Access Now

g0v Summit 2024
2024-05-04 09:00 - 2024-05-05 17:00 (Asia/Seoul)
g0v (gov-zero) is a grassroots community of software developers, designers, activists, educators, writers, and citizens, focused on improving civil society through technology and collaboration. Since its inception in 2014, the g0v Summit has facilitated cross-sector exchanges among open-source communities, NGOs, governments, academics, and netizens alike.

The 2024 summit will focus on the following themes:

“Nerd politics” vs. digital governance;

Data, AI, and community collaboration;

Grassroots, open, polycentric, and communal responses to political and technological authoritarianism;

Digital infrastructure grounded in empathy, inclusiveness, and plurality; and

Convergence of technology and social issues.

Here’s where you can find Access Now on day 1 of g0v Summit 2024.

Highlight

Defending digital rights in the age of digital authoritarianism

12:30 pm — 2:00 pm Taipei time | International Conference Hall

In today’s interconnected world, digital rights are fundamental for protecting personal privacy, free expression, and access to information. As technology continues to evolve, so do the threats intent on undermining these rights. Hosted by Access Now, this three-part discussion will focus on three examples of digital authoritarianism: the weaponization of internet shutdowns, spyware and the abuse of surveillance technologies, and threats against people’s data rights.

This Highlight session features Access Now’s Raman Jit Singh Chima, Asia Pacific Policy Director and Global Cybersecurity Lead; Michael De Dora, U.S. Policy and Advocacy Manager; Namrata Maheshwari, Senior Policy Counsel and Encryption Policy Lead; and Golda Benjamin, Asia Pacific Campaigner. It will be moderated by Chihhao Yu, Co-director at IORG.

Community Track

Digital resilience: What to do if the internet Is out?

2:10 pm — 3:40 pm Taipei time | International Conference Hall

Since the 2021 coup in Myanmar, telecom companies have aligned with the military junta, making it easy for the military to order shutdowns at any time. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s largest telecoms provider Chunghwa claims that undersea cables have been cut 27 times in the past five years; a disproportionate rate compared with other parts of the world. The discussion will focus on learnings from both regions that can guide global stakeholders in strengthening digital resilience and safeguarding human rights.

This Community Track session features Wen Lii, Director of International Affairs, Democratic Progressive Party; Fu Shiang Ching, Research Associate at the Institute of Information Science, Academia Sinica; and Golda Benjamin, Asia Pacific Campaigner at Access Now.

We will also be supporting our partners in the “East Asian civic tech communities amid global democratic backslide” keynote panel (R0, 10:10-10:40 am Taipei time) where you can chat with our experts about defending digital rights, in Asia Pacific and beyond.

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Hosted by:

World Press Freedom Day: Digital threats to free expression & climate discourse in Latin America and beyond
2024-05-04 09:00 - 10:30 (America/Argentina/Buenos_Aires)
Santiago, Chile — Together with Global Witness and IPANDETEC, we’re hosting a side event at the UNESCO 2024 World Press Freedom Day Conference entitled, “The Online Dangers to Freedom of Expression and Climate Communication in Latin America and Beyond.”

Central America stands out as one of the most hostile regions for the practice of journalism in the Americas. In this group of countries, various organizations report experiences ranging from judicial harassment to imprisonment and even murder. But increasingly attacks also take place in the digital environment, including defamation, doxxing, and censorship. These tactics deprive journalists of the ability to fully exercise their right to freedom of expression in a safe manner.

At a wider level, online hate, disinformation, and other digital threats present growing obstacles to reporting and communicating on the climate crisis. Journalists, climate scientists, and environmental defenders have long been instrumental to public understanding of our changing climate, documenting its shifts, sounding the alarm on its effects, and clarifying its remedies. However, online harassment and abuse can have serious impacts on their well-being and imperil their work.

This session looks at the digital threats to freedom of expression in Latin America and the intrinsic links to environmental and climate communication globally. It brings together experts, journalists, and human rights defenders to explore the challenges of online violence and related threats to democracy and climate action. Speakers will also share practices to promote resilient journalism and information ecosystems in the digital age.

