Tag: Business & Human Rights
Press Releases
Open letter to Mark Zuckerberg on Net Neutrality advocacy in India
More than 30 groups from around the world have signed an open letter to Mark Zuckerberg regarding Facebook’s recent actions concerning the Free Basics program in India. The letter urges Facebook to meaningfully and respectfully engage with Net Neutrality advocates fighting for a free and open internet across the globe.…
6 January 2016
Press Releases
Open letter to BlackBerry applauds rejecting backdoors in Pakistan, urges more action to protect human rights
An open letter to BlackBerry applauds the company’s rejection of government backdoors in Pakistan, and urges BlackBerry and other companies to adopt policies that respect human rights.…
22 December 2015
Press Releases
Open letter to BlackBerry on rejecting backdoors and protecting human rights
Dear Chief Executive John Chen and Chief Operating Officer Marty Beard, We applaud your decision to stand up for the right to privacy of users in Pakistan by pledging to leave the market because of government demands for direct access…
22 December 2015
Blog
Coalition urges Turkey to cease online censorship on eve of elections
Today a coalition of Turkish and international media, human rights organizations, and political groups have published an Open Letter to the Turkish Government demanding that it protect Turkish people’s right to freedom of expression during the elections. The letter underscores the fact that social media and independent media websites help to ensure access to information in Turkey, and asks the government to pledge not to block access to the internet or to specific online services.…
29 October 2015
Press Releases
Twitter CEO Responds to Pressure from Rights Groups
San Francisco – Today Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey pledged his company’s support for free expression, accountability, and transparency. His statement — including an explicit mention of Politwoops, the politician accountability tool — is a clear response to grassroots pressure, including an open letter signed by 50 global groups in support of Politwoops.…
21 October 2015
Blog
Government may have ordered internet shutdown in Congo-Brazzaville
Today, several news outlets reported an internet shutdown in Congo-Brazzaville, where thousands of people are protesting after news surfaced that President Sassou Nguesso is contemplating a proposal to extend presidential term limits. While it’s not clear yet what’s happening in Congo-Brazzaville, we’re very concerned about the safety and security of the people protesting. Internet shutdowns do not restore order, help victims, or protect rights.…
20 October 2015
Blog
Zombie cookies rise again as telcos respond to our report on tracking headers
Even George A. Romero, visionary creator of zombie movies, would scarcely believe this script. After public outcry, policy turnarounds, and regulatory scrutiny, tracking headers live on in Verizon’s networks. The company just announced a new program combining AOL’s online advertising and tracking capabilities with Verizon’s UIDH mobile tracking headers, to track users across the fixed and mobile web. We have fought to expose the use of mobile tracking headers, and made some progress in holding companies to account. The nonprofit Business and Human Rights Resource Centre invited formal responses from the companies named in our report. Let’s go through the responses, one by one.…
9 October 2015
Blog
Announcing the 2015 Heroes & Villains of Human Rights and Communications Surveillance
Today Access recognizes the individuals and groups that have either been champions of the 13 internationally recognized principles for human rights in communications surveillance (“Heroes”), or have undermined or violated those principles (“Villains”). These principles, called the International Principles on the Application of Human Rights to Communications Surveillance (or “the Principles”), have been endorsed by more than 400 civil society groups worldwide. They provide a framework for assessing whether government surveillance practices comply with international human rights obligations. Today marks the two-year anniversary of the Principles, which were publicly released on September 22, 2013.
…22 September 2015