Speaking at a panel discussion at RightsCon on Tuesday, Protecting digital civic space: the role of technology in supporting democracy, Access Now Executive Director Brett Solomon outlined 15 things governments can do to make sure technology is used to defend — not destroy — democracy and human rights.
Here’s that list, with added links to relevant information and resources for getting the job done.
- Get the whole population online, especially the most marginalized
- Protect encryption rather than undermine it
- Legislate enforceable and robust data protection laws
- Make multi-stakeholderism real by consulting with digital civil society
- Join the Freedom Online Coalition
- Be consistent at home and abroad on digital rights practices and policy
- Ban facial recognition and all biometric surveillance in publicly accessible spaces
- Ensure content regulation by states and moderation by companies is rights respecting
- Don’t spy on citizens nor deploy surveillance infrastructure against marginalized communities
- Resist moves toward so-called data and digital sovereignty, which enable authoritarianism
- Stop unlawfully requesting user data from tech companies
- Protect the right to freedom of assembly and peaceful protest online
- Ensure that COVID tracing apps, vaccine passports, and other pandemic responses don’t destroy privacy and freedom of movement in the meantime
- Train your judges, policy makers, and legislators in digital rights
- #KeepitOn
You can watch the entire recorded session here:
We hope you’re joining us for RightsCon this week (June 7-11). If you missed the registration deadline or are not able to attend, here’s how you can follow along!