SPEAKERS:

Paolo Nigro Herrero, Digital Security Helpline Shift Manager, Access Now

Yamlek Mojica, LAC Communications and Engagement Officer, Access Now

Disha Ravi, Climate justice activist, Fridays for the Future India

Henry Peck, Campaigner on Digital Threats, Global Witness

Lia Hérnandez, Board of Directors, IPANDETEC

Jenny Galindo, Associated Researcher, IPANDETEC

WHERE:

Centro Cultural Gabriela MistralRoom 5 (C1)Av. Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins 227, 8320275 Santiago, Región Metropolitana Chile

Hosted by:

REGISTER FOR WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY

Vigilancia y persecución: la represión de los DDHH en América Latina
2024-05-02 16:00 - 19:00 (America/Santiago) | Centro Cultural Gabriela Mistral, Santiago, Chile, Av. Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins 227, 8320275 Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile, Santiago de Chile, Chile
Bar El Bajo, Centro Cultural Gabriela Mistral, Building B, Floor – 1

[English below]

El evento se constituirá de dos paneles:

Panel I: Defender la libertad de prensa: Alternativas políticas para la protección de periodistas contra el spyware en América Latina4:00 – 5:15pm

La significativa evidencia de la sociedad civil ha demostrado que gobiernos alrededor del mundo han utilizado implacablemente tecnología de vigilancia selectiva contra periodistas. Tanto en México, como en El Salvador y República Dominicana, periodistas que realizan investigaciones e informes independientes han sido blanco de software espía invasivo.Las crecientes tendencias autoritarias en América Latina hacen que la falta de una posición política clara sobre el uso de tecnología de vigilancia sea particularmente preocupante, sobre todo cuando la libertad de expresión y los espacios cívicos continúan reduciéndose, lo que en última instancia plantea la pregunta: ¿Qué pueden hacer los gobiernos de América Latina para salvaguardar los derechos humanos y la libertad de prensa, y frenar el abuso de spyware?

Únate a Access Now, Derechos Digitales y gobiernos de la región en un panel orientado a la acción para resolver el problema del software espía.

Participan:

Mariana Belloso, periodista independiente (video introductorio)

Sergio Arauz, periodista y subjefe de redacción en el medio El Faro

Nicolás Sepulveda, periodista investigador en el Centro de Investigación Periodística de Chile (CIPER)

Ángela Alarcón, Coordinadora de campañas para América latina y el Caribe en Access Now

Michel Souza, Director de Políticas Públicas en Derechos Digitales.

Daniel Álvarez, Coordinador Nacional de Ciberseguridad del Gobierno de Chile

Marina Pita, Coordinadora General de Libertad de Expresión y Combate a la Desinformación en la Secretaría de Políticas Digitales del Gobierno de Brasil

Modera: Yamlek Mojica, oficial de comunicaciones para América latina y el Caribe en Access Now

Panel II: Cibercrimen, persecución penal y periodismo17:30 – 18:30

Ola Bini, defensor de derechos humanos y desarrollador de software, fue condenado el mes pasado en Ecuador por un presunto intento de acceso no autorizado a un sistema de telecomunicaciones. El fallo se produjo después de cinco años de un caso plagado de irregularidades, demoras, presiones políticas, pruebas endebles y violaciones del debido proceso, a pesar de la preocupación generalizada de activistas de derechos civiles, profesionales de la tecnología y expertos legales.

Esta sesión tiene como objetivo discutir el papel del periodismo en un caso que giró en torno a muchos temas más allá del cibercrimen, junto con Diego Cazar -autor de “Colateral”, un libro que cuenta la historia de Bini- así como activistas de derechos humanos.

Participan:

Ola Bini, experto en seguridad informática y fundador del Centro de Autonomía Digital (video introductorio)

Diego Cazar, autor del libro “Colateral” sobre la historia de Ola Bini, y director del medio ecuatoriano La Barra Espaciadora

Ángela Alarcón, Coordinadora de campañas para América latina y el Caribe en Access Now

Modera: Catalina Balla, Directora de Comunicaciones en Derechos Digitales.

Se servirá refrigerio.

_________________________________

The event will constitute two panels:

Panel I: Safeguard Press Freedom: Political avenues for the protection of journalists against spyware in LAC4:00 – 5:15pm

Growing evidence from civil society has shown that governments across the world have relentlessly used targeted surveillance technology against journalists. From Mexico, to El Salvador to the Dominican Republic, journalists engaging in independent reporting and investigations have been the targets of invasive spyware.The growing authoritarian trends in LATAM make the lack of a clear political position on the use of surveillance tech particularly worrying, as freedom of expression and civic spaces continue to shrink, ultimately begging the question: What can the governments in LATAM do to safeguard human rights and press freedom, and curb the abuse of invasive spyware?

Join Access Now, Derechos Digitales and governments from the region on an action-oriented panel to solve the problem of spyware.

