Closer than ever

APC understands that we are all dealing with unprecedented circumstances as we face the challenges, fear and uncertainty brought on by the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. We know it impacts our work, our personal lives and the lives of those we care about. Each country is tackling the situation differently, so the contexts we find ourselves in are as diverse as the ways we find to navigate shifting conditions.

In these exceptional times, we wish to send our solidarity and appreciation for connecting with us. While we are distancing ourselves physically, we continue to stay closer than ever to each other and share tools and resources as well as support. We also want to examine how we can continue to promote human rights online in the context of a global pandemic. We are all facing this problem together but we know it affects different countries and communities in different ways. Therefore, we would like to channel the strength of our network to share some important resources that we hope will be empowering, enlightening and reassuring.

Below you will find articles and insights shared by our community, which has been working on human rights and technology issues for over 30 years. We will be updating these lists on a regular basis, so please feel free to connect with us if you have some resources to share.

 

 

Community-led approaches to connectivity: How CITAD is bridging the digital divide in northern Nigeria
Community-led approaches to connectivity: How CITAD is bridging the digital divide in northern Nigeria 26 August 2021 Centre for Information Technology and Development

Internet connectivity is becoming part and parcel of humans’ lives all over the globe, but the story in underdeveloped countries is different and not encouraging. With persistent engagement and advocacy visits by CITAD, progress on setting up community networks in Nigeria has been made.

APC and Derechos Digitales submission to the ITU Council Working Group on International Internet-related Public Policy Issues  (CWG-Internet)
APC and Derechos Digitales submission to the ITU Council Working Group on International Internet-related Public Policy Issues (CWG-Internet) 24 August 2021 APC and Derechos Digitales

APC and Derechos Digitales welcome the opportunity to contribute to the open consultation on “The role of the Internet and international Internet-related public policy in mitigating the impact of COVID-19 and possible future pandemics” organised by the ITU's CWG-Internet.

Joint non-governmental stakeholders statement: Ensuring an IGF 2021 hybrid format that strengthens inclusiveness and balanced participation around the globe
Joint non-governmental stakeholders statement: Ensuring an IGF 2021 hybrid format that strengthens inclusiveness and balanced participation around the globe 10 August 2021 Various

Civil society organisations encourage IGF organisers to continue to privilege the remote modality of meeting until the pandemic is under control in all parts of the world, and clear and inclusive rules and practices are adopted concerning vaccination and travel restrictions.

EXPOSÉ: Data rights in the time of COVID-19
EXPOSÉ: Data rights in the time of COVID-19 23 July 2021 APCNews

EXPOSÉ is a new online publication from the Foundation for Media Alternatives that shines a light on the themes of privacy and data protection in the Philippine context. Its first issue focuses on privacy and data protection concerns surfaced or highlighted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Inside the Digital Society: Digital COVID - Looking back and forward
Inside the Digital Society: Digital COVID - Looking back and forward 13 July 2021 David Souter

David Souter has been looking back over the pieces he wrote about COVID’s impact on the digital society, present and future. Before this column enters its Northern summer/Southern winter break, he thought the time had come for some reflection on how that has been going.

#TheAppWatchdog: SMEX expands its work to secure Lebanese citizens’ digital data
#TheAppWatchdog: SMEX expands its work to secure Lebanese citizens’ digital data 23 June 2021 Social Media Exchange (SMEX)

In Lebanon, the legal framework for privacy and data protection is in limbo, cybersecurity is minimal to non-existent, and citizens’ rights are neglected. SMEX has been following these issues closely, and now, it is expanding its work to serve as a watchdog over citizens’ digital data.

Gendered impact of COVID-19 on women in Kibera
Gendered impact of COVID-19 on women in Kibera 23 June 2021 KICTANet

Women living in informal settlements deal with everyday economic, political and social burdens that they need to overcome in order to create cohesion in their families and communities. Moreover, women are critical contributors to the survival of their households.

Joint civil society statement: People’s health and rights – and not intellectual property and profit – should be at the centre of responses to the COVID-19 crisis
Joint civil society statement: People’s health and rights – and not intellectual property and profit – should be at the centre of responses to the COVID-19 crisis 16 June 2021 Various

As international, regional and national civil society organisations working at the intersection of technology and human rights, we call on the world's governments to lift the intellectual property barriers that hinder universal access to health care and free COVID-19 vaccination for all.

The digital divide in India: How access to technology and reliable information affects India’s response to the pandemic
The digital divide in India: How access to technology and reliable information affects India’s response to the pandemic 09 June 2021 APCNews

With more than 349,000 deaths and more than 2.5 million active cases, people in India are struggling in the midst of an unrelenting surge of COVID-19 infections. How can we leverage technology to ensure access to reliable information in the midst of fake news and misinformation?

India: Instagram’s censorship of COVID-19 posts jeopardises free speech
India: Instagram’s censorship of COVID-19 posts jeopardises free speech 17 May 2021 Various

For the past few months, India has been at the centre of a devastating breakdown of public health institutions and is currently experiencing a severe public health crisis due to the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

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