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Private tech, humanitarian problems: exploring the data-for-aid dynamic
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The “cynical space” where aid, tech, and militaries intersect
Access Now’s Senior Humanitarian Officer, Giulio Coppi, talks to Devex about our new report's findings, describing the humanitarian tech landscape as “an opaque world dealing in the data of the world's most vulnerable and providing fertile ground to greedy data brokers and intermediaries.” In situations of crisis and conflict, data protection can go by the wayside, he warns. People needing assistance are often required to hand over private information to receive aid — even though “there cannot be meaningful consent when your life depends on giving away your data.” Read more via Devex
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Are E.U. too little, too late?
The E.U. DSA comes into force for all
The E.U. has other tools to help protect electoral integrity; most notably the Digital Services Act (DSA). This law, which already applies to the largest digital platforms, kicks in for all online search engines, platforms, and marketplaces operating in the E.U. on February 17. But we’re concerned about how the DSA is already being enforced, especially in the context of conflict and crisis. That’s why we’ve responded to the European Commission’s call for feedback on the DSA’s requirements for corporate transparency reports – vital for ensuring the law is enforced in a meaningful, consistent, and harmonized way. Read our feedback. Read more via European Commission
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GDPR: European Parliament must guarantee procedural rights to ensure people’s data protection
As we finalized this newsletter, we heard that the European Parliament’s Civil Liberties, Justice, and Home Affairs (LIBE) Committee had just approved the text of a law intended to harmonize enforcement of the almost six-year-old General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). While this is a step toward ensuring people across the E.U. can exercise their data protection rights, major gaps remain. The text is “vague and contradictory,” warns Access Now’s Chiara Manfredini, and will not guarantee that “people have the tools needed to counter the power Big Tech has over them.” Read more via Access Now
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Meta turns its back on politics again, angering some news creators
With the “year of elections” now well underway, Meta has announced that it will no longer proactively recommend political content or “social commentary” on users’ Instagram Feeds or its new text based app, Threads. This won’t stop people from following the political accounts or engaging with political content on other accounts, but it could have unintended consequences for news creators seeking to reach broader audiences, including those who already face systematic silencing. Read more via Washington Post
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Cybercrime: no steps forward, two steps back?
Civil society warns of “critical gaps” in UN's draft cybercrime treaty
Delegates at the UN failed to reach an agreement last week on a flawed draft cybercrime convention that threatens to legitimize harmful surveillance, undermine human rights, and harm security researchers and whistleblowers worldwide. But we’re not out of the woods yet. The talks have been suspended for now, but the danger remains that the draft will be advanced by the end of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly – without much-needed reforms. Learn how you can help push back. Read more via VOA
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Opportunities and other highlights
Join us!
If you're energized by our global mission and want to help defend and extend digital rights, good news: we have six exciting openings. We're seeking a Director of Policy and International Programs (based anywhere), a Communications and Media Manager (based anywhere, with preference for UTC+1 through UTC-5 time zones), a UN Advocacy Legal Intern (New York, hybrid), a Grantmaking Operations Manager (based anywhere, hybrid), a Grants and Contracts Accounting Manager (NYC, remote), and an In-House Legal Intern (Washington, DC, or NYC, hybrid). Learn more and apply! Learn more via Access Now
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