The U.S. Executive Order on AI: a step forward for civil rights, but Congress must pass privacy law

Biometrics will create "digital poorhouse"

AI systems are often rooted in societal stereotypes and biases that are invisible to the very people building them. But you can’t address inequity and injustice if you don’t see it. This Cybernews coverage of Access Now’s latest report on the risks of emerging biometric tech unpacks why AI systems intended to “help” disadvantaged and marginalized people can ultimately exclude them from government services and benefits. Read more via Cybernews

A prism on the AI future

Politico covers the U.K.’s AI Safety Summit, where government leaders this week released the Bletchley Declaration, a document reflecting the competing societal narratives shaping AI regulation. While it addresses the theoretical threat of “frontier” AI systems, it also confirms the urgent need to respond to the impact AI is already having on society — which will entail working together on “the protection of human rights, transparency and explainability, fairness, accountability, regulation, safety, appropriate human oversight, ethics, bias mitigation, privacy, and data protection.”  Read more via Politico

ICYMI: what AI watermarking can (and cannot) do

During the AI Safety Summit, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris reportedly underscored the severity of existing AI threats. “[When] people around the world cannot discern fact from fiction because of a flood of AI enabled myths and disinformation, I ask, is that not existential for democracy?” she said. AI watermarking is one way to help people determine whether something has been created using generative AI technology, but it’s no silver bullet. Read our technical explainer on AI watermarking to learn why not. Read more via Access Now

The chilling power of Gaza’s internet blackout

Over the past week, Israel’s relentless attacks on Gaza have only deepened the horrors of the unfolding humanitarian crisis that a UN official called a “text book case of genocide" in his letter of resignation. Right now, millions of innocent people are suffering heavy bombardment while remaining trapped without water, food, fuel, or medicine. Nowhere is safe, not even in the refugee camps that have become Israeli military targets, in evident violation of international humanitarian law. Access Now’s Marwa Fatafta talks to Rest of World about how ongoing internet shutdowns — which have not stopped despite a brief respite and restoration of connectivity — shroud human rights atrocities and enable impunity for war crimes. “More and more, a direct line is being drawn between internet shutdowns and human rights violations,” she says. Read more viA Rest of World

Gaza’s last link is gone: civil society urges immediate reversal of internet blackout

How exactly should governments proceed to restore connectivity in Gaza? Our joint statement with the MENA Alliance for Digital Rights has concrete guidance, which includes supporting an immediate physical and digital ceasefire and urging Egyptian authorities and internet service providers operating in the area to urgently extend telecommunications access to the people in Gaza. Read more via Access Now

ICRC: "Even wars have limits"

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a neutral organization that is closely tracking the Gaza humanitarian crisis in order to save as many lives as possible, helping anyone impacted by the conflict. Responding to recent bombings in Gaza, the organization warned that “even wars have limits,” referencing the Geneva Conventions, a reminder of the importance of international instruments and global action to ensure that “as long as conflict remains a reality, there also must be a limit to suffering.”

Notably, the UN’s International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is likewise speaking out in support of restraint, specifically condemning the communications blackout in Gaza, calling for “life-saving access to networks to be restored. Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected at all times.” The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has also called out the attacks on internet infrastructure, pointing out that they put civilians in “grave danger.” Read more via ICRC

Read: 7amleh briefing on Palestinian digital rights situation

7amleh - The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media is monitoring how Palestinian digital rights have been eroded since the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, noting the unprecedented spread of online hate speech and disinformation, increased censorship of Palestinian voices, and digital rights violations caused by ongoing communications blackouts in Gaza. Check out this timely briefing for the details. Read more via 7amleh

Listen: “Shoot the Messenger”

Apple recently sent a fresh round of notifications to potential targets of spyware attacks, including journalists, politicians, and civil society actors in Armenia, India and elsewhere, highlighting the impunity for dangerous surveillance across the globe, and the need to ban rights-harming commercial spyware. Since 2021, Apple has sent such threat notifications, leading to the exposure of spyware use in countries like El Salvador, Poland, Thailand, and Armenia. The global rise of spyware attacks makes it imperative for companies like Apple to act responsibly by notifying users and recommending credible resources people can turn to in order to mitigate harm.

Earlier this year, after Galina Timchenko, head of leading Russian independent media outlet Meduza, received this type of notification from Apple, Access Now worked with the Citizen Lab to verify the Pegasus spyware attack on her device. Check out this podcast episode for an interview with Timchenko that shares details on her story. Tune in via PRX

It’s time for Lockdown Mode

If you’re a human rights defender who uses Apple’s iPhone or other devices, we recommend that you implement Lockdown Mode immediately. While it won’t prevent every form of hacking, it can dramatically reduce an attacker’s ability to infect your device. Read more via Apple

#KeepItOn: ECOWAS condemns Guinea’s 2020 internet shutdown

Civil society has won another court victory against internet shutdowns in Africa! This week, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court ruled that Guinean authorities’ decision to implement a social media blackout and countrywide internet shutdown ahead of 2020 elections was indeed illegal, and breached people’s rights to freedom of expression and access to information. Given that we continue to see internet access disrupted in Guinea during moments of civil unrest as recently as May 2023, this ruling is a timely reminder that all governments are obligated to ensure fair, open internet access for all. Read more via Media Defence

FINAL CALL: tell us what you think!

We’re so grateful for every reader who has already shared their views on how we can make this newsletter better. Haven’t had a chance to take our survey yet? You still have 24 hours to answer our six short questions, all aimed at making sure what lands in your inbox is worthwhile! Take the survey via Access Now

HIRING: Co-Executive Director, The Engine Room

Nonprofit organization The Engine Room is looking for a new Co-Executive Director to help lead its work supporting civil society to use technology, data, and research responsibly. If you care about social justice and community building, and have a background in academic research, business development, or fundraising, this might be the role for you. Learn more and apply. Read more via The Engine Room