Afro feminist Terms and conditions: Do they exist?
The terms and conditions, sometimes referred to as terms of service," are rules and regulations governing the contractual relationship betw…
Monthly Digest: July 2022
Here is the Digital Human Rights Lab's round-up of the month's most interesting articles and stories, whether it is opinions on fostering digital human rights or simply valuable lessons learned along the way.
Articles, Podcasts, and Resources to Read or Listen to This Month
Whether its opinions on fostering digital human rights or simply the valuable lessons learned along the way, here's a round-up of the past month's most interesting articles and stories.
The private members Bill is seeking to amend the Computer Misuse Act of 2011 and argues that existing laws “do not specifically address the regulation of information sharing on social media” or are “not adequate to deter the vice”. The objectives of the amendment are: to enhance the provisions on unauthorized access to information or data; prohibit the sharing of any information relating to a child without authorization from a parent or guardian; prohibit the sending or sharing of information that promotes hate speech; prohibit the sending or sharing of false, malicious and unsolicited information; and to restrict persons convicted of any offense under the Computer Misuse law from holding public office for a period of 10 years.
What digital resilience means for women in leadership
The world has evolved and communication now goes beyond writing letters and using traditional mass media to engage with your constituents. It now involves using technology to reach your people, and this technology also has its own forms of etiquette that have to be followed as a leader to be able to effectively communicate with your constituents.
UK cybersecurity chiefs back plan to scan phones for child abuse images
So-called “client-side scanning” would involve service providers such as Facebook or Apple building software that monitors communications for suspicious activity without needing to share the contents of messages with a centralized server.
A Closer Look: Meta’s First Annual Human Rights Report
The report includes insights and actions from Meta’s human rights due diligence on products, countries, and responses to emerging crises. It also discusses their work protecting the privacy of journalists and human rights defenders, increasing youth safety on Instagram, fighting exploitation across our apps, and protecting free and fair elections around the world.
The History of Data & Elections in Kenya: The New Data Protection Act & the Challenges Ahead
Data politics has shaped Kenya's election history. This is due in part to the centrality of ethnicity in Kenyan politics and the misuse and manipulation of ethnicity data. Kenya's first election since the Data Protection Act (2019) takes place in August 2022. Most Kenyans wonder if this law will protect the integrity of future elections. How can the Data Protection Commissioner protect against data misuse in party politics and elections and its effects on legitimacy, trust in democratic politics, and stability? How can civil society and the public protect electoral data? Mugambi Laibuta, Grace Mutungu, Hashim Mude, and Tevin Gitonga discuss Kenya's history of data use and misuse in elections and the role of Kenya's new Data Protection Act in the 2022 election.
Bridging the Gender Digital Divide is Critical for Achieving Digital Rights in Africa
Digital technologies have created new spaces for interaction and enabled new ways to connect, share experiences, work, and build communities. These technologies continue to be influential and have the potential of enhancing growth and expanding opportunities for the realisation of women’s rights in Africa. Indeed, access to the internet and digital devices has become central to the empowerment of women and girls, and in enabling them to realize and enjoy their digital rights.
How online doxxing is endangering women judges in Tunisia
Supporters of Tunisian President Kais Saied are using a dangerous tactic to smear women judges in Tunisia: online doxxing. On June 1, President Saied sacked 57 judges in a presidential order, a move widely condemned as an attempt to assert control over all three branches of state power. When a group of judges decided to strike and protest the sacking as an illegitimate “purge,” bloggers began to publish highly sensitive personal information about some of the women judges on Facebook — a defamation campaign meant to shame them into silence.
Community Updates
With so much going on it’s easy to lose track of what’s happening in the world of social impact. Stay informed and inspired with our handpicked content from the DHRLab Community
Digital Human Rights Defenders Meet Up!
Unplugged but still connected- Join us for another linking and learning session as we dissect the activities of the various digital human rights defender’s Communities of Practice (CoPs) in Uganda. Don't miss out on the exploration of new tools, reports, funding opportunities, and projects.
The East and Central Africa Privacy Engagement
This panel will discuss the data protection enforcement challenges faced by the East and Central African countries and key actionable considerations. In light of the upcoming Kenyan and Angolan elections and recently concluded mayoral elections in Senegal, the panel will also discuss the footprint left by voters engaging in electoral processes; the ways in which data generated by voters is utilized; regulations enacted to protect electoral data, and enforcement strategies and gaps.
Fact-Checking as an Advocacy Tool For Journalists
The Debunk Show team is establishing Uganda's first fact-checking organization. So much to look forward to, experience, and learn. During the pandemic, we were introduced to fact-checking. There was the infodemic and the flood of false health news. As a result, they decided to take action.
Why Uganda should leverage the GES4CESA tool to advance a gender-sensitive education system
Despite the government's recent efforts to advance girls' rights to education in Uganda, female literacy and school attendance remain low, with 35 percent of girls dropping out. The country should use the Gender Equality Strategy for the Continental Education Strategy for Africa 16-25 (GES4CESA) to accelerate the establishment of a gender-sensitive education system and ensure that all girls and women have the tools they need to have a better future.
Other Opportunities | Tips | Resources
Every month, we collate the very best opportunities, tips, and resources for digital human rights practitioners in our community.
Register For the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa 2022 (FIFAfrica22)
The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) is pleased to announce the ninth edition of the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa 2022 (FIFAfrica22). This year, FIFAfrica will take place in Lusaka, Zambia on 26–29 September 2022. Please note that pre-events will be held on 26 and 27 September while the main Forum event will take place on 28 and 29 September. The Forum is a landmark event that convenes various stakeholders from the internet governance and online rights arenas in Africa and beyond to deliberate on gaps, concerns, and opportunities for advancing privacy, access to information, free expression, non-discrimination, and the free flow of information online on the continent.
Call for Civic Tech Initiatives
The Civic Tech Innovation Network (CTIN) is now open to all East African organizations and initiatives that use technology to address African civic challenges. The Network seeks to connect all practitioners, researchers, experts, and decision-makers involved in civic tech so as to raise awareness and build strategic alliances across the continent. Organizations in Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania are encouraged to join the network.
CTIF22 Virtual Exhibition Open Call
Showcase your innovative civic tech project at the Civic Tech Innovation Forum 2022 #CTIF2022: Unplugged (but still connecting). The CTIF22 exhibition/World Cafe is an exhibition that showcases African innovations at the intersection of technology and civic activism, social justice, governance, journalism, media innovation, and much more. It aims to highlight and celebrate African innovations. The idea behind the exhibitions is to have amazing VIRTUAL displays of civic tech initiatives from all over Africa. The exhibition will showcase "Who is doing what in the African Civic Tech space". CTIF22 will highlight some of the most interesting, effective, and innovative civic tech initiatives in Africa.
The Internet Freedom Fund is OTF's primary way to support projects and people working on open and accessible technology-focused projects that promote human rights, Internet freedom, and open societies.
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