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What the U.S. can and must do to reconnect Gaza
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WATCH: “Protecting civilians against digital threats during armed conflict”
In modern-day conflict situations, digital technology can be a weapon. But it can also be a lifeline. In this panel discussion hosted by the International Committee for the Red Cross, participants mark an important shift toward official recognition of the impact of digital threats and the role the internet and digital technologies play in keeping people safe. Watch now via ICRC
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READ: “Hashtag 2023: Palestinian digital rights during war”
7amleh - The Arab Center for Social Media Advancement has released its ninth annual report tracking the status of Palestinian digital rights. The report documents no fewer than 4,400 rights violations in 2023, including incidents of online censorship, hacking of Palestinians’ accounts, and anti-Palestinian hate speech, violence, and incitement. Notably, 69% of these violations took place after October 7, 2023. Read more via 7amleh
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Musk comes for the internet
Elon Musk’s real threat to democracy isn’t what you think
The tech billionaire is making the platform formerly known as Twitter less safe and more extreme. But his control of Starlink, the satellite internet provider, is a much bigger, broader threat to democracy, argues scholar Siva Vaidhyanathan. In a deep dive for The Nation, Vaidhyanathan looks at Musk’s management of Starlink in the context of the Russian-Ukraine war, exploring the implications when a single individual has “the direct capacity to shape the outcome of a major war on the basis of nothing more than personal caprice.” Read more via The Nation
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What the leaked AI Act reveals
E.U. set to allow draconian use of facial recognition tech, say lawmakers
Well, you can’t say we didn’t warn you. While we still don’t have the official final text for the forthcoming E.U. AI Act, a leaked copy obtained by POLITICO reveals that it contains dangerous loopholes. As it stands, it would allow police to use facial recognition for identifying suspects in existing video footage without a judge’s approval. “We had heard from both the Commission and the Parliament that post [facial recognition] would be subject to strict safeguards and only allowed in some narrow, exceptional circumstances,” says Access Now’s Daniel Leufer. “The latest text that we’ve seen makes a mockery of those announcements.” In case you missed it, here are the red flags we’re raising about the AI Act as it undegoes final tweaks. Read more via POLITICO
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The algorithms too few people are talking about
So what’s the right approach to regulating AI tech? Instead of imagining a dystopic future built by ChatGPT, we should pay attention to the harmful uses currently hiding in plain sight, argues Amos Toh from Human Rights Watch. “Some of the algorithms that attract the least attention are capable of inflicting the most harm — for example, algorithms that are woven into the fabric of government services and dictate whether people can afford food, housing, and health care,” he warns. The damage these uses are causing “offers a road map on how to meaningfully regulate the technology, and the costs of falling short.” Read more via Lawfare
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What’s next for AI regulation in 2024
MIT Technology Review takes a tour through AI regulations around the world, taking stock of what promises to be an important year for transforming AI policies into concrete action. Read more via MIT Technology Review
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A new Latin American coalition aims to protect migrants’ data and privacy
Over 25 organizations across Latin America are working together to counter the harmful use of surveillance technology against migrants, asylum seekers, and other people on the move. Among its objectives: increasing transparency in surveillance practices, governmental processes, and regional collaboration, and ensuring migrants can make decisions about the processing of their data, including biometric data. “The hyper-surveillance of migrants is a form of criminalization,” says Access Now’s Ángela Alarcón. Learn more about the #MigrarSinVigilancia coalition in English or Spanish, and be sure to follow Access Now’s LatAm team on X and Instagram. Read more via Access Now
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Opportunities and other highlights
APPLY: Digital Defenders Partnership program for Latin American organizations at risk
Are you part of an organization, group, or network of people that defends human rights in Latin America and the Caribbean? Do you publish information about, or work with, Afro-descendants, Indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, or feminist or LGBTQ+ activists? If that sounds like you, and you need help improving your digital and physical security practices, the Digital Defenders Partnership (DDP) accompaniment program is for you. Learn about the program and apply (in Spanish). Learn more via DDp
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READ: The RightsCon Costa Rica outcomes report
If you’re anything like us, you’re still catching up on all the digital rights developments from the past year (phew!). If you’re looking for some good news, look no further: our RightsCon team has now published the second part of its outcomes report from the 2023 summit in Costa Rica. It’s a celebration of the global digital rights community’s achievements — from the coalitions formed, to campaigns launched, to problems solved, together. Check it out, and please share widely! Read more via Access Now
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