Profiting from people’s suffering is vile, Big Tech must do better!
Tech companies have a responsibility to uphold human rights, yet many failed to do so for over a year, contributing to human rights violations + atrocities in Gaza. 🧵
Digital rights are human rights.
Digital rights are human rights.
Digital rights are human rights.
Digital rights are human rights.
Digital rights are human rights.
Digital rights are human rights.
Digital rights are human rights.
Digital rights are human rights.
Do you know what’s happening in
#Tigray
, Ethiopia?
If not, it’s probably because authorities have deliberately shut down the internet.
Without the internet, people in Tigray and across Ethiopia can’t talk with their loved ones. Learn more ⬇️
#ReconnectTigray
#KeepItOn
Journalists, activists, and civil society in
#Afghanistan
who are facing increased digital security threats (like tracking and being forced to hand over devices): we've compiled this resource guide to help ⬇️
This is how data-driven voter suppression works — by design. This is how the personal data of millions of people can be weaponized for political power.
The U.S. needs a federal data protection law now.
#CambridgeAnalytica
🚨🚨Tonight at 7pm:🚨🚨
EXCLUSIVE: Channel 4 News investigation reveals a huge Trump campaign data leak, exposing how 3.5 million Black Americans were listed as ‘Deterrence’ - to try to stop them voting in 2016.
#DeterringDemocracy
⛔️ Two years of internet shutdowns.
⛔️ Two years of communication blockades.
⛔️ Two years of not knowing.
Two years is two years too long.
#ReconnectTigray
today.
#KeepItOn
Attention Spotify users ⬇️ Spotify's patent for a technology — that listens to us to detect emotional state, gender, age, or accent to supposedly better recommend music — was approved.
We are calling on the company to drop the patent.
SCOOP: Digital civil rights group Access Now is sending a letter to Spotify CEO Daniel Ek imploring the company to abandon a technology it has patented to detect emotion, gender and age using speech recognition.
⚠️ Tanzania's election is tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the Tanzania government has reportedly blocked Twitter, WhatsApp & potentially Telegram.
We call on telecom cos to resist Magufuli gov't requests to censor the internet:
#KeepitOn
#TanzaniaDecides2020
People in Tigray continue to live in digital darkness, without internet, for 19 months and counting.
This violates fundamental human rights — and not enough people are talking about it 🧵
#KeepItOn
#InternetShutdowns
#ConnectTigray
BREAKING: Myanmar’s government is now blocking Facebook (including Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger) until Feb 7 at midnight.
Over 22 million people use Facebook in Myanmar, and it’s a critical tool for citizens to share information and organize.
#KeepitOn
LATEST DEVELOPMENT : New military government orders telecom companies to temporarily block Facebook as they assume the social media platform is disturbing the restoration of stability in the country. Jumping back to 2000s in three days.
#myanmar
Making matters worse, social media companies — like FB, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok — are censoring Palestinians as they face military violence and evictions from their homes.
But why?
As part of our TL;DR series, we explain below 🧵
#SavePalestine
#SaveSheikhJarrah
#الاقصى
📣El gobierno cubano está impidiendo que la gente se conecte a internet, y que puedan comunicarse unos con otros a través de aplicaciones de mensajería. Difunde estos consejos para ayudarles a conectarse.
#BloqueoDigital
#KeepItOn
🧵
BREAKING: The government of Ethiopia has again shut down the internet. Mobile network, fixed-line internet & landline telephony have been cut in Tigray, as PM
@AbiyAhmedAli
declares a state of emergency & orders military intervention against Tigray People’s Liberation Front.
Ethiopia is hosting
#IGF2022
, joining stakeholders to discuss pressing digital rights initiatives, including “connecting all people.”
Meanwhile, a northern part of the region,
#Tigray
, remains disconnected via a two-yearlong
#InternetShutdown
:
#KeepItOn
#InternetShutdowns
violate fundamental human rights and Ethiopian authorities must restore internet access in Tigray. We have repeatedly called for an immediate end to this shutdown, which has been ongoing for the past 2 years, throughout our participation at
#IGF2022
.