Speakers:

Mariana Belloso, independent journalist (intro video)

Sergio Arauz, journalist and deputy editor-in-chief at El Faro

Nicolás Sepulveda, investigative journalist at Centro de Investigación Periodística de Chile (CIPER)

Ángela Alarcón, LAC campaigner at Access Now

Michel Souza, public policy director at Derechos Digitales

Daniel Álvarez, National Coordinator of Cybersecurity, Government of Chile

Marina Pita, General Coordinator of Freedom of Expression Policies and Fighting Disinformation, at the Digital Policies Secretariat in Brazil

Moderator: Yamlek Mojica, LAC Communications and Engagement officer at Access Now.

Panel II: Cybercrime, criminal prosecution and journalism5:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Ola Bini, a human rights defender and software developer, was convicted last month in Ecuador, for an alleged attempt of unauthorized access of a telecommunications system. The ruling came after 5 years of a case plagued by irregularities, delays, political pressure, flimsy evidence, and due process violations, despite widespread concern from civil rights activists, technology professionals, and legal experts.

This session aims to discuss the role of journalism in a case that revolved around many topics beyond cybercrime, together with Diego Cazar -author of “Colateral”, a book telling Bini’s story- as well as human rights activists.

Speakers:

Ola Bini, digital security expert and founder of Digital Autonomy Center (Centro de Autonomía Digital) (intro video)

Diego Cazar, author of the book “Collateral” on the story of Ola Bini, and director of the Ecuadorian media La Barra Espaciadora

Ángela Alarcón, LAC campaigner at Access Now

Moderator: Catalina Balla, Communications Director at Derechos Digitales.

Drinks and Refreshments will be served.

Co-sponsors:

REGISTER FOR WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY

Lanzamiento del Manual del Pequeñx Vigiladx
2024-03-25 16:00 - 17:30 (America/Argentina/Buenos_Aires)
Los sistemas de vigilancia masiva con capacidades de recolección remota de datos biométricos, pueden capturarlos en el subte o metro, estaciones de bus, calles públicas muchos otros lugares. Para que funcionen, tienen que estar nutridos de una o varias bases de otros datos biométricos. Estos sistemas son propensos a cometer errores de identificación, sobre todo en personas de tez oscura, mujeres y personas adultas mayores.

Cuando las autoridades detienen a una persona porque uno de estos sistemas la confundió con un individuo que tiene récord criminal en la base de datos biométricos que poseen, se desencadenan una serie de eventos que ponen en riesgo su integridad. Estos casos se conocen como falsos positivos.

En este evento presentaremos el Manual del Pequeñx Vigiladx, una herramienta diseñada para ofrecer recomendaciones específicas para América Latina, con el objetivo de ayudar a las personas afectadas por falsos positivos y a sus seres queridos a navegar por el complejo sistema judicial en caso de enfrentar esta situación.

¡No te pierdas el lanzamiento! Nos acompañan:

Angela Alarcón, Campaigner, Latin America & the Caribbean

María del Carmen Verdú, referente de CORREPI

Patricia Díaz Charquero, Coordinadora de Datysoc

Modera: Yamlek Mojica, Communications and Engagement Officer for Latin America & the Caribbean

Si te lo perdiste, acá lo puedes ver

Hosted by:

Digital Public Infrastructure: A Tool for Gender Equality?
2024-03-21 14:00 - 15:30 UTC | https://accessnow.org/dpi-a-tool-for-gender-equality
As more public services and information sources move online, women and girls, in all of their diversity, continue to face barriers to access to digital public infrastructure and repositories of knowledge and memory. This amplifies existing inequities by hindering their meaningful participation in public life and contributes to their further marginalization.

Digital commons, such as Wikimedia projects, are essential to provide wide access to accurate information, which in turn is fundamental for both human rights, including access to information (a component of the right to freedom of opinion and expression), as well as sustainable development by reaching the Sustainable Development Goals that support digital public goods that can be used by all.

This event aims to discuss the critical need for a robust digital public infrastructure that supports and safeguards global public goods for everyone in order to fulfill the promise of the internet. Such an information ecosystem requires not only investment in technical infrastructure to ensure easy and equitable access to public information, but also support for fields that produce and organize knowledge like journalism and academia. This support extends to legal structures and open and free licensing of many different types of information.

