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Rights groups to U.S. DHS: you're using bad data to screen and deport migrants
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When people suffering persecution flee El Salvador to seek asylum in the U.S., they're often victimized yet again — blocked from entry on the basis of unreliable information, and forced to return to a country where they face abuse, arrest, imprisonment, or worse. Together with our partners, we filed a complaint against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, detailing the stories of people directly harmed through shady data-sharing agreements between the U.S. and Latin American authorities, and demanding an investigation to end the cycle of abuse. Learn more in Spanish or English. Read more via Access Now
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India's data protection disaster
India makes history — but not in a good way
After waiting over a decade since India began its journey toward a federal data protection law, the government rammed the legislation through parliament in less than a week, amid opposition resistance and walkouts. The resulting bill is deeply flawed, utterly failing to reflect civil society input despite multiple rounds of consultation. It jeopardizes privacy, grants excessive exemptions to the government, and fails to establish an independent regulator — all basic international standards. "It's a bad law," says Access Now's Namrata Maheshwari. "All doors to ensuring rights-respecting evolution and implementation of the bill must be forced open — people in India, and in countries sharing their data with India, are counting on it." Read more via Access Now
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Listen: India opens "massive backdoor" for government surveillance
In an interview with The Indian Express, Access Now's Raman Jit Singh Chima explains what's in the bill and why provisions that appear to be protective are "actually a perversion of the global standard of data protection." Instead of addressing civil society concerns about mass surveillance, he says, the government has "tried to codify a massive backdoor for themselves." Tune in via The Indian Express
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Watch: What is end-to-end encryption and how does it work?
India is among many world governments that are actively hostile toward strong encryption, even though it's vital for secure and private digital communications. In this video on how end-to-end encryption works, Access Now's Namrata Maheshwari explains why introducing any backdoor, or deliberate vulnerability, only makes us less safe, opening our private messages to malicious actors — governments and criminals alike. Watch now via the BBC
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No anonymity = no free speech
Rights coalition speaks out against Vietnam’s expanding censorship powers
Vietnamese authorities are already forcing social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube to censor speech they consider "toxic," including criticism of the government or its policies. Now the Ministry of Information and Communication has introduced a new draft decree that would force people to register their real identity with the government in order to use those platforms. We joined a coalition of 20 leading human rights organizations in urging the ministry to scrap or substantially amend the decree, which fails to comply with international human rights laws and standards. Read more via Access Now
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Is Russia's Google leaking your data?
Leaked Yandex code breaks open the creepy black box of online advertising
Accidents happen. And if your job is collecting as much data as you can about as many people as you can, those accidents are going to make a much bigger mess. WIRED looks at what leaked source code reveals about the Netherlands-based search provider Yandex, which is popular in Russia and may soon set up separate operations there — putting its vast stores of people's data at risk. "They have been trying to maintain this image of a more independent and Western-oriented company that from time to time protested some repressive laws and orders, helping attract foreign investments and business deals,” says Access Now's Natalia Krapiva. “But in practice, Yandex has been losing its independence and caving in to the Russian government demands." Read more via WIRED
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A new excuse for an internet shutdown
Opportunities and other highlights
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