There are ongoing reports of social media blocking in
#Venezuela
, although in some cases that may be due to infrastructure problems. To protect
#humanrights
& public safety, the
#KeepItOn
coalition urges authorities to ensure full, free & open communications.
#internetVE
#30Abr
Big: Venezuela's opposition leader just launched a coup. Reports coming in that the government is now blocking access to social media in response. Any interference with the right of the people to communicate freely must be condemned.
#vzcoup
#venezuela
Internet shutdowns don't "change fundamentally what people want – they want their voice to be heard, they’re not going to stay at home just because they can’t communicate." -
@deblebrown
of
@hrw
#KeepItOn
سياسة تعطيل وقطع الإنترنت في السودان خلال تظاهرات #مدن_السودان_تنتفض مازالت قائمة, الأمر الذي يشكل انتهاك لـ #حرية_التعبير #الوصول_إلى_المعلومات. نطالب الجهات المعنيّة بـ #إعادة_الانترنت
#KeepitOn
#لا_لقطع_الانترنت
Today marks two years since authorities shut down the internet in Ethiopia’s Tigray region and cut off millions from the rest of the world.
Today, people still can’t access essential resources.
#ReconnectTigray
#KeepItOn
Censorship is escalating in Tanzania.
We are receiving reports that Twitter, WhatsApp and Telegram are blocked in Tanzania ahead of tomorrow’s elections. We call on the government and telecommunication providers to
#KeepItOn
!
#KeepItOnTZ
#TanzaniaDecides2020
If you are experiencing blocking of apps, these tools may help you stay connected. If you need specific additional advice, consider reaching out to our Digital Security Helpline
#KeepItOn
#Sudan
People in Amhara, Ethiopia have been denied internet access since 3 August amidst clashes that have led to the death of 183 people + authorities declaring a state of emergency.
@AbiyAhmedAli
must
#KeepItOn
:
The digital blackout in
#Tigray
, including phone lines, remains despite the latest peace agreement.
The shutdown is being used as a tool to cover up human rights violations and has devastating impacts on people:
#KeepItOn
#ConnectTigray
Please think twice before sharing the Twitter or Instagram handles of activists or journalists in
#Afghanistan
without their consent.
Some are trying to go underground, and you may put them further at risk.
Do you know what’s happening in
#Tigray
, Ethiopia?
If not, it’s probably because authorities have deliberately shut down the internet.
Without the internet, people in Tigray and across Ethiopia can’t talk with their loved ones. Learn more ⬇️
#ReconnectTigray
#KeepItOn
Prime Minister
@AbiyAhmedAli
, internet shutdowns cannot continue!
Weaponising the internet is no good—people in the Amhara region are paying a harsh price. It has been over 100 days. Reconnect Amhara now!
#KeepItOn
Read impact stories ⬇️
After years in the dark, Tigray is slowly coming back online. But that is not enough. We demand that authorities in Ethiopia immediately restore full internet connectivity in Tigray and all other affected areas.
#KeepItOn
#ReconnectTigray
We are monitoring reports of a possible internet shutdown of major network providers by the government in Eswatini.
The rumored shutdown is in response to ongoing protests against the monarchy. We will update here if we receive more confirmed information.
#KeepItOn
Gaza is in the dark, with all telecoms & internet services cut off.
People cannot call emergency services, check on loved ones’ safety, or share the horror of what is happening with the world.
Internet connectivity must be restored now.
#CeasefireNOW
NEW: Our
#KeepItOn
report reveals the global resurgence of
#InternetShutdowns
in 2022.
Learn how authorities disconnected millions from the internet when they needed it most — setting the stage for this year: 🧵
It's not too late to
#SaveDotOrg
. This infographic explains why civil society across the globe is fighting to stop the sale & keep our digital home safe. Please share it & sign the
#SaveDotOrg
petition.