Speakers:

Dr. Manavpreet Kaur, Co-Founder, Punjabi Wikimedians

Marianne Diaz Hernandez, #WhyID Campaigner at Access Now

Kat Townsend, Expert Advisor, World Wide Web Foundation

Sandra Aceng, Executive Director, Women of Uganda Network

Moderator: Costanza Sciubba Caniglia, Anti-Disinformation Strategy Lead at Wikimedia Foundation

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Hosted by:

The 3rd Summit for Democracy (S4D) South Korea 2024
2024-03-18 08:00 - 2024-03-20 18:00 (Asia/Seoul)
Since its inception in 2021, the Summit for Democracy has provided a forum for the U.S. government and others to showcase their foreign policy initiatives in the face of rising authoritarianism and “organize collective action to address emerging challenges to democracy.” The 3rd Summit for Democracy will be hosted by the Government of the Republic of Korea, under the overarching theme of “Democracy for Future Generations.”

The summit will be hosted from March 18-20, 2024, with the following agenda:

Day 1: Ministerial-level meeting and expert roundtable

Day 2: Discussions and workshops led by domestic and foreign civil society

Day 3: Virtual summit

Below are the events Access Now will be co-organizing or participating in at the 3rd Summit for Democracy.

Access Now does not participate in these summits uncritically. All governments must do more to protect and promote human rights and democratic processes, online and offline. As we wrote during last year’s summit, “civil society is under attack, under pressure, and underfunded” and governments must “invest in and champion civil society, including digital civil society, as a voice that speaks truth to power.” We look forward to opening space at this summit for honest, critical discussions and directing resources toward efforts led by people and communities at risk.

Day 1, March 18, 2024

Access Now will be participating in the U.S. Government’s high-level side event, “Galvanizing Multistakeholder Action to Combat the Misuse of Commercial Spyware,” from 5:45 pm to 6:45pm KST at the Hotel Shilla in Seoul, Republic of Korea, to mark one-year of release of the Joint statement on efforts to counter the proliferation and misuse of commercial spyware.

Day 2, March 19, 2024

Ensuring AI governance and democratic governance go hand-in-hand

11:30 am -12:30 pm KST (Session no. 47) | Room 301

Organizer: Access Now, Microsoft, and National Information Society Agency (NIA) of Republic of Korea

Speakers:

YUN Chang-Hee(Ph.D.), Director of the AI Policy Research Team, AI Policy Division, National Information Society Agency.

Amy Larsen, Director, Microsoft’s Democracy Forward team

Raman Jit Singh Chima, Asia Policy Policy Director and Senior International Counsel, Access Now

The impact of online disinformation and actions to strengthen information integrity

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm KST | Room 315

Organizer: Global Democracy Coalition

Speakers:

Elaine Ford, Founding Director, Democracia Digital

Danielle Piatkiewicz, Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Alliance of Democracies Foundation

Peter Micek, General Counsel, Access Now

Access for democracy: Preventing internet shutdowns and strengthening democracy

5:00 pm – 6:00 pm KST (Session no. 39) | Room 304

Organizer: Access Now and Internews

Speakers:

Kanbar Hossein-Bor, Deputy High Commissioner for the U.K., British High Commission in Bangladesh

Carly Ramsey, Director, Head of Asia Pacific, Japan and China Public Policy, Cloudflare

Artur Papyan, Director, Media Diversity Initiative – Armenia

Miraj Chowdhury, Managing Director, Digitally Right – Bangladesh

Moderated by Brittany Piovesan, Chief of Party – Greater Internet Freedom, Internews

You can also catch our RightsCon booth on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm local time, to learn more about RightsCon South Korea (February 2025)! Speak to our team to discover how you can engage at the world’s leading summit on human rights in the digital age.

REGISTER

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Hosted by:

Understanding key issues in data protection framework implementation in Africa
2024-01-29 13:00 - 15:30 (Africa/Nairobi) | Baraza Media Lab
Africa continues to rise as a hub for digitization, and as it does, laws and policy frameworks follow. Data protection laws are part of the ever-changing legislative scene in Africa; and as the Malabo convention comes into force, we are uniquely positioned to shape what data protection will look like for years to come. How do we ensure we get the best deal out of this?

Speakers:

Dr. Mugambi Laibuta – Privacy and Data Protection Consultant

Grace Mutung’u – Independent Researcher

Victor Kapiyo – Researcher and Trustee, KICTANet

Megan Kathure – Independent Researcher

Cynthia Chepkemoi – Data protection officer – Kenya Women Microfinance Bank

Bridget Andere – Senior Policy Analyst – Access Now (Moderator)

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Hosted by:

Lanzamiento de la Coalición Latinoamericana #MigrarSinVigilancia
2023-12-18 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Costa_Rica) | Church Center, 777 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017
Online: Zoom event

Hosted by:

Las personas en movimiento también tienen derecho a la privacidad. Es por esto que 30 organizaciones lanzamos la Coalición Latinoamericana #MigrarSinVigilancia para resguardar los derechos humanos de las personas migrantes a partir de la protección de sus datos personales.

