All articles tagged with #digital rights
Citizen Lab says Kenyan police used Cellebrite’s Israeli spyware to crack pro-democracy activist Boniface Mwangi’s phone while in custody, potentially extracting all data. The finding adds to concerns about government misuse of digital-forensics tools; Cellebrite says it reviews misuse and Amnesty International warns such tech can intimidate dissent.
Iran has spent more than a decade building a centralized National Information Network to monitor and control citizens’ digital life. The recent near-total internet shutdown exposed the regime’s enhanced surveillance capabilities and its ability to restrict or cut off global access while keeping internal networks running, signaling a potential permanent disconnection or splintering and a broad, centralized surveillance apparatus.
Spain’s youth minister Sira Rego suggested the country may limit or even ban access to Elon Musk’s platform X due to violations of fundamental rights, framing this as part of a broader push to reclaim sovereignty from powerful tech giants; the remarks come as Spain advances plans to bar under-16s from social media amid ongoing regulatory clashes between Europe, the US, and Big Tech.
After protests in January, Iran shut down the internet—the longest blackout in the country’s history—in an effort to stop mobilization, a move that slowed information flow but did not quell the uprising. Connectivity has returned in fits and starts, with Starlink terminals providing a rare window into events, while experts note the regime’s use of censorship, coercion, and AI-driven disinformation. The piece also discusses how activists rely on VPNs and satellite access to document abuses and how satellite-to-cell tech could reimagine connectivity beyond state-controlled networks.
Stop Killing Games has cleared almost 1.3 million valid signatures for its EU Citizens’ Initiative, paving the way for an official handover to the European Commission in Brussels in late February. The group argues for protections to prevent remote publisher shutdowns and to keep games playable without ongoing publisher involvement, noting Anthem and Avengers as examples. Germany, France, Poland, and Spain lead the signatures, and organizers say the goal is preservation rather than ownership.
Iran has kept 92 million people offline for 10 days in a sweeping internet blackout. Officials say it’s to counter externally directed 'terrorist operations', but reporting suggests the regime is moving toward permanent or highly restricted access, potentially a government‑run, vetted system that would cut the country off from the international internet. Observers warn the move endangers lives, fuels abuses, and erodes livelihoods while protest coverage remains stifled. Some tech avenues, like satellite and mesh networks, offer limited resilience, but the trend signals stricter digital control.
Iran is reportedly planning a permanent move to a two-tier internet: access to the global network would be restricted to individuals with government clearance, while the rest would be confined to a censored domestic 'national internet.' The plan follows a severe internet shutdown amid protests and could have wide economic and social costs.
Iran has shut down its internet and communication lines amid nationwide protests, severely limiting information flow and complicating efforts to document and respond to the unrest, with reliance on illegal Starlink devices playing a crucial role in sharing news outside the country.
OpenAI's Sora 2 technology, capable of creating realistic AI-generated videos of historical figures and celebrities, has raised concerns in Hollywood over consent, copyright, and ethical issues. In response, OpenAI has implemented new policies, including an opt-in system for artists and plans to block certain content, following industry protests and legislative support for digital rights protections.
The article discusses the ongoing struggle of free software to achieve true freedom and control over technology, highlighting issues like hardware lock-in, corporate control, and the importance of open standards and devices. Despite significant progress in open infrastructure, the dominance of closed, attested hardware and services limits user freedom, and the community must continue advocating for open hardware, legislation, and alternative solutions to preserve digital rights and privacy.
The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan has ordered internet shutdowns in several provinces to curb what they describe as misuse and immoral content, sparking criticism from international figures and concerns over economic and social impacts.
A class action lawsuit in Washington accuses Amazon of misleading consumers by selling digital movies as purchases when they are actually licenses that can be revoked, alleging violations of consumer laws and seeking damages.
Nabiha Syed, the new executive director of the Mozilla Foundation, emphasizes the importance of defending an open and inclusive internet amid challenges posed by AI, surveillance capitalism, and political shifts. The foundation aims to promote human-centered technology, advocate for privacy, and develop initiatives like Common Voice and a data marketplace to empower community participation and ensure technology benefits all. Syed highlights the need for nuanced legislation and increased public awareness to foster a future where digital rights are protected, especially in the face of rising authoritarianism and corporate influence.
The UK’s new Online Safety Act has led to widespread censorship and privacy issues on platforms like Reddit, forcing users to submit sensitive ID or face being locked out, which raises concerns about increased surveillance, censorship, and ineffective protection for minors. The chaos and technical flaws in the rollout serve as a warning for similar legislation in the US, where expanding age verification could threaten free speech and privacy rights. Advocacy groups urge Americans to oppose such laws to prevent similar consequences.
Russia is implementing a comprehensive and long-term strategy to control and isolate its internet from the global network, including blocking websites, restricting access, monitoring online activity, and promoting domestic alternatives, raising concerns about digital freedom and censorship.