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Deborah Brown

Spotlight on Internet Governance 2014: Part One WSIS Review

11 Feb 2014

2014 was already set to be a critical year for internet governance, with some key meetings planned having the potential to push the needle on much needed reform. But in the aftermath of Snowden’s revelations, it looks like 2014 could be the year for change. With rising political pressure, heightened public awareness and activism, and a new global meeting on the future of internet governance, 2014 could provide the opportunity to advance a positive reform agenda that: preserves the interoperable/global nature of the internet; is secure and facilitates the exercise of human rights, for all users without discrimination or regard for where they happen to connect; is inclusive in decision-making so that policies reflect the public interest. This is the first in a series of blog posts in which we will break down the major international internet governance moments on our radar for 2014.

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Spotlight on Internet Governance 2014: Part One WSIS Review
11 Feb 2014
Spotlight on Internet Governance 2014: Part One WSIS Review

Vietnam under review at the Human Rights Council: Cyber attacks on civil society a key concern

5 Feb 2014

Amidst reports of declining human rights at home, Vietnam will appear before the U.N. Human Rights Council on Wednesday for a review of its human rights record. Access, as part of a coalition of freedom of expression organizations, is urging the international community to address Vietnam’s deteriorating human rights situation, in particular the increase in cyber attacks against civil society.

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Vietnam under review at the Human Rights Council: Cyber attacks on civil society a key concern
5 Feb 2014
Vietnam under review at the Human Rights Council: Cyber attacks on civil society a key concern

Human Rights Day: Back to the basics on privacy – part 2 of 2

11 Dec 2013

The revelations of mass government surveillance and pervasive monitoring of communications that broke earlier this year have led to an erosion of trust among internet users. So much so that organizations responsible for coordination of the internet’s technical infrastructure globally were compelled to release the Montevideo Statement on the “Future of Internet Cooperation.”

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Human Rights Day: Back to the basics on privacy – part 2 of 2
11 Dec 2013
Human Rights Day: Back to the basics on privacy – part 2 of 2

Human Rights Day: Back to the basics on privacy Part 1 of 2

10 Dec 2013

The revelations of mass government surveillance and pervasive monitoring of communications that broke earlier this year have led to an erosion of trust among internet users. So much so that organizations responsible for coordination of the internet’s technical infrastructure globally were compelled to release the Montevideo Statement on the “Future of Internet Cooperation.”

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Human Rights Day: Back to the basics on privacy Part 1 of 2
10 Dec 2013
Human Rights Day: Back to the basics on privacy Part 1 of 2

UN General Assembly Takes Critical Step to Address Privacy amid Surveillance Controversy

26 Nov 2013

Today the U.N. General Assembly took a critical first step in addressing mass surveillance as a human rights violations with the passage of a resolution recognizing the right to privacy in the digital age.

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UN General Assembly Takes Critical Step to Address Privacy amid Surveillance Controversy
26 Nov 2013
UN General Assembly Takes Critical Step to Address Privacy amid Surveillance Controversy

Message to U.N. General Assembly: Stand up for Right to Privacy in the Digital Age

22 Nov 2013

As negotiations at the United Nations General Assembly over the right to privacy in the digital age grow heated, Access, together with Amnesty International, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Human Rights Watch, and Privacy International have written a letter to members of the General Assembly urging them to “take a stand against indiscriminate practices such as mass surveillance, interception, and data collection, both at home and abroad”.

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Message to U.N. General Assembly: Stand up for Right to Privacy in the Digital Age
22 Nov 2013
Message to U.N. General Assembly: Stand up for Right to Privacy in the Digital Age

2013 Internet Governance Forum in Review

7 Nov 2013

The 8th annual U.N. Internet Governance Forum wrapped up late last month in Bali, Indonesia. This year’s official main theme was “Building Bridges – Enhancing Multi-stakeholder Cooperation for Growth and Sustainable Development”; however, mass online surveillance and a recently announced 2014 world summit on internet governance dominated many discussions at the IGF.

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2013 Internet Governance Forum in Review
7 Nov 2013
2013 Internet Governance Forum in Review

Brazil, Germany introduce resolution on Right to Privacy in the Digital Age at UN General Assembly

1 Nov 2013

The United Nations is the site of the latest diplomatic response to revelations of mass surveillance by the United States and its allies. Today at the General Assembly, Brazil and Germany formally introduced their draft resolution on “The Right to Privacy in the Digital Age.”

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Brazil, Germany introduce resolution on Right to Privacy in the Digital Age at UN General Assembly
1 Nov 2013
Brazil, Germany introduce resolution on Right to Privacy in the Digital Age at UN General Assembly

With no votes cast, Azerbaijani election app releases ‘final’ election results

8 Oct 2013

While the October 9 Azerbaijani general election was not expected to meet international standards as “free and fair,” an app developed by the country’s authoritarian government has accidentally released a final vote tally a full day ahead of the election. According to the application, the votes count for tomorrow’s election have the the country’s incumbent dictator, Ilham Aliyev, “winning” the election by a landslide.

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With no votes cast, Azerbaijani election app releases ‘final’ election results
8 Oct 2013
With no votes cast, Azerbaijani election app releases ‘final’ election results

UN Human Rights Council discusses surveillance and other internet issues at 24th session

16 Sep 2013

The 24th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) opened last Monday, and already in the first week, internet-related human rights issues were highlighted as areas of concern by governments, civil society, and the High Commissioner for Human Rights, alike. With the international community still reeling from the revelations of mass state surveillance sparked by Edward Snowden’s leaks in May, much, but not all, discussion of internet issues focused on how to protect human rights, in particular privacy, in the digital age.

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UN Human Rights Council discusses surveillance and other internet issues at 24th session
16 Sep 2013
UN Human Rights Council discusses surveillance and other internet issues at 24th session