هل تنوي المشاركة في المظاهرات القائمة حالياً في #السودان؟ تعرف على نصائح #أكساس_ناو المتعلقة بإستعمال هواتف الجوال خلال المظاهرات
#مدن_السودان_تنتفض
#إعتصام_رويال_كي
The world needs to end biometric surveillance💥
We’re joining a global call w/
@AmnestyTech
@internetfreedom
@idec
@edri
@hrw
& 170+ human rights advocates to ban this harmful tech that fuels discrimination & violates civil liberties.
#BanBS
#IGF2022
will be an opportunity to highlight the longstanding internet shutdown in
#Tigray
.
The Ethiopian government, especially as a host of the forum, must take immediate steps to restore internet access in the Tigray region and across Ethiopia:
It’s been 200+ days since authorities in Ethiopia cut off internet access to the Amhara region, leaving people struggling without access to essential communication.
#KeepItOn
Restore internet access in Amhara now!
The Russian government wants tech companies like
@telegram
,
@Twitter
,
@Meta
, and
@Google
to block human rights group
@OvdInfo
.
Here’s why platforms should fight to keep OVD-Info and other rights groups online ⬇️
Tech companies made the right call to stop hosting Parler after it refused to combat calls to violence. Action was needed, even though it was late and reactionary.
It’s also not that simple. THREAD 🧵
New details are emerging on digital attacks on dissidents leading up to
#Khashoggi
's death.
"Just a year ago, Assiri didn’t think there was much of a threat from Saudi surveillance at all. He’s now changed his mind."
#NSOGroup
#pegasus
As the internet turns 50 today, the fight for human rights in the digital age has never been more relevant. Let's stand up for a secure, free, and open internet!
#Internet50
We stand in solidarity with the people protesting across Iran.
If you're a human rights defender, journalist, or activist, and you need digital security assistance, contact our Helpline.
We're available 24/7:
#IranRevolution
#IranProtests
#MahsaAmini
On the anniversary of Tigray’s
#internetshutdown
, it’s important to acknowledge platforms like Facebook’s inaction when they knew they were being used to incite violence:
#FacebookPapers
🚨 BREAKING: We reveal how NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware is being used in the Azerbaijan-Armenia war — first time recorded in international armed conflict.
There are at least 12 civil society targets incl. journalists, human rights defenders + activists.
GOOD NEWS:
@ICANN
have voted to reject the proposed sale of the .ORG domain to private equity firm Ethos Capital! This is a huge win for the countless civil society orgs, and individuals around the world that make .ORG their home online.
#SaveDotOrg
ANNOUNCING: Our new report on internet shutdowns around the world 💥
We and the
#KeepItOn
coalition documented 155+ digital blackouts across 29 countries in 2020.
Read more:
People in Tigray have been subjected to unspeakable horrors. Those trapped in Mekelle during the comms blackout reported hearing screams every night from women being raped. The prolonged internet shutdown helps hide human rights violations like this.
📅THIS FRIDAY at 4pm Addis Ababa time 📅
Join us as we + other experts and activists discuss how the ongoing internet shutdown in
#Tigray
violates human rights.
Set a reminder:
#KeepitOn
#ReconnectTigray
While this appears to be DNS-related, it should remind everyone why we need a more open, decentralized, and inclusive internet — free from disruptions and with strong defenses.
Globally, many people experience the devastating effects of internet shutdowns first-hand.
#KeepItOn
Tomorrow, people across Kenya will participate in protests to
#RejectFinanceBill2024
. Here are some helpful digital safety tips to keep you safe offline + online. 🧵
WhatsApp is suing spyware firm NSO Group, claiming NSO illegally used WhatsApp servers to hack into 1,400 of its users' phones.
At least 100 victims of the hack are reportedly journalists, activists, and lawyers.
5 of them told us their stories🧵
Defending encryption isn't about protecting criminals.
It's about protecting many communities at risk — human rights defenders, journalists, and activists — who use encryption to communicate without fear.
