Content Governance

Rights-Based Approaches to Online Content

Governments and companies are under increasing pressure to address illegal or undesirable content and expression online, but hasty or poorly crafted solutions threaten human rights. We advocate for policies and practices to defend free expression and access to information and  ensure people who are most at risk are protected.

Content governance in times of crisis: how platforms can protect human rights

In situations of armed conflicts and other crises, people use social media and messaging platforms to document human rights abuses or war crimes, access information, mobilize for action, and crowdsource humanitarian assistance. 

Resources

Content Governance

Guide: how to protect human rights in content governance

We offer 26 recommendations on content governance to help lawmakers, regulators, and company leaders make decisions that will safeguard human rights.

what is disinformation

Content Governance

What is disinformation, why it spreads, and how to stop it

Our new report explores what disinformation is, and how lawmakers can address the harms it poses to democracy.

Crisis DSA Digital Services Act

Content Governance

The Digital Services Act: your guide to the EU’s new content moderation rules

The EU Digital Services Act has finally arrived. We unpack what this law contains and the changes people can expect to see from 2024 onwards.

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Content Governance

Digital Security Helpline: our approach to content-related cases

Critical voices from civil society are being censored. Here’s how the Digital Security Helpline addresses cases related to content governance.

Indonesia MR5 Amicus Brief

Content Governance

Meta’s actions “adversely impacted” Palestinians’ rights: Access Now welcomes BSR findings

Access Now welcomes the release of BSR’s human rights due diligence findings that expose Meta’s rights-violating actions against people in Palestine.

Musk

Content Governance

What does Musk’s “free speech” look like for the rest of us?

Elon Musk’s simplistic views of freedom of expression could catapult Twitter from a toxic space to a worse one — especially for those of us tweeting from the margins.

Musk

Content Governance

Access Now to Telegram: protect the rights of 500 million people

Access Now and a coalition of civil society organizations are sounding the alarm over safety and security issues plaguing Telegram.

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Content Governance

Access Now releases “Fighting misinformation and defending free expression during COVID-19: recommendations for states”

We have identified practical examples and promising practices to support policy makers in respecting human rights while developing measures to address disinformation and misinformation during the COVID-19 crisis.

Latest Updates

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Transparency
Transparency

Alphabet shareholders want more transparency, less complacency

25 May 2023
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Alphabet shareholders want more transparency, less complacency
25 May 2023
Alphabet shareholders want more transparency, less complacency
Corporate transparency Social card
Privacy
Privacy

Meta shareholders to company leaders: your business model hurts human rights

23 May 2023

As the annual shareholder meeting approaches, Meta shareholders ask leadership to review the company’s targeted advertising business model and protect human rights.

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Meta shareholders to company leaders: your business model hurts human rights
23 May 2023
Meta shareholders to company leaders: your business model hurts human rights
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Content Governance
Content Governance

Section 230 survives another challenge: U.S. Supreme Court rulings protect free expression online

18 May 2023

The U.S. Supreme Court’s rulings today in Twitter v. Taamneh and Gonzalez v. Google, a pair of cases centered on whether social media companies could be held liable for the terrorist content hosted and recommended via algorithm on their platforms, represent a major win for digital rights. 

Press Release
Section 230 survives another challenge: U.S. Supreme Court rulings protect free expression online
18 May 2023
Section 230 survives another challenge: U.S. Supreme Court rulings protect free expression online
internet shutdown
Internet Shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns

Internet and social media access must be restored in Pakistan to protect human rights

10 May 2023

The government of Pakistan must immediately restore — and protect — full access to the internet and social media.

Press Release
Internet and social media access must be restored in Pakistan to protect human rights
10 May 2023
Internet and social media access must be restored in Pakistan to protect human rights
Indonesia MR5 Amicus Brief
Content Governance
Content Governance

VLOPs or flops: Is Big Tech dodging accountability in the EU?

4 May 2023

The EU asked tech companies to share their user numbers in order to see who qualifies as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) under the Digital Services Act (DSA) rules. But the numbers don’t add up.

Post
VLOPs or flops: Is Big Tech dodging accountability in the EU?
4 May 2023
VLOPs or flops: Is Big Tech dodging accountability in the EU?
India fake news law
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

World Press Freedom Day: India’s “fake news” law must not censor journalists

2 May 2023

Access Now and partners are urging the government of India to withdraw a new “fake news” amendment to the IT Rules.

Press Release
World Press Freedom Day: India’s “fake news” law must not censor journalists
2 May 2023
World Press Freedom Day: India’s “fake news” law must not censor journalists
India fake news law
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

India: New amendment to the Information Technology Rules that threatens press freedoms must be withdrawn

2 May 2023

Through a joint statement, Access Now and partners urge the government of India to withdraw a new “fake news” amendment to the IT Rules.

