What we’re learning from Africa’s largest telco’s first transparency report
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MTN's first transparency report marks a milestone, but raises questions
In response to mounting pressure from civil society, MTN has published an inaugural transparency report. For the first time in the company’s 25 years, it is publicly outlining how it processes the information of 250 million people in Africa and the Middle East. Although this report is a welcome development, and Access Now encourages MTN to make this a yearly publication, the content leaves us with more questions than answers. READ MORE VIA ACCESS NOW
Human rights defenders under attack
Egyptian freedom fighter Alaa labeled a terrorist
Alaa Abdel Fattah is a world-renowned activist who has tirelessly fought for freedom of expression and other fundamental rights in Egypt. He has been imprisoned without trial for more than a year, subjected to alarming conditions, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, a judge has allowed the Egyptian government to declare Alaa a “terrorist,” making his pathway back to freedom even more difficult to navigate. Designating freedom fighters as “terrorists” is a tactic used around the world to deplatform and silence voices of dissent. READ MORE VIA TWITTER
Myanmar must listen to those protesting internet shutdowns, not persecute them
Access Now, Article 19, Fortify Rights, and seven others are calling on authorities in Myanmar to immediately end criminal proceedings against, and release from detention, all those charged in relation to recent protests shining a spotlight on human rights violations and internet shutdowns in Rakhine and Chin states. READ MORE VIA ACCESS NOW
#KeepItOn
Press briefing: elections and internet shutdowns
The internet plays a key role in democracy, enabling people to obtain information, actively participate in the voting process, engage in public discourse, and hold elected leaders to account. On Monday, Access Now will be in conversation with activists from Myanmar, Tanzania, and Belarus — all countries that shut down the internet during elections in 2020 — and director at U.N. Human Rights Peggy Hicks, to explore how stakeholders can work together to raise awareness about these acts of repression and hold governments accountable. READ MORE VIA ACCESS NOW
Making room for civil society
Rights-based Digital Cooperation requires transparency on the U.N. Tech Envoy
Five months after the United Nations Secretary-General called on the international community to spearhead implementation of the U.N. Roadmap for Digital Cooperation, there is still little to no transparency around the selection of a U.N. Tech Envoy or the process of defining the role’s mandate. As we look toward advancing digital cooperation, we’re working to ensure civil society voices are heard. READ MORE VIA ACCESS NOW
Civil society to Uruguay’s legislature: national budget process no place for facial recognition debate (Spanish)
Uruguay’s senators are currently considering a national budget proposal that would grant the Ministry of Interior sweeping authority to establish and utilize a facial identification database. Paired with the Ministry’s existing facial recognition software, this presents serious risk of mass biometric surveillance and major human rights concerns. Such a sensitive topic warrants a deep parliamentary debate, something impossible to achieve within the framework of a Budget Law that includes hundreds of articles spanning a wide range of topics. Access Now joins 20 civil society organizations in calling for the provisions to be dropped from the bill. READ MORE VIA DAT&SOC
Big Tech in the U.S. election aftermath
Facebook struggles to balance civility and growth
In the days following the U.S. presidential election, Facebook employees identified that false and misleading claims about voting irregularities were among the most popular news stories on the platform. Emergency changes to the site’s news feed algorithm demonstrated the composition of a less divisive Facebook, but executives shelved many of those tools — largely because they reduce traffic on the platform. READ MORE VIA THE NEW YORK TIMES
U.S. senators urge Facebook, Twitter for tighter checks before Georgia runoff election
Now, as all eyes turn to Georgia ahead of two runoff elections on January 5th that will determine who holds the majority in the U.S. Senate, legislators are calling on Facebook and Twitter to do more to prevent their platforms from being used for voter suppression and misinformation, in particular among Spanish-speaking communities. Labeling false posts is not enough, the senators say, and Facebook should walk back its blanket ban on political ads, which is disproportionately impacting Democratic candidates and grassroots fundraising. READ MORE VIA REUTERS
Mass migration of users to Parler prompts concerns over security and disinformation
Accusations of “anti-conservative bias” and the portrayal of content moderation as “censorship” has led many right-leaning internet users in the U.S. to flock to platforms like Parler. The company’s popularity surged after the U.S. election, growing from around 2 million users in early 2020 to now more than 10 million. This kind of echo chamber is ripe for even more effective manipulation and misinformation campaigns than we’ve seen on larger platforms, and Parler’s aggressive data collection policies leave its users vulnerable to abuse. Notably, the platform’s financial backers also funded the notorious data-harvesting firm Cambridge Analytica. READ MORE VIA RECORDED FUTURE
Action: Stop nomination of pro-censorship commissioner at U.S. communications agency
As one of his final acts as president, Donald Trump is trying to appoint Nathan Simington to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Simington is the author of the Trump administration’s absurd proposal to brazenly repeal Section 230 — an essential protection for free expression online. He would be one of the worst, most dangerous FCC commissioners the United States has ever seen, and key senators need to hear from you before his confirmation on December 2. TAKE ACTION VIA ACCESS NOW
Opportunities
RightsCon Online 2021: Call for proposals now open!
Don't worry — you have until January 19 to submit a proposal for RightsCon, the world's leading summit on human rights in the digital age. Check out our guide to a submitting a successful proposal, and spread the word! LEARN MORE VIA ACCESS NOW
Campaigner – Latin America & Caribbean (San José, Costa Rica, Other Locations)
We're hiring! Are you an advocate and movement builder, able to lead and grow campaigns to ensure maximum impact? Are you self-motivated and energized by Access Now's mission to defend and extend the digital rights of those most at risk across the globe? This could be the opportunity for you! Check out the details and apply. LEARN MORE VIA ACCESS NOW
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Editor: Carolyn Tackett
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