When we hurt encryption, we hurt them.
#EncryptionDay
The internet blackout has limited journalists’ access to critical information, and the ability to get their stories out there. Blocking the flow of information and trusted news allows warring parties to control the conflict’s narratives.
As you can see in the graph below, internet shutdowns did little to deter people in Sudan from organizing protests from 2018-2019:
(via
@rankingrights
)
Doctors must go door-to-door to check on patients, because they can’t get in contact. For the past two years, healthcare providers have also been unable to use some laboratory equipment that require internet access.
Civil society demands a ceasefire in Gaza now!
Gov’ts, institutions, tech companies must ensure an immediate physical + digital ceasefire to stop attacks on civilians in Gaza and the online targeting of Palestinians around the world.
#CeasefireNOW
Facebook & Twitter are silencing users protesting & documenting evictions of Palestinian families from their homes in Sheikh Jarrah in Jerusalem. We demand the platforms stop these takedowns, reinstate affected content/ accounts & provide an explanation:
The shutdown is harming people’s access to education too.
Educational programs that foster digital inclusion, like TigrayCodes, are now non-existent or seen as a luxury. Some program facilitators say they don't know the whereabouts of their students.
1/ The EU Council is preparing a resolution considering “solutions” for authorities to access encrypted data including communications.
Read this thread to understand why
#encryption
matters to protect people’s privacy and security and why it cannot be undermined.
Cutting the region off from the rest of the world conceals human rights abuses without consequences. Humanitarian aid workers are also struggling to access the most affected communities, as the crisis worsens:
#ReconnectTigray
#KeepItOn
Today, Access Now and Twitter unveiled the
#KeepItOn
Twitter Emoji to amplify the campaign against internet shutdowns. More than ever, the internet has become an indispensable tool allowing continuity of offline activities online during the
#COVID19
pandemic.
💥 Introducing the Biden Era Digital Rights Tracker 💥
As the Biden admin and new Congress get to work, tech policy that champions human rights must be on the agenda.
We created this real-time to help keep them accountable:
#InaugurationDay
Folks in
#Sudan
use the tools in the diagram below to circumvent the social media shutdowns. We recommend them because they protect your privacy. Once things settle down, do let us know how it worked.
#SudanRevolts
#مدن_السـودان_تنتفض
#KeepItOn
BREAKING: The Indian gov't announced today its increased control over content on social media platforms.
We are very concerned by these alarming new powers, and call on the Indian gov't to consider how these rules infringe on the rights of citizens:
3+ months under an internet blackout means the world cannot witness the atrocities unfolding in the Amhara region of Ethiopia.
Reinstate internet access, help save lives.
#KeepItOn
We join the call for a physical + digital ceasefire, urging governments that enable or ignore the dehumanization of the people of Gaza, and tech platforms that silence Palestinian voices while hateful disinformation proliferates, to change course and join the call.
#CeasefireNow
New: spyware hacking unveiled in Jordan 🚨
Pegasus spyware targets at least 35 people in Jordan, incl. journalists, lawyers, activists + civil society members. With
@citizenlab
,
@hrw
,
@amnesty
+
@OCCRP
, we uncover how Pegasus is crushing civic space. ⬇️
NEW: We,
@ImmDefense
,
@JustFuturesLaw
+ more are urging
@Amazon
@AWS
to end its agreement to host HART, a database that will initially store biometric data on 270 million people.
This mass surveillance tool violates basic human rights + dignity:
Belarus’ election is happening Sunday.
But citizens have reported:
🚫 Internet jamming
🚫 Arrests of journalists
🚫 Harassment of human rights defenders
We call on President Lukashenko to
#KeepItOn
& protect all Belarusians! Read our open letter here:
Did you know? EU authorities are deploying dangerous surveillance tech at and within their borders that is fuelling violence + reinforcing systemic oppression.
As the
#AIAct
reaches its final stage in the
@Europarl_EN
, we have a message:
#ProtectNotSurveil
people on the move. 🗣️