¡No te pierdas el lanzamiento! Nos acompañan:

Ángela Alarcón, Campaigner para América Latina y el Caribe en Access Now

Veridiana Alimonti, Directora Asociada de Políticas en América Latina en la Electronic Frontier Foundation

Käthy Krüger, Abogada para el Proyecto de Derechos Fronterizos en Al Otro Lado

Fernanda Acevedo, Coordinadora General en Hospitalidad y Solidaridad A.C.

Modera: Cindy Regidor, periodista en Confidencial y fundadora y editora de Nicas Migrantes

Add To Calendar

Confirmar asistencia

Deja aquí tus datos si deseas unirte al lanzamiento de la Coalición Latinoamericana #MigrarSinVigilancia.

Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Japan 2023
2023-10-08 08:00 - 2023-10-12 17:30 (Asia/Tokyo)
The 18th annual meeting of the Internet Governance Forum will be hosted by the Government of Japan in Kyoto from 8 to 12 October 2023. The Forum’s overarching theme is: The Internet We Want – Empowering All People.

Building on the results of the call for thematic issues the MAG decided that the 18th annual IGF programme will develop around the following sub-themes:

AI & Emerging Technologies

Avoiding Internet Fragmentation

Cybersecurity, Cybercrime & Online Safety

Data Governance & Trust

Digital Divides & Inclusion

Global Digital Governance & Cooperation

Human Rights & Freedoms

Sustainability & Environment

Below are some of the events Access Now will be joining at IGF 2023. Go to the official website for the registration process, and to confirm time, date, and locations of sessions, which may change.

Sunday, 8 October, 2023

Day Zero #149: Scoping civil society engagement in digital cooperation Sunday, 8th October, 2023 (04:30-06:30 UTC) | Room I

Based on the United Nations (UN) Global Digital Compact (GDC) process’ most recent developments such as the thematic Deep dives and the UN SG Policy Brief, this session aims to gather input from Civil Society members in order to better scope our stakeholder engagement. During this opportunity, we also plan to discuss what are the better paths of engagement in moments such as the beginning of negotiations at the Ministerial meeting that will be initiated after the Issues Paper, as well as the Summit of the Future.

Moderated by Sheetal Kumar (on site) and Bruna Martins dos Santos (online), this day zero event features rapporteur Michaela Shapiro, and speakers Valéria Betancourt and Peter Micek.

Monday, 9 October, 2023

Session #166: Digital ID and human rights civil society communityMonday, 9 October, 2023 (08:45-09:45 UTC) | Room C-2

This session is the first public gathering organized by a new transnational civil society community focused on digital ID and human rights. Members of the community will discuss their goals and collaboration, inviting IGF’s unique multistakeholder audience to participate and learn about the vision and current work of the coalition.

Organized by Access Now, OSF, Karisma, and Temple University on behalf of the Digital ID coalition, the gathering is moderated by Marianne Díaz Hernández and Temple University’s Laura Bingham and features Rapporteur Juan de Brigard, and speakers Yussuf Bashir, Haki Na Sheria, Thomas Lohninger, Matthew McNaughton, Ashanut Okile, and Laura Goodwin.

Workshop #356: Encryption’s critical role in safeguarding human rightsMonday, 9 October, 2023 (23:30 UTC) – Tuesday, 10 October, 2023 (00:30 UTC) | Room B-1

How can policymakers ensure that individuals who use encryption to protect their privacy and security are not subject to discrimination, surveillance, or other forms of harassment or repression? Should encryption be regulated at the national or international level, and how can this be accomplished without hindering technological innovation, impeding the free flow of information, or compromising users? Who stands to gain or lose if we have systems that cannot comply with access desires to encrypted communications from authorities? In exploring these questions, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how public discourse is shaped to malign the terminology and concept of “encryption” to influence decision makers and legislators to advocate for building in backdoors. This session seeks to advance the encryption discussion by bringing together a panel of privacy-preserving technology providers, advocates, and grassroots organizers working on the frontlines defending people’s digital and human rights.

Organized by the Tor Project, the workshop is moderated by Tate Ryan-Mosley and Pavel Zoneff, and features rapporteur Roger Dingledine and speakers Rand Hammoud and Sharon Polsky.