Press Release
India: New amendment to the Information Technology Rules that threatens press freedoms must be withdrawn
2 May 2023
India: New amendment to the Information Technology Rules that threatens press freedoms must be withdrawn
Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition's report unpacks internet shutdowns in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and globally.
Internet Shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns

حجب الإنترنت في منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال إفريقيا في سنة 2022: تواصل للانتهاكات والإفلات من العقاب

29 Mar 2023

قامت 11 دولة في منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال إفريقيا بفرض عمليات حجب للإنترنت في 37 مناسبة، حيث تصدّرت إيران هذه القائمة من خلال قطعها للإنترنت 18 مرة.

Press Release
حجب الإنترنت في منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال إفريقيا في سنة 2022: تواصل للانتهاكات والإفلات من العقاب
29 Mar 2023
حجب الإنترنت في منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال إفريقيا في سنة 2022: تواصل للانتهاكات والإفلات من العقاب
Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition's report unpacks internet shutdowns in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and globally.
Internet Shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns

Internet shutdowns in MENA in 2022: continued abuses and impunity

29 Mar 2023

In 2022, authorities across the Middle East and North Africa shutdown the internet 37 times — with Iran hitting the kill switch a staggering 18 times.

Press Release
Internet shutdowns in MENA in 2022: continued abuses and impunity
29 Mar 2023
Internet shutdowns in MENA in 2022: continued abuses and impunity
India fake news
Content Governance
Content Governance

Open letter: Ghana’s new anti-LGBTQ+ bill threatens human rights

16 Mar 2023

Through an open letter, Access Now and partners call on Ghana’s Parliament to immediately reject the new anti-LGBTQ+ bill.

Press Release
Open letter: Ghana’s new anti-LGBTQ+ bill threatens human rights
16 Mar 2023
Open letter: Ghana’s new anti-LGBTQ+ bill threatens human rights
India fake news
Content Governance
Content Governance

Put human rights first: Ghana’s parliament must reject repressive anti-LGBTQ+ bill

16 Mar 2023

Access Now and partners call on Ghana’s parliament to immediately reject the new repressive anti-LGBTQ+ bill.

Press Release
Put human rights first: Ghana’s parliament must reject repressive anti-LGBTQ+ bill
16 Mar 2023
Put human rights first: Ghana’s parliament must reject repressive anti-LGBTQ+ bill
#KeepItOn 2022 Report: Weapons of control, shields of impunity - internet shutdowns in 2022
Internet Shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns

Five years in a row: India is 2022’s biggest internet shutdowns offender

28 Feb 2023

In 2022, India shut down the internet at least 84 times — more than any country, for the fifth consecutive year. Read “Weapons of control, shields of impunity: Internet shutdowns in 2022.”

Press Release
Five years in a row: India is 2022’s biggest internet shutdowns offender
28 Feb 2023
Five years in a row: India is 2022’s biggest internet shutdowns offender
#KeepItOn 2022 Report: Weapons of control, shields of impunity - internet shutdowns in 2022
Internet Shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns

Internet shutdowns in Africa: fewer offenders in 2022, still causing harm

28 Feb 2023

Access Now’s new report, “Weapons of control, shields of impunity: Internet shutdowns in 2022,” unpacks internet shutdowns in Africa and globally.

Press Release
Internet shutdowns in Africa: fewer offenders in 2022, still causing harm
28 Feb 2023
Internet shutdowns in Africa: fewer offenders in 2022, still causing harm
Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition's report unpacks internet shutdowns in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and globally.
Internet Shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns

Resurging internet shutdowns in 2022: weapons of control, shields of impunity

28 Feb 2023
Press Release
Resurging internet shutdowns in 2022: weapons of control, shields of impunity
28 Feb 2023
Resurging internet shutdowns in 2022: weapons of control, shields of impunity
Regulating digital platforms
Content Governance
Content Governance

Las directrices de la UNESCO para regular las plataformas digitales deben centrarse en los derechos humanos para todas las personas, en todas partes

21 Feb 2023
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Las directrices de la UNESCO para regular las plataformas digitales deben centrarse en los derechos humanos para todas las personas, en todas partes
21 Feb 2023
Las directrices de la UNESCO para regular las plataformas digitales deben centrarse en los derechos humanos para todas las personas, en todas partes
Regulating digital platforms
Content Governance
Content Governance

UNESCO’s guidelines for regulating digital platforms must center human rights for everyone, everywhere

21 Feb 2023
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UNESCO’s guidelines for regulating digital platforms must center human rights for everyone, everywhere
21 Feb 2023
UNESCO’s guidelines for regulating digital platforms must center human rights for everyone, everywhere