Access to appropriate devices and the Internet transforms asylum seekers’ lives.
ORG and Positive Action Housing's survey shows the importance of digital rights, enabling people to communicate, get resources, pursue education and connect with support networks.
8/ What do you think about this proposed exemption for EU ministers? Should there be a different standard of privacy for citizens and officials? Join the conversation below. 🗣️👇
I attempted to play putt-putt today. I was asked to create an account, which included some #PII, including name, DOB, email address, phone number, etc.
I declined to give them my info. I was told I could not play without it. So I left.
In our digital world, freedom is essential. It's the right to express ourselves, safeguard our privacy, access information, and ensure security. We believe in these values and are committed to promoting them. At the same time, we recognize the importance of educating others about the value of their data. With knowledge comes power, and we're dedicated to empowering people to take control of their digital lives.
#Egypt#DIgitalRights#Activism#HumanRights: "Following an urgent appeal filed to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) on behalf of blogger and activist Alaa Abd El Fattah, EFF has joined 26 free expression and human rights organizations calling for immediate action.
The appeal to the UNWGAD was initially filed in November 2023 just weeks after Alaa’s tenth birthday in prison. The British-Egyptian citizen is one of the most high-profile prisoners in Egypt and has spent much of the past decade behind bars for his pro-democracy writing and activism following Egypt’s revolution in 2011."
The battle to protect our data rights continues as the #DPDIBill returns to the UK House of Lords today.
Our amendments to strengthen the Information Commissioner's Office are on the table. We need a strong, independent and effective data regulator to ensure our rights are enforced.
#Europe#EasternEurope#DigitalRights#Privacy#Surveillance: "The civil society organisation (CSO) Meter project assesses the civil society environment in the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The 2023 Regional Report focuses on digital rights.
Digital rights have continued to evolve in the region but political developments, in particular the Russian aggression in Ukraine and the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, put protections under constant pressure. In 2023, several EaP countries saw the expansion of surveillance powers of the state and the restriction of freedom of expression online, including attempts to silence activists and government critics. Disinformation remains a significant challenge in the region: CSOs in Georgia and Armenia noted disinformation attacks against civil society and at times, government responses to disinformation unduly restrict freedom of expression. There is significant progress in terms of developing comprehensive data protection legislation, notably in Moldova and Georgia, but countries are struggling with the implementation and enforcement of new rules. Digitalisation efforts continue in the region with several best practices emerging in terms of civil society participation in these processes." https://edri.org/our-work/2023-digital-rights-update-eastern-partnership-cso-meter/
🤯 #YouTube approved dozens of election disinformation ads ahead of the #India general election.
"We submitted 48 ads [...containing] content prohibited by YouTube’s #elections#misinformation policies, including false information around the election" like "changes to the voting age, instructions to vote by text message, and incitement to prevent certain groups from voting."
#Ecuador#DigitalRights#Cybersecurity#Cybercrime#Hacking: "Ola Bini, the software developer acquitted last year of cybercrime charges in a unanimous verdict in Ecuador, was back in court last week in Quito as prosecutors, using the same evidence that helped clear him, asked an appeals court to overturn the decision with bogus allegations of unauthorized access of a telecommunications system.
Armed with a grainy image of a telnet session—which the lower court already ruled was not proof of criminal activity—and testimony of an expert witness to the lower court—who never had access to the devices and systems involved in the alleged intrusion—prosecutors presented the theory that, by connecting to a router, Bini made partial unauthorized access in an attempt to break into a system provided by Ecuador’s national telecommunications company (CNT) to a presidency's contingency center.
"One reason #RossAnderson was so effective in the area of #digitalrights is that he had the ability to look forward and see the next challenge while it was still forming. Even more important, he had an extraordinary ability to explain complex concepts in an understandable manner. You can check on the YouTube channel a series of lectures on #securityengineering or read the massive list of papers at his home page."
Very saddened to hear that Prof Ross Anderson has passed away. He did so much to campaign and improve our privacy and security. #digitalrights#infosec#privacy#UK
#Privacy#DigitalRights#Surveillance#FacialRecognition: "Over the past decade, there has been a steep rise globally in law enforcement using facial recognition technology. Data gathered by Steven Feldstein, a researcher with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, found that government agencies in 78 countries now use public facial recognition systems.
ByteDance shuts down its WhatsApp clone in Africa
The public is often supportive of the use of such tech: 59% of U.K. adults told a survey they “somewhat” or “strongly” support police use of facial recognition technology in public spaces, and a Pew Research study found 46% of U.S. adults said they thought it was a good idea for society. In China, one study found that 51% of respondents approved of facial recognition tech in the public sphere, while in India, 69% of people said in a 2023 report that they supported its use by the police.
But while authorities generally pitch facial recognition as a tool to capture terrorists or wanted murderers, the technology has also emerged as a critical instrument in a very particular context: punishing protesters."
#AgeVerification#SocialMedia#Privacy#DigitalRights#ContentModeration#Censorship: "We conclude that, while there is a clear need for protecting children online, there are currently no age assurance method that adequately protect individuals’ fundamental rights. The risks associated with the implementation of age assurance include privacy intrusion, data leak, behavioural surveillance, identity theft, and impeded autonomy. Moreover, while none of the methods reviewed could attest user’s age with certainty, the implementation of such measures may exacerbate existing discrimination against already disadvantaged groups of society, likely widen the digital divide and lead to further exclusion.
Promising privacy-preserving techniques, e.g, digital identities and double-blind transmission methods, are under development. These may offer improved user privacy protection by enabling anonymous age assurance. However, important security and inclusivity risks remain. Moreover, these technologies face implementation challenges, given the current absence of a pan-European technical and legal framework to support their wide adoption." https://www.greens-efa.eu/en/article/document/trustworthy-age-assurance
MPs now debating whether to give themselves special exemption from surveillance powers. If only MPs were the only ones he would benefit from the requirement of a judge’s order before having their communications intercepted #IPAA#privacy#digitalrights