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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Towards meaningful fundamental rights impact assessments under the DSA
Fundamental rights impact assessments are key for effective DSA enforcement
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.
An open letter to the RightsCon community about RightsCon Costa Rica and what comes next
We explain the challenges and exclusion some participants faced, apologize and take accountability for our role, and share thoughts on the road ahead.
Cambodia: Meta refuses to block Hun Sen’s accounts, implicitly encouraging incitement to violence
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.
United Nations Ad Hoc Committee to Elaborate a Comprehensive International Convention on Countering the Use of ICTs for Criminal Purposes
Europe’s online content law has teeth — now it has to bite
Joint statement on petition to ban TikTok in Kenya
Kenya’s members of parliament must uphold freedom of expression and reject call to ban TikTok.
Civil society statement: government of Senegal must stop escalating trend of normalizing internet shutdowns
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
Vietnam’s identity verification mandate will violate international human rights
Viet Nam’s Identity Verification Mandate will Violate International Human Rights.
Civil society statement: government of Senegal must stop escalating trend of normalizing internet shutdowns
Nations across Africa, and the world, must ensure people can access open and free internet when they need it the most.
DSA is not a censorship tool: Commissioner Breton must clarify blocking statement
Civil society is demanding clarity on Commissioner Breton’s suggestion that arbitrary blocking of online platforms could be enforced under the DSA.
Civil society gets its confirmation from EU Commissioner: no internet shutdowns under DSA
Commissioner Breton clarified that internet shutdowns are not lawful under the DSA except under extreme circumstances.
Access Now’s response to Commissioner Breton’s letter: Priorities and dialogue on DSA enforcement
Access Now responds to Commissioner Breton’s letter and seeks dialogue on DSA enforcement.
Kupigania #KeepItOn wakati wa uchaguzi: uwezacho kifanya
المناصرة من أجل #مقاومة_حجب_الإنترنت (#KeepItOn) خلال الانتخابات: ما يمكنك فعله