| |
|
Stop political scapegoating: Ghanaian MPs must reject dangerous anti-LGBTQ+ bill
|
|
|
|
In Ghana, lawmakers have reintroduced a draconian anti-LGBTQ+ bill that would sentence anyone who simply identifies as LGBTQ+ to up to three years in prison. The legislation would also force social media companies to censor LGBTQ+ content, and mandate that the public report suspected LGBTQ+ people and groups to the police. Access Now and Rightify Ghana are urging Ghana’s government to reject this repressive law, which Access Now’s Jaimee Kokonya warns will result in “acts of discrimination and violence perpetuated against LGBTQ+ people going undocumented, unacknowledged, and unaddressed.” Read more via Access Now
|
|
What’s behind the rise in anti-LGBTQ+ laws across Africa?
In many African countries, dangerous laws that criminalize LGBTQ+ identity and online expression are undermining people’s fundamental rights and putting their safety and well-being at risk. The Guardian takes a close look at the impact of these laws, why they’re being implemented, and who is behind the push for ever more extreme and dehumanizing policies. Read more via The Guardian
|
ICYMI: Digital safety guide for LGBTQ+ activists in Africa
If you’re an LGBTQ+ activist in Africa facing digital threats, check out our 2024 digital safety guide. It's designed to help you identify what you might have to protect in your digital world, using various personas and threat scenarios. But remember: every threat profile is unique, and if you need tailored emergency assistance, our Digital Security Helpline is available 24/7 for civil society groups, journalists, and human rights defenders. Read more via Access Now
|
Bad laws lead to bad outcomes
GNI speaks out against U.S. foreign spying authority
As we write, U.S. lawmakers are still debating the pending reauthorization of Section 702, a provision of the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Act (FISA) that not only allows the government to spy on foreign communications, but has been abused to enable backdoor access to the data of people in the U.S. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Section 702 needs reform, not reauthorization, and it’s especially dangerous in the age of AI. Now, the Global Network Initiative (GNI) — an international multistakeholder group that advocates for human rights in the tech sector — is warning governments worldwide against adopting laws that endanger global data flows and put everyone’s rights at risk. Read more via the GNI
|
European Parliament approves more money for border surveillance technology
This week, the European Parliament’s Budget Committee approved an expanded EU budget for border surveillance technology, allocating a total of EUR 50 billion for 2028-2034 to fund more drones, more surveillance tech, and more targeting and spying on migrants' rights groups. This techno-solutionist approach to migration also means that more public funds will be funnelled to tech companies that profit from the EU’s war on migrants. We join with civil society partners in calling for EU lawmakers to #ProtectNotSurveil, by spending this money on safety, solidarity, and social protection instead. Read more via Equinox
|
Meta is warned that facial recognition glasses will arm sexual predators
Meta is planning to add facial recognition to its AI glasses, which can already connect to the internet and record the wearer’s physical surroundings. Together with the ACLU and more than 70 other civil organizations, Access Now is calling on Meta to reverse course. The new feature, reportedly known internally as “Name Tag,” poses an unacceptable threat to privacy and liberty, and would particularly threaten those already at risk of human rights violations: people of color, women, children, migrant people, religious minorities, and LGBTQ+ individuals. Read more via WIRED
|
Sudan at war, and disconnected
Opportunities and other highlights
|
|
|
