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.

|

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.

|

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

Focused View
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

Slipping down the authoritarian hole: Nepal must lift the TikTok ban

16 Nov 2023

Nepal must reverse its ban on TikTok and publish recent directives for social media platforms.

Press Release
Slipping down the authoritarian hole: Nepal must lift the TikTok ban
16 Nov 2023
Slipping down the authoritarian hole: Nepal must lift the TikTok ban
Restore Telecoms and Internet Connectivity in Gaza Now!
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

DSA: the war on Gaza is not an excuse to silence people online

26 Oct 2023

The EU’s fast-tracked “solution” to the spread of illegal content online could result in long-term consequences to freedom of speech.

Press Release
DSA: the war on Gaza is not an excuse to silence people online
26 Oct 2023
DSA: the war on Gaza is not an excuse to silence people online
Palestine Israel Digital Ceasefire; Gaza’s internet
Protest and Online Organizing
Protest and Online Organizing

دعوة مفتوحة من منظمات حقوق الإنسان لوقف فوري لإطلاق النار على الأرض ورقمياً في غزة، وبحق  الفلسطينيين/ات حول العالم

23 Oct 2023

نحن، مجموعة من مؤسسات المجتمع المدني ومنظمات حقوق الإنسان الرقمية، ننضم إلى الدعوة المفتوحة للوقف الفوري لإطلاق النار في غزة.

Press Release
دعوة مفتوحة من منظمات حقوق الإنسان لوقف فوري لإطلاق النار على الأرض ورقمياً في غزة، وبحق  الفلسطينيين/ات حول العالم
23 Oct 2023
دعوة مفتوحة من منظمات حقوق الإنسان لوقف فوري لإطلاق النار على الأرض ورقمياً في غزة، وبحق  الفلسطينيين/ات حول العالم
Palestine Israel Digital Ceasefire; Gaza’s internet
Protest and Online Organizing
Protest and Online Organizing

Organizaciones de derechos humanos se unen al llamado abierto al cese al fuego en Gaza y el respeto por los derechos digitales del pueblo palestino en todo el mundo

20 Oct 2023

We call on international actors to support an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, along with a “digital ceasefire” to protect Palestinians in online spaces globally.

Press Release
Organizaciones de derechos humanos se unen al llamado abierto al cese al fuego en Gaza y el respeto por los derechos digitales del pueblo palestino en todo el mundo
20 Oct 2023
Organizaciones de derechos humanos se unen al llamado abierto al cese al fuego en Gaza y el respeto por los derechos digitales del pueblo palestino en todo el mundo
Palestine Israel Digital Ceasefire; Gaza’s internet
Protest and Online Organizing
Protest and Online Organizing

Human rights organizations join the open call for an immediate physical and digital ceasefire in Gaza, and for Palestinians globally

20 Oct 2023

We call on international actors to support an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, along with a “digital ceasefire” to protect Palestinians in online spaces globally.

Press Release
Human rights organizations join the open call for an immediate physical and digital ceasefire in Gaza, and for Palestinians globally
20 Oct 2023
Human rights organizations join the open call for an immediate physical and digital ceasefire in Gaza, and for Palestinians globally
Palestine Israel Digital Ceasefire; Gaza’s internet
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

Physical and digital ceasefire in Gaza: UN, governments, Big Tech must act

20 Oct 2023

Governments, international institutions, tech companies, and other stakeholders must ensure a physical and digital ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Press Release
Physical and digital ceasefire in Gaza: UN, governments, Big Tech must act
20 Oct 2023
Physical and digital ceasefire in Gaza: UN, governments, Big Tech must act
Telecoms and Internet Connectivity Gaza
Content Governance
Content Governance

When tackling illegal online content related to conflict in Gaza, the rule of law matters 

18 Oct 2023

The Digital Service Act (DSA) must not be exploited in times of conflict or crisis.

Press Release
When tackling illegal online content related to conflict in Gaza, the rule of law matters 
18 Oct 2023
When tackling illegal online content related to conflict in Gaza, the rule of law matters 
Telecoms and Internet Connectivity Gaza
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

Precise interpretation of the DSA matters especially when people’s lives are at risk in Gaza and Israel

18 Oct 2023

The Digital Service Act (DSA) must not be exploited in times of conflict or crisis. The E.U. must respect due process when enforcing the DSA during ongoing armed conflict in the Gaza Strip.

Press Release
Precise interpretation of the DSA matters especially when people’s lives are at risk in Gaza and Israel
18 Oct 2023
Precise interpretation of the DSA matters especially when people’s lives are at risk in Gaza and Israel
Rightscon Korea
Transparency
Transparency

We’re headed to South Korea: the when, where, and why of our next convening

6 Oct 2023

We’re excited to announce that the 13th edition of the RightsCon Summit Series will be held in South Korea and online in February 2025!

Post
We’re headed to South Korea: the when, where, and why of our next convening
6 Oct 2023
We’re headed to South Korea: the when, where, and why of our next convening
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