Now at CIPESA’s 2026 FIFAfrica 
DESCRIPTION:InterContinental Resort\, Mauritius \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe Collaboration on International ICT Policy in East and Southern Africa (CIPESA)\, will host the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa 2026 (FIFAfrica26) set to take place on September 28- October 1\, 2026 in Mauritius. \n\n\n\nOver the past decade\, the FIFAfrica conference has provided a space for connection and conversation and garnered a track record of bringing together multi-stakeholder actors and shared efforts aimed at advancing rights\, freedoms\, participation\, and innovation in the digital sphere. As open spaces for human rights conversations continue to shrink\, convenings such as these are more important than ever. \n\n\n\nAccess Now has been a key partner of CIPESA and continues to actively participate in FIFAfrica to strengthen our partnership and expand our network within Africa and beyond. We are happy to be part of this year’s FIFAfrica.  \n\n\n\nBelow are some of the events Access Now will be hosting or participating in at FIFAfrica26.  \n\n\n\n\n\n[Pre-event] Humanising Big Tech Accountability — workshop co-hosted by Nguvu Collective\, Luminate\, Access Now\, and The Oversight Lab.Date: Tuesday\, September 29\,Time: 8:30 am–1:00 pm local time (GMT+4).Room: Trochetia \n\n\n\n\n\n[Exhibition] Access NowDate: September 30 – October 1 \n\n\n\n\n\n[Panel] Lessons and Challenges: A Decade of Fighting to #KeepItOn in Africa and BeyondDate: Wednesday\, September 30Time: 11:30 amRoom: Barracuda \n\n\n\n\n\n[Panel] The Civic Space Quicksand: Data Protection as an Enabler of Human Rights —Date: Wednesday\, September 30Time: 2:00 pmRoom: Barracuda \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCheck out the official website for more information about the event. 
URL:https://www.accessnow.org/event/2026-fifafrica/
CATEGORIES:Past event
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261013T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261013T100000
DTSTAMP:20261023T045314Z
CREATED:20260506T092234Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261023T045314Z
UID:10000110-1791882000-1791885600@www.accessnow.org
SUMMARY:Stronger together: civil society and the private sector as partners in cybersecurity awareness 
DESCRIPTION:For activists\, journalists\, human rights defenders\, and other members of civil society\, cybersecurity is a concrete matter that relates to the real-world risks and threats we face as a consequence of our work. Yet in the global conversation about cybersecurity\, a dual emphasis on geopolitics and the tech industry has put the focus on specific countries or technologies\, such as AI\, rather than on the individuals and communities at risk of attack. This leaves everyone more vulnerable.  \n\n\n\n\nIn this context\, and as we mark Cybersecurity Awareness Month\, Access Now’s Digital Security Helpline is hosting a dialogue to bring together representatives from tech platforms and civil society to explore the current cybersecurity landscape and raise awareness about the real threats we are seeing.  \n\n\n\nThe webinar will take place on October 13\, 2026\, at 9:00 am EST / 15:00 pm CEST / 20:00 pm Jakarta. \n\n\n\nThis event is part of Safe and strong: a webinar series on digital security\, an initiative of the Digital Security Helpline to bring together civil society\, private sector partners\, and other support organizations\, to discuss how to increase resilience in the digital age. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\nRegistration is available here. \n\n\n\n\n\nSAFE AND STRONG: A WEBINAR SERIES ON DIGITAL SECURITY\n\n\n\nis an initiative of the Digital Security Helpline to bring together civil society\, private sector partners\, and other support organizations\, to discuss how to increase resilience in the digital age. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSpeakers:  \n\n\n\nNighat Dad\, Executive Director\, Digital Rights Foundation Pakistan \n\n\n\nNighat Dad is the founder and Executive Director of the Digital Rights Foundation. She was a member of the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Advisory Board on AI (HLAB) and a founding member of Meta’s Oversight Board. Her organization works on the cutting edge of the intersection of human rights and technology. Nighat has won numerous accolades\, including the Dutch Human Rights Award\, and has been a TED Fellow since 2017. She is a staunch advocate for digital rights and women’s rights for the global majority. \n\n\n\nAlexander Corbeil\, Trust & Safety Policy Leader\, Bluesky \n\n\n\nAlexander Corbeil is a Trust and Safety leader with more than 15 years of experience at the intersection of international security and online safety. In his current role as Bluesky’s Trust and Safety Policy Lead\, he specializes in creating and implementing policies that underpin the platform’s Community Guidelines\, including developing proactive moderation tools. He was previously TikTok’s Head of Regional Policy for the U.S. and Canada and served with the Government of Canada. \n\n\n\nGabrielė Dačkaitė\, Social Impact Lead\, Surfshark \n\n\n\nGabriele leads Surfshark’s social impact strategy\, including collaborations with nonprofits and support for journalists and activists facing digital security risks. She also leads Surfshark’s Cybersecurity Advocacy Fund\, a new initiative supporting innovative projects that advance cybersecurity awareness\, digital rights and online privacy. \n\n\n\nBeatrice Martini\, Education and Communities Manager\, Digital Security Helpline \n\n\n\nBeatrice Martini (she/her) is the Education and Communities Manager of the Access Now Digital Security Helpline. Previously\, Beatrice led the Human Rights Technology program at the nonprofit Aspiration\, and worked at the Open Knowledge Foundation and on several projects leveraging open source technology in support of justice and rights endeavors. \n\n\n\nShe has also been a research fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School and Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society exploring the implications of Internet infrastructure design on human rights\, and serves in a formal advisory role with the Center for the Cultivation of Technology and OpenArchive. \n\n\n\nModerator: Namrata Maheshwari\, Asia Pacific Policy Manager\, Access Now \n\n\n\nNamrata Maheshwari serves as the Asia Pacific Policy Manager and Encryption Policy Lead at Access Now. She leads Access Now’s policy and advocacy work across the Asia Pacific region. She also leads the organization’s work on encryption policy globally. Namrata engages with stakeholders including industry\, civil society\, and governments to promote rights-respecting approaches to internet governance. She holds an LL.M. from Columbia Law School where she focused on technology policy and digital governance\, and is an India-qualified lawyer. Prior to her current role\, she worked with the Center for Democracy & Technology\, and practiced law in India. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPREVIOUS SESSIONS\n\n\n\n\n\n	\n\n	\n\n\nSpear-phishing (March)\n\n\n\n\n[March 10\, 2026] Spear phishing: how to stay safe and prevent advanced attacks against civil society \n\n\n\n\nRebekah Brown\, Citizen Lab\n\n\n\nJustin Albrecht\, Lookout. \n\n\n\nMykola Kostynyan\, Resident.NGO\n\n\n\nMarilou Maala and Mohammed Al-Maskati (moderator)\, Access Now’s Digital Security Helpline\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n	\n\n	\n\n\nDigital security in war and conflict (May)\n\n\n\n\n[May 19\, 2026] Digital security in war and conflict: challenges for civil society and tools for resilience \n\n\n\n\nJocelyn Woolbright\, Program Manager on Cloudflare’s Public Policy team \n\n\n\nMia Marzotto\, Digital Rights Advocacy Lead at Oxfam\n\n\n\nLuis Barrueto\, Access Now’s Digital Security Helpline\n\n\n\nGiulio Coppi\, Senior Humanitarian Officer at Access Now\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n	\n\n	\n\n\ndigital security and resilience for LGBTQ+ people (july)\n\n\n\n\n[July 14\, 2026] Digital security and resilience for LGBTQ+ people \n\n\n\n\nAzza Nubi (she/her) is a queer feminist activist and digital rights advocate.\n\n\n\nRocío Jiménez (she/her) is a Security Incident Handler at Access Now\n\n\n\nDonald Hamblock is a Staff Safety by Design Partner on Match Group’s Trust & Safety team.\n\n\n\nModerator: Jaimee Kokonya was the Africa Campaigner at Access Now focusing on various digital rights issues.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHosted by:
URL:https://www.accessnow.org/event/digital-security-webinars/
CATEGORIES:Past event
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