Tuesday, 10 October, 2023

Town Hall #39: Elections and the internet: free, fair, and open?Tuesday, 10 October, 2023 (00:45-01:45 UTC) | Room I

How can states, civil society, and the private sector work together to anticipate, prepare for and, where possible, prevent internet shutdowns ahead of elections? This session will feature a panel of experts to examine the causes, trends and impacts of internet shutdowns – including on human rights, information integrity and democratic participation – in the context of elections. This Town Hall is facilitated by the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) Taskforce on Internet Shutdowns (TFIS). During 2023, the United Kingdom is chairing the FOC TFIS alongside FOC Advisory Network (AN) members, Access Now, and the Global Network Initiative. TFIS serves as a multinational and multistakeholder coordination and response mechanism on Internet shutdowns. TFIS works to improve coordination among like-minded countries, civil society, and the private sector in order to anticipate and respond to Internet shutdowns around the world.

This session is moderated by Kanbar Hossein-Bor, and features rapporteurs Laura O’Brien (on site) and Nicola Burgess, and panelists Felicia Anthonio (on site), Sarah Moulton, Nicole Stremlau, and Ben Jones.

Town Hall #28: The perils of forcing encryption to say “AI, AI captain.“Tuesday, 10 October, 2023 (01:15-02:15 UTC) | Room E

Increasingly, proposals across jurisdictions are pushing for content scanning or detection mechanisms in end-to-end encrypted environments. Many of them are premised on the claim that artificial intelligence and machine learning tools can be utilized to scan content “without breaking encryption.” This claim is contentious and has received pushback from security experts, as such tools have serious limitations, are not a silver bullet that will solve the difficult questions around content moderation on encrypted platforms, and will indeed undermine encryption — an essential tool for online privacy and security. This panel will bring together experts on encryption and AI to create a platform for dialogue. We will explore questions such as “How can policy dialogues on these subjects be approached to ensure that the false binary of ‘privacy v. safety’ is not perpetuated, and to facilitate the development of a trust-based framework that equally prioritizes both?”

Moderated by Namrata Maheshwari (on site) and Daniel Leufer (online), this town hall features speakers Dr. Sarah Myers West, Udbhav Tiwari, Riana Pfefferkorn, and Eliska Pirkova.

Wednesday, 11 October, 2023

Open Forum #84 Shaping a UN Cyber Programme of Action Wednesday, 11 October, 2023 (23:30 UTC) – Thursday, 12 October, 2023 (00:30 UTC) | Room B-2

The Cyber Program of Action (PoA) is a proposal by a group of UN member states in 2020 for a permanent forum of institutional dialogue on responsible state behavior in cyberspace. So far, discussions relating to the Cyber PoA have not reached a wide audience, and has been limited to states and other actors active within discussions of the UN’s Open Ended Working Group on ICTs. This session will provide a much needed opportunity for stakeholders to receive updates on the proposal, the consultations held thus far and to provide their views into this ongoing process.

Moderated by Sheetal Kumar (on site) and Ellie McDonald (online), this open forum features rapporteur Raman Jit Singh Chima, and speakers David Fairchild, David Hevey, and Margaux Courteille.

Thursday, 12 October, 2023

Workshop #307: Data governance in broadband satellite servicesThursday, 12 October, 2023 (01:30-02:00 UTC) | Room A

How are national and international laws applied in the governance of LEO satellites and multi-orbital solutions in the context of data flows, privacy, personal data protection, and cybersecurity? What are potential benefits and challenges of satellite-dependent internet access in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? How can we ensure this technology is implemented sustainably, respects privacy and personal data protection, and addresses cybersecurity concerns? How can internet access be considered a fundamental human right and be made accessible to all, including marginalized communities and developing countries? What regulatory frameworks and policies are needed to ensure equitable and inclusive access to satellite-dependent internet services?

Organized by the Internet Society and civil society leaders from Eastern European Group, this roundtable is moderated by Kulesza Joanna (on site), and Dan York (online), and features panelists Akcali Gur Berna, Peter Micek, Larry Press, and Dr. Uta Meier-Hahn.

Hosted by:

Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica) 2023
2023-09-27 09:00 - 2023-09-29 17:00 (Africa/Dar_es_Salaam) | Hyatt Regency Dar es Salaam, The Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
This year, the annual Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica) convened by the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) will be taking place from 27 to 29 September 2023 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Some of the topics that the Forum will highlight include:

Data protection and privacy

Online movement building

Internet shutdowns

Content regulation

Turning policy into action

Here is where to find the Access Now team at FIFAfrica23.

