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.

DSA internet blocking

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

DSA internet blocking
Content Governance
Content Governance

Towards meaningful fundamental rights impact assessments under the DSA

18 Sep 2023
Publication
Towards meaningful fundamental rights impact assessments under the DSA
18 Sep 2023
Towards meaningful fundamental rights impact assessments under the DSA
DSA internet blocking
Content Governance
Content Governance

Fundamental rights impact assessments are key for effective DSA enforcement 

18 Sep 2023

Under the EU DSA, companies designated as VLOPs or VLOSEs must assess fundamental rights risks stemming from their services. Access Now and ECNL have published a new policy paper to support enforcement of this requirement.

Post
Fundamental rights impact assessments are key for effective DSA enforcement 
18 Sep 2023
Fundamental rights impact assessments are key for effective DSA enforcement 
Transparency
Transparency

An open letter to the RightsCon community about RightsCon Costa Rica and what comes next

31 Aug 2023

We explain the challenges and exclusion some participants faced, apologize and take accountability for our role, and share thoughts on the road ahead.

Post
An open letter to the RightsCon community about RightsCon Costa Rica and what comes next
31 Aug 2023
An open letter to the RightsCon community about RightsCon Costa Rica and what comes next
Indonesia MR5 Amicus Brief
Content Governance
Content Governance

Cambodia: Meta refuses to block Hun Sen’s accounts, implicitly encouraging incitement to violence

30 Aug 2023

By refusing to suspend Hun Sen’s Facebook and Instagram accounts, Meta has missed a crucial opportunity to oppose incitement to violence and hate speech online.

Press Release
Cambodia: Meta refuses to block Hun Sen’s accounts, implicitly encouraging incitement to violence
30 Aug 2023
Cambodia: Meta refuses to block Hun Sen’s accounts, implicitly encouraging incitement to violence
Digital rights
Content Governance
Content Governance

United Nations Ad Hoc Committee to Elaborate a Comprehensive International Convention on Countering the Use of ICTs for Criminal Purposes 

24 Aug 2023
Publication
United Nations Ad Hoc Committee to Elaborate a Comprehensive International Convention on Countering the Use of ICTs for Criminal Purposes 
24 Aug 2023
United Nations Ad Hoc Committee to Elaborate a Comprehensive International Convention on Countering the Use of ICTs for Criminal Purposes 
Regulating digital platforms
Content Governance
Content Governance

Europe’s online content law has teeth — now it has to bite

24 Aug 2023
News
Europe’s online content law has teeth — now it has to bite
Politico ↗
24 Aug 2023
Europe’s online content law has teeth — now it has to bite
TikTok
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

Joint statement on petition to ban TikTok in Kenya

24 Aug 2023

Kenya’s members of parliament must uphold freedom of expression and reject call to ban TikTok.

Press Release
Joint statement on petition to ban TikTok in Kenya
24 Aug 2023
Joint statement on petition to ban TikTok in Kenya
Keep It On Gabon
Internet Shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns

Civil society statement: government of Senegal must stop escalating trend of normalizing internet shutdowns

16 Aug 2023

セネガル政府が最近のセネガルの政情不安に対応してインターネット遮断を武器化したことを非難し、当局がこの危険な検閲手段をエスカレートさせていることに終止符を打つよう要求する

Press Release
Civil society statement: government of Senegal must stop escalating trend of normalizing internet shutdowns
16 Aug 2023
Civil society statement: government of Senegal must stop escalating trend of normalizing internet shutdowns
Thumbnail: social media
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

Vietnam’s identity verification mandate will violate international human rights

4 Aug 2023

Viet Nam’s Identity Verification Mandate will Violate International Human Rights.

Press Release
Vietnam’s identity verification mandate will violate international human rights
4 Aug 2023
Vietnam’s identity verification mandate will violate international human rights
Keep It On Gabon
Internet Shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns

Civil society statement: government of Senegal must stop escalating trend of normalizing internet shutdowns

3 Aug 2023

Nations across Africa, and the world, must ensure people can access open and free internet when they need it the most.

Press Release
Civil society statement: government of Senegal must stop escalating trend of normalizing internet shutdowns
3 Aug 2023
Civil society statement: government of Senegal must stop escalating trend of normalizing internet shutdowns
DSA internet blocking
Internet Shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns

DSA is not a censorship tool: Commissioner Breton must clarify blocking statement

2 Aug 2023

Civil society is demanding clarity on Commissioner Breton’s suggestion that arbitrary blocking of online platforms could be enforced under the DSA.

Press Release
DSA is not a censorship tool: Commissioner Breton must clarify blocking statement
2 Aug 2023
DSA is not a censorship tool: Commissioner Breton must clarify blocking statement
DSA internet blocking
Internet Shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns

Civil society gets its confirmation from EU Commissioner: no internet shutdowns under DSA

2 Aug 2023

Commissioner Breton clarified that internet shutdowns are not lawful under the DSA except under extreme circumstances.

Press Release
Civil society gets its confirmation from EU Commissioner: no internet shutdowns under DSA
2 Aug 2023
Civil society gets its confirmation from EU Commissioner: no internet shutdowns under DSA
DSA internet blocking
Internet Shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns

Access Now’s response to Commissioner Breton’s letter: Priorities and dialogue on DSA enforcement

2 Aug 2023

Access Now responds to Commissioner Breton’s letter and seeks dialogue on DSA enforcement.

Press Release
Access Now’s response to Commissioner Breton’s letter: Priorities and dialogue on DSA enforcement
2 Aug 2023
Access Now’s response to Commissioner Breton’s letter: Priorities and dialogue on DSA enforcement
Zimbabwe elections 2023, internet shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns

Kupigania #KeepItOn wakati wa uchaguzi: uwezacho kifanya

31 Jul 2023
Guide
Kupigania #KeepItOn wakati wa uchaguzi: uwezacho kifanya
31 Jul 2023
Kupigania #KeepItOn wakati wa uchaguzi: uwezacho kifanya
Zimbabwe elections 2023, internet shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns

المناصرة من أجل #مقاومة_حجب_الإنترنت (#KeepItOn) خلال الانتخابات: ما يمكنك فعله

31 Jul 2023
Guide
المناصرة من أجل #مقاومة_حجب_الإنترنت (#KeepItOn) خلال الانتخابات: ما يمكنك فعله
31 Jul 2023
المناصرة من أجل #مقاومة_حجب_الإنترنت (#KeepItOn) خلال الانتخابات: ما يمكنك فعله
Zimbabwe elections 2023, internet shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns

Plaidoyer pour #KeepItOn pendant les élections : ce que vous pouvez faire

31 Jul 2023
Guide
Plaidoyer pour #KeepItOn pendant les élections : ce que vous pouvez faire
31 Jul 2023
Plaidoyer pour #KeepItOn pendant les élections : ce que vous pouvez faire