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“You cannot do mass surveillance privately, full stop”
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To protect women, defend digital rights
Abortion groups say tech companies suppress posts and accounts
Across the United States, women’s health groups and reproductive rights activists report that they are being censored online, leaving women unable to access vital healthcare information. A new Amnesty International report reveals that since the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision, some social media companies have consistently removed or flagged abortion-related content, without explaining why. Often, the content is related to medical or non-surgical abortions, which account for more than half the abortions in the U.S. Read more via The New York Times
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Female health apps aren’t doing enough to protect sensitive data, study says
Many women and girls use health apps to track and monitor their health, including menstrual cycles. But in a post-Roe U.S., and in the absence of federal privacy legislation, these companies need to do more to protect their users’ data, a new study shows. Analysis of 20 popular female apps used in the U.S. and UK revealed contradictory policies on sharing data with third parties, with user data accessible to law enforcement in several cases. Read more via Euronews
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We call on the U.S. FTC to put privacy protections in place
Along with more than 30 other organizations, Access Now is urging the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to move forward with the Commercial Surveillance and Data Security Rulemaking, first announced in 2022. As the coalition underscores in our joint letter, U.S. states are already prosecuting abortion seekers and providers, based on “data collected from the WiFi-enabled devices we use, the web based platforms we interact with, and the surveillance networks tracking our every move.” We can’t wait any longer. The FTC must act now to rein in data-hungry practices that put people’s rights and safety at risk. Read more via FFTF
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Human rights, on the move
How data agreements and technologies violate the privacy of migrants and people in transit (in Spanish)
Honduran media outlet Contra Corriente covers our efforts to find out what U.S. law enforcement and federal agencies are doing with the data and biometrics of people who cross the U.S. border seeking safety. In an interview, Access Now’s Ángela Alarcón explains what prompted our legal complaint against the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agencies. Read and watch in Spanish. Read more via Contra Corriente
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ICYMI: Primer on defending the rights of refugees and migrants in the digital age
#RefugeeWeek is a good time to remind people that digital rights are for everyone — including those fleeing their home countries for safety and security. Amnesty International’s primer explains how digital technologies and systems deployed by the U.S., UK, and EU threaten these rights. Read more via EU Amnesty International
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Civil society unveils new supplement to UN declaration protecting human rights defenders
It’s been 25 years since the UN adopted a Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, and it’s overdue for an update. This week the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) launched Declaration+25, which supplements the declaration and sets 21st-century standards for protecting human rights defenders. Access Now strongly supports this effort, and we’re proud that Executive Director Brett Solomon has endorsed it. Read more via ISHR
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READ: “State of surveillance”
A new study by the digital rights organization RKS Group looks at how the Russian government conducts online surveillance. Among the key findings: Russia carries out indiscriminate mass surveillance of citizens and foreigners alike, including migrant workers, and its lack of regulations to protect people’s biometric data enables authorities to blur the boundaries between online and offline surveillance. Read more via RKS Group
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Opportunities and other highlights
LEARN: A community network DIY toolkit? Yes, please!
Want to build a local network to bring internet access to your community, but don’t know where to begin? The Internet Society has you covered with their new DIY toolkit. Read more via ISOC
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