Hosted by:

Media briefing: critical human rights issues at stake in the draft UN Cybercrime Treaty
2023-08-23 13:30 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | United Nations Secretariat Building
New York — On Wednesday, August 23, at 1:30 pm Eastern Time (10:30 am Pacific Time)experts from Access Now, Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), Human Rights Watch, and other internationalallies will brief reporters about critical flaws in the draft UN Cybercrime Treaty that threatenhuman rights.

The treaty, under negotiation by UN Member States for more than a year, is intended to fosterinternational cooperation against cybercrime. It will facilitate the rewriting of criminal lawsaround the world, potentially expanding the criminalization of online speech and expandingcross-border surveillance by law enforcement.

Without strong human rights safeguards, the draft treaty could severely undermine the privacy,freedom of expression, and other fundamental rights of millions of people, in particularjournalists, activists, and people and groups who face discrimination and marginalization.

Speakers at the briefing include experts on human and digital rights who are participating intreaty negotiations as observers. They will highlight key concerns emerging in the first week ofthe treaty’s sixth negotiating session, where the draft text will be reviewed. The session isscheduled at the UN in New York from August 21 through September 1.

The briefing will be live-streamed from New York.

SPEAKERS:

Deborah Brown, Senior Researcher and Advocate on Technology and Rights, Human RightsWatch

Raman Jit Singh Chima, Global Cybersecurity Lead and Senior International Counsel, Access Now

Victor Kapiyo, Lawyer and Human Rights Defender, Kenya ICT Action Network

Katitza Rodriguez, Policy Director for Global Privacy, Electronic Frontier Foundation

Carey Shenkman, Human Rights Attorney, Article 19

MODERATOR:

Ioannis Kouvakas, Senior Legal Officer and Assistant General Counsel, Privacy International

WHERE:

United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA) Briefing RoomUnited Nations Secretariat Building405 East 42nd StreetRoom S-308New York, NY 1001

For a UN Cybercrime Treaty timeline:

https://www.eff.org/pages/un-cybercrime-treaty-timeline

For more about the UN Cybercrime Treaty:

https://www.eff.org/issues/un-cybercrime-treaty

CONTACT:

Katitza Rodriguez (English/Spanish): Electronic Frontier Foundation in New York,katitza@eff.org. Twitter/X: @txitua

Deborah Brown (English), Human Rights Watch in New York, +1-347-920-8978; orbrownd@hrw.org. Twitter/X: @deblebrown

Raman Jit Singh Chima, Global Cybersecurity Lead and Senior International Counsel at Access Now: raman@accessnow.org, press@accessnow.org. Twitter/X: @tame_wildcard

Watch the event discussion

From catalyst for freedom to tool for repression: social media and gendered disinformation in Tunisia?
2023-07-13 14:00 - 15:00 (Africa/Tunis) | Church Center, 777 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017
This event on social media and gendered disinformation in Tunisia was recorded and shared publicly afterwards on this RSVP page.

Heralded by many as a blueprint for advancement towards gender equality in the MENA region, Tunisia’s rapid slide into autocracy is dangerously threatening women’s political participation, equal rights and democracy. Social media companies are failing to target malign actors who are using their platforms to spread politically-motivated disinformation, allowing algorithms to amplify sexist harassment and abuse.

As a result, women in politics and women leaders, particularly those who defend women’s rights and democracy, are uniquely attacked through gendered disinformation campaigns aimed at both portraying them as unfit for the public sphere and eroding democratic institutions altogether.

Join us in launching #ShePersisted’s newest case study, From Catalyst for Freedom to Tool for Repression: A #ShePersisted Analysis of Gendered Disinformation in Tunisia, the fourth of five country-specific case studies in the #MonetizingMisogyny research series analyzing the patterns, impact and modus operandi of online attacks and gendered disinformation campaigns targeting women leaders.

Moderator:

Aymen Zaghdoudi, MENA Senior Policy Counsel for Access Now

Speakers:

Ikram Ben Said, Founder of Aswat Nissa

Lilia Labidi, anthropologist, psychologist, and former Minister for Women’s Affairs in Tunisia

Hanène Zbiss, investigative journalist and journalism professor

Lucina Di Meco, Co-founder of #ShePersisted and author of the report

Sarah Hesterman, Program Associate with #ShePersisted and co-author of the report

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#KeepItOn: Stakeholders’ dialogue on internet shutdowns ahead of Sierra Leone’s 2023 elections
2023-06-21 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
The event aims at bringing together relevant stakeholders in Sierra Leone to discuss how the internet and digital platforms can contribute to advancing inclusive and transparent elections in the country. The event would also highlight threats and challenges in the digital rights space in the country including the negative impacts of internet shutdowns and acts of censorship on electoral processes.

