The E.U. must regulate police tech

Time and time again, we’ve seen law enforcement’s flawed, harmful, and discriminatory use of AI lead to false accusations and wrongful arrests, which disproportionately impact already marginalized communities. As E.U. policymakers finalize the AI Act, Access Now and over 100 other civil society partners are calling for regulation of AI use by law enforcement, migration control, and national security authorities throughout Europe. It is vital that the AI Act prevents discriminatory and mass surveillance, safeguards people’s fundamental rights, and sets legal limits on how law enforcement can use AI. Read our open statement and full recommendations. Read more via Access Now

Where to find us

Access Now at FIFAfrica 2023

Are you headed to the 10th Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica) next week? So are we! With digital rights under threat across Tanzania and other African countries, Access Now will be joining sessions to connect with partners and raise awareness of internet shutdowns, censorship, surveillance, and threats to privacy, among other topics. Learn more about our participation and follow along on social media. Read more via Access Now

Legislating for rights, not wrongs

Effective DSA enforcement hinges on human rights

The E.U.’s Digital Services Act aims to be a “gold standard” for content and platform governance, setting obligations for very large online platforms or search engines (VLOPs/VLOSEs) to safeguard freedom of expression, while stopping the spread of illegal online content. But ensuring that companies adequately assess and mitigate risks to fundamental rights remains a challenge. To support these efforts, Access Now has teamed up with the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ECNL) to prepare recommendations on how to ensure human rights impact assessments are more than merely a compliance exercise, and how to consider feedback from impacted communities. Read more via Access Now

Jordan passes flawed data protection law

Jordan has finally adopted national data protection rules that were nine years in the making. Unfortunately, despite the long wait, the final law fails to meet international standards. It contains major loopholes and hands control of people's personal information to the government. Access Now’s Marwa Fatafta warns that these flaws will make it hard to hold private companies and public authorities accountable if they violate people's rights, and urges Jordanian authorities to “involve civil society and independent experts to mitigate the impact of these rights-abusing loopholes.” Read more via Access Now

Kenyan rights groups warn digital ID program is repeating past mistakes

Despite previous warnings from civil society, Kenya’s government is pushing ahead with the roll-out of its digital ID program, known as Maisha Namba, from next week. This is likely to have grave consequences, including exclusion, discrimination, and loss of privacy for entire communities. Access Now has joined nine other local and regional civil society organizations in calling for Kenyan’s authorities to halt the “hurried and flawed” roll-out until they enact a proper legal framework to govern the system, and engage more transparently with civil society and marginalized communities. Read more via Biometric Update

Make it matter, Meta

Meta’s latest human rights report lacks plan for India

When it comes to championing human rights in India, Meta doesn’t have the greatest track record. Last year it refused to release a full assessment of how hate speech spreads on its services and just a few months ago, company shareholders voted down a proposal for an inquiry into content moderation failures. Now the company has released its second annual human rights report and despite promises of safeguarding electoral integrity during India’s 2024 general election, there is little in the way of a concrete plan, something Access Now’s Raman Jit Singh Chima points out is a “gaping hole.” Read more via The Wire

Social media firms "not ready to tackle misinformation" during global elections

India is just one of more than 60 countries holding elections in 2024. With over two billion people heading to the polls next year, the Global Coalition for Tech Justice is calling on Meta, along with Google, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter), to take action to protect democratic and human rights on their platforms, including sharing plans for ensuring local and linguistic expertise for content moderation around the world. Read more via The Guardian

Ethiopia fails to #KeepItOn

Ethiopian authorities must restore Amhara internet access

The two year-long civil war in the Tigray region of Ethiopia left millions of people cut off from the world, with a devastating internet shutdown covering up countless human rights violations. Now history is repeating itself in Amhara, Ethiopia, where people are suffering a mobile internet blackout for the second time this year, amid clashes between regional security forces and the national army. Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition urge the Ethiopian government to end its horrific practice of imposing shutdowns in times of conflict, which Access Now’s Jaimee Kokonya warns “enable the perpetrators of human rights violations to evade accountability and disrupt access to life saving information.” Read more via Access Now

Where tweeting is a death sentence

Saudi authorities issue death sentence for social media activity

Sharing your thoughts on social media shouldn’t be a matter of life and death. But that’s the horrifying reality in Saudi Arabia, where authorities have sentenced 54-year-old retired teacher Mohammed al-Ghamdi to be executed for comments he made to a handful of followers on X (formerly known as Twitter), which they say breached the country’s draconian Counter-Terrorism Law. This extraordinary escalation of the government’s efforts to suppress freedom of expression online, and to squash any and all dissent, cannot stand. Access Now’s Marwa Fatafta said, “To claim someone’s life for peaceful online expression marks a new obscene and frightening level of state repression and reprisal in Saudi Arabia. (...) Self-proclaimed defender of free speech, Elon Musk, must understand the potential repercussions of his decisions and policies on people’s lives, and take urgent steps to ensure people’s privacy and safety on the platform.” Read our joint statement in English or Arabic. Read more via Access Now

Opportunities and other highlights

SURVEY: RightsCon wants to hear from you!

Did you participate in RightsCon Costa Rica this past June? If so, then our team wants to hear about your experience at our first hybrid summit. This survey will help us shape the future of RightsCon to better serve the entire digital rights community. As always, if you prefer to share feedback in a different way or have questions, you can reach the team via [email protected]. Learn more via RightsCon

ICYMI: The Pegasus spyware attack on Meduza

If you missed the breaking news of our joint investigation into how Pegasus spyware was used against Russian journalist and Meduza co-founder Galina Timchenko, you can catch up by listening to the latest episode of Meduza’s The Naked Pravda podcast, featuring Access Now’s own Natalia Krapiva. Listen via Meduza

You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the Access Now Express. This email and all other Access Now communications are sent in compliance with our Data Usage Policy. Feel free to contact us at [email protected] with any questions or concerns.