Global Partners Digital (GPD)

Global Partners Digital (GPD) is a social purpose company dedicated to fostering a digital environment underpinned by human rights and democratic values. They do this by making policy spaces and processes more open, inclusive and transparent, and by facilitating strategic, informed and coordinated engagement in these processes by public interest actors. In 2016, GPD supported APC for the implementation of the “Africa regional workshop, “The Internet as a Driver of Free Expression in Africa”.

Joint civil society statement on cyber peace and human security
Joint civil society statement on cyber peace and human security 17 October 2022 Various

The toll of unrestrained cyber operations on human security mounts daily and as such, discussions and decisions arising from the relevant UN processes need to address them more effectively. These efforts should be guided by human-centric and rights-based approaches.

AfriSIG 2022: Strengthening African capacity and participation in international cybersecurity
AfriSIG 2022: Strengthening African capacity and participation in international cybersecurity 06 May 2022 APCNews

The 10th edition of the African School on Internet Governance (AfriSIG) will take place from 16 to 18 July and will focus on international cybersecurity. It will be held as a pre-event to the African Internet Governance Forum to be held in Lilongwe, Malawi.

Cybernorms: Do They Matter IRL (In Real Life)?
Cybernorms: Do They Matter IRL (In Real Life)? 21 March 2022 Veronica Ferrari (Association for Progressive Communications), Sheetal Kumar (Global Partners Digital), Enrico Calandro (Research ICT Africa) and Arindrajit Basu (the Centre for Internet and Society)

Although multilateral forums including the United Nations have made some progress in identifying norms, rules and principles to guide responsible state behaviour in cyberspace, applying agreed norms to "real life" throws up challenges of interpretation and enforcement.

International organisations call for withdrawal and reconsideration of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Regulation for Digital, Social Media and OTT Platforms
International organisations call for withdrawal and reconsideration of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Regulation for Digital, Social Media and OTT Platforms 07 March 2022 Various

APC and other organisations believe the draft regulations are inconsistent with the international human rights framework, imperil people’s freedom of expression and right to privacy, and could put journalists, dissidents, activists and vulnerable communities, in particular, at greater risk.

Civil society stakeholders’ position on the modalities for the appointment of the UN Tech Envoy
Civil society stakeholders’ position on the modalities for the appointment of the UN Tech Envoy 27 January 2022 Various

In this letter, APC and a diverse range of organisations from around the world reiterate what they consider the key characteristics of the UN Tech Envoy profile based on their experience and mandates as civil society groups working to improve inclusive internet governance and digital cooperation.

Over 100 public interest organisations and experts urge the UN to include human rights safeguards in proposed cybercrime convention
Over 100 public interest organisations and experts urge the UN to include human rights safeguards in proposed cybercrime convention 23 December 2021 Various

A joint letter urges members of the UN Ad Hoc Committee drafting a potential Cybercrime Treaty to ensure that human rights protections are included at every step and global civil society is provided opportunities to participate in the development process.

Promoting stakeholder engagement at the Open-Ended Working Group on ICTs
Promoting stakeholder engagement at the Open-Ended Working Group on ICTs 26 October 2021 Verónica Ferrari, Sheetal Kumar, Allison Pytlak, Paula Martins, Pavlina Pavlova

The aim of this brief is to support the implementation of the agreed language in the United Nations Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) resolution pertaining to stakeholder engagement.

Global Encryption Day statement
Global Encryption Day statement 21 October 2021 Various

On Global Encryption Day, APC joined with over 150 other organisations to call on governments and the private sector to reject efforts to undermine encryption and instead pursue policies that enhance, strengthen and promote use of strong encryption to protect people everywhere.

Open letter calling on Apple to abandon its plans to build surveillance capabilities into its products
Open letter calling on Apple to abandon its plans to build surveillance capabilities into its products 19 August 2021 Various

APC joined with an international coalition of over 90 civil society organisations in an open letter to Apple, calling on the company to abandon its recently announced plans to build surveillance capabilities into iPhones, iPads and other Apple products. 

Joint open letter by civil society organisations and independent experts calling on states to implement an immediate moratorium on the sale, transfer and use of surveillance technology
Joint open letter by civil society organisations and independent experts calling on states to implement an immediate moratorium on the sale, transfer and use of surveillance technology 26 July 2021 Various

Dozens of civil society organisations and independent experts joined forces to express their alarm at the media revelations that NSO Group’s spyware has been used to facilitate human rights violations around the world on a massive scale and to call on states to take immediate measures.

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