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Weaponized words: Uyghur language software hijacked to deliver malware
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Inside China’s machinery of repression — and how it crushes dissent around the world
A new investigation from the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), built on interviews with more than 100 victims in 23 countries, documents allegations that the Chinese government is using a broad range of tactics to silence dissidents abroad — from harassment of relatives and friends to surveillance, hacking, and online smear campaigns. Read more via ICIJ
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Defending digital rights: inside Access Now’s global fight for online freedom
Our Digital Security Helpline is a 24/7 resource for activists, journalists, and human rights defenders around the world, and its work is at the heart of Access Now’s mission to defend and extend the digital rights of people and communities at risk. In a new interview with Safety Detectives, Helpline Director Mohammed Al-Maskati talks about the constant evolution of digital attacks against civil society and what it takes to keep targeted people like the Uyghurs safe. “The short answer is: we don’t do it alone,” he says. Read more via Safety Detectives
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Judge limits evidence about NSO victims in WhatsApp hacking case
One of the biggest digital rights victories of 2024 was a U.S. federal court ruling that found Israeli surveillance firm NSO Group liable for the targeting of WhatsApp users with Pegasus spyware. Now, as the jury trial kicks off this week to determine how much NSO will pay in damages, the judge has barred the company from presenting evidence about the victims’ alleged conduct — shining the spotlight in the right direction. “NSO’s strategy has been to try to attack the reputation of civil society victims, claiming that they were in fact criminals and terrorists and therefore deserved to be hacked,” explains Access Now’s Natalia Krapiva. The hearings “will have to be focused on the conduct of NSO Group, not its clients or victims. As it should.” Read more via Cyberscoop
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In Kenya’s slums, they’re doing our digital dirty work
Big Tech companies like Meta aggressively tout the advantages of AI tools, arguing that they will make our lives easier. What they don’t talk about so much: the workers who train these tools, and the impact this work has had on their lives. Coda Story talks to Kenyan employees who say they're fed up with being mistreated, exploited, and rendered “invisible.” Read more via Coda Story
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How lawsuits in Kenya seek to hold Meta accountable for the harm it causes
What obligations do powerful tech companies like Meta or Google have to the people who make their success possible? A set of legal challenges brought against Meta in Kenyan courts may help answer that question, clarifying issues such as whether the company bears responsibility for harms to outsourced content moderators in Kenya, or can be held liable for hateful content that allegedly incited violence in the Tigray region in Ethiopia. Tech Policy Press offers thoughtful analysis of the implications of these cases. Read more via Tech Policy Press
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SPEAK UP: GLAAD survey on the impact of Meta’s content policy
After U.S. President Trump was elected, Meta made abrupt changes to its content policy, including lifting certain restrictions on hate speech based on gender identity and sexual orientation. Now the LGBTQ+ rights group GLAAD is investigating the impact on people around the world. They’re especially interested in hearing from people who hold marginalized identities — such as LGBTQ+ folks and people of color — since they are often targeted for digital violence. Take this survey by May 2 to share your experiences on Meta’s platforms and help strengthen GLAAD's advocacy. All responses are anonymous. Read more via GLAAD
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Holding Big Tech accountable
The 2025 RDR Index: Big Tech Edition
We’ve been waiting for this: this week Ranking Digital Rights (RDR) published its first full evaluation of 14 of the world’s largest digital platforms since 2022, providing key insights on Big Tech corporate policies and practices related to corporate governance, freedom of expression, and privacy. According to RDR analysts, while some companies are making progress on RDR indicators, most are “stalling in areas where progress is urgently needed,” given the increased risks stemming from the current AI boom. The bottom line: breaking the inertia and preventing backsliding will require “civil society, investors, and policymakers” working together to apply pressure. Read more via RDR
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What’s next: battling Mexico’s censors
Mexican lawmakers push dangerous censorship bill
Heads up: the Mexican Senate is fast-tracking new federal telecommunications legislation that would give the government sweeping powers to collect user data and block digital platforms without judicial oversight. Although the process initially moved forward without public debate or thorough analysis, mounting criticism has forced lawmakers to open the door to broader discussion and engagement with stakeholders. The Senate has now delayed a vote on the bill, but we could still see movement soon. To learn more about the risks to privacy, free expression, and due process, read the joint civil society statement led by ARTICLE 19 (in Spanish). Read more via ARTICLE 19
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Opportunities and other highlights
APPLY: Sustainable Protection Fund for the SWANA region
Does your organization need help shoring up digital security? Digital Defenders Partnership (DDP) is currently soliciting applications from human rights organizations and collectives in Southwest Asia and North Africa for the Sustainable Protection Fund (SPF). This fund aims to help these groups build their long-term digital security capacities. Check out the details and apply by May 7. Read more via DDP
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