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RightsCon Costa Rica
2023-06-05 08:00 - 2023-06-08 17:00 (America/New_York) | Costa Rica Convention Center
Hosted by:

RightsCon offers a platform for thousands of participants around the world to convene, connect, and contribute to a shared agenda for the future. Join our global community of business leaders, activists, technologists, policymakers, journalists, philanthropists, researchers, and artists, and explore opportunities to advance human rights in the digital age.

Sponsors

Secret surveillance: countering spyware’s threats to freedom of the press and expression
2023-05-03 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Church Center, 777 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017
Church Center, 777 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017

Growing evidence from civil society shows that governments across the world have relentlessly used targeted surveillance technology against journalists. From Hungary and Poland to Thailand, El Salvador to Jordan, journalists and media workers have been the targets of invasive and rapidly-advancing spyware.

The intersectional impacts of spyware illustrate the theme of this year’s World Press Freedom Day, “Freedom of expression as a driver for all other human rights.” Spyware deters independent reporting and investigations into political corruption and human rights violations, and by consequence, hinders justice and accountability.

Multi-sectoral stakeholders from around the world have joined civil society’s efforts urging the international community to put an end to this abuse. In this event, we ask the ultimate question: How can the U.N. and governments build on civil society’s work and push for international action against the proliferation and abuse of spyware?

Join Access Now and partner organizations as we tackle these questions and renew our calls to protect freedom of expression and human rights for all.

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Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Ethiopia 2022
2022-11-28 08:00 - 2022-12-02 17:00 (Africa/Addis_Ababa)
The 2022 Internet Governance Forum (IGF) will be held online and in-person in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 28 November to 2 December. This year’s summit takes place in the shadow of a two-year internet blackout in Ethiopia’s Tigray region that Access Now and the global #KeepItOn coalition are campaigning to end.

The communications shutdown has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis brought about by the civil war. In the wake of the recent truce agreement, lifting the blockade demands the urgent attention of all IGF organizers and participants, including representatives from the African Union.

Access Now is participating in IGF 2022 both in-person and online, as we work to amplify the voices of people whose lives and rights are directly impacted by the decisions taken at this and other international fora. We cannot have a truly resilient internet or shared, sustainable, common future if we systematically silence or ignore those most at risk of rights violations. Internet governance and corporate practices must be grounded in human rights principles and support the enjoyment of fundamental rights for all. These principles are all the more important during crises, whether in Ethiopia, Iran, Myanmar, Ukraine, or elsewhere.

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Protecting Defenders Online: United Nations Human Rights Council 49th Session Side Event
2022-03-29 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Halifax) | https://www.accessnow.org/hrc49-side-event
In partnership with Access Now, the United States and European Union Trade and Technology Council (U.S.-EU TTC) Partnership will hold Protecting Defenders Online, a hybrid side event during the UN Human Rights Council’s 49th Session. The event will highlight threats faced by women human rights defenders online, best practices for governments to counter these threats, and civil society recommendations for the UN (OHCHR), the U.S. and the EU to consider.

Tuesday, 29 March 2022, 9am-10am EST / 15:00-16:00 CETWatch Protecting Defenders Online live: https://www.accessnow.org/hrc49-side-event

Speakers:

Vita Volodovska, Director of the Digital Security Lab (@DSLab_Ukraine)

Lina Alhathloul, Head of Monitoring and Communications at ALQST for Human Rights (@LinaAlhathloul)

Lisa Peterson, Acting Assistant Secretary Bureau of Democracy, Labor and Human Rights (@StateDRL)

Eamon Gilmore, European Union Special Representative for Human Rights (@EamonGilmore)

Catalina Devandas Aguilar, Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the United Nations Office at Geneva (@CataDevandas)

Brian Dooley, Senior Advisor to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders (@dooley_dooley)

Moderators:

Laura O’Brien, Senior UN Advocacy Officer, Access Now (@lo_brie @accessnow)

Veronika Lapina, Protection Coordinator for Europe and Central Asia, Frontline Defenders @FrontLineHRD

Co-organizers:

The European Union – European External Action Service (EEAS) (@eu_eeas)

The United States – Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (@StateDRL)

In partnership with: Access Now (@accessnow)

Co-sponsors:

Permanent Mission of the Republic of Costa Rica to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva (@CRONUGVA)

Frontline Defenders (@FrontLineHRD)

Event: Digital Rights in Ethiopia
2019-04-08 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
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