In 2024, elections will take place in numerous countries worldwide - from Egypt to Mexico, and from Russia to the US. Are our political systems, the media, and Big Tech platforms ready for AI-powered elections, which could spread disinformation and manipulate voters at an unprecedented scale and speed? 

In the second episode of Techtonic, our podcast about Big Tech and freedom of expression, presenter Chris Stokel-Walker explores these questions with Eddie Perez, former Head of Election Integrity at Twitter and current board member of the Open Source Election Technology Institute.

In episode 3, Chris talks to disinformation researcher and former US Department of Homeland Security staffer Nina Jankowicz about the targeted campaign against her. First she was dubbed a traitor and accused of trying to censor Americans. And then she discovered that deepfake pornographic images of her had been generated and were being widely shared online. What happens when the internet is no longer a place where we can express ourselves, share our enthusiasm, and bond with others?

Subscribe to Techtonic wherever you get your podcasts to hear all our episodes, released fortnightly on Mondays.

Listen on Apple, Spotify, and Amazon.

Member States have been negotiating a draft UN Cybercrime Treaty for over a year, with the intention of fostering international cooperation against cybercrime. This will facilitate the rewriting of criminal laws around the world. 

But we are concerned that, in its current state, the treaty could criminalise online speech, expand cross-border surveillance, and undermine the privacy, freedom of expression, and fundamental rights of many – especially journalists, activists, and marginalised groups.

With overbroad provisions, Article 13 of the treaty could be used to criminalise ‘written materials’ that describe harm to children, meaning great works of literature could be banned. It could also be used to criminalise LGBTQ+ communities, as is already being done in Jordan and Uganda. 

It’s vital that the most vulnerable in our world are protected, but we have to do this in line with human rights standards. We can’t give further power to those authorities that already violate rights. 

That’s why, on 23 August, ARTICLE 19 and our allies briefed reporters (pictured above) about critical flaws in the treaty. Along with nearly 130 human rights organisations and experts, we are calling for the UN to include strong human rights safeguards in the treaty.

In new analysis for ARTICLE 19, Information Security Analyst and women’s rights activist Azam Jangravi, one of the first women to take her hijab off in protest on Revolution Street in 2018 (pictured above), unpacks the 'Hijab and Chastity Bill’. This new legislation is being rushed through parliament and will give authorities power to deploy AI and facial recognition technology in subways and public places, and as part of border control and other measures, to identify, arrest, and punish women.

Given that facial recognition and biometric technologies are currently inconsistent with international human rights standards, we reiterate our call for a moratorium on their development.

States and international bodies must hold companies, including Tiandy and Huawei, accountable.

The Social Media 4 Peace handbook, a guide to content moderation and freedom of expression in a rapidly evolving digital landscape, is available now.

With a handful of major companies wielding immense power over what billions of users see and share online, concerns about freedom of expression, media diversity, and privacy breaches have grown. This practical guide, produced by ARTICLE 19 under the UNESCO project Social Media 4 Peace funded by the European Union, complements the extensive research conducted as part of the project, focusing on Bosnia and Herzegovina, Indonesia, and Kenya. It reflects ARTICLE 19’s long-standing calls for responses to dangerous content to always conform with international standards on freedom of expression and other human rights.

Just as ARTICLE 19 was reviewing content-moderation practices as part of our Social Media 4 Peace project, French lawmakers were proposing a new bill aimed at securing and regulating the digital space. 

Several of the bill’s provisions present fundamental threats to human rights. We are particularly concerned that plans for web browsers and domain name system (DNS) resolvers to block websites the government flags up will have a direct impact on what people can access and share online, and that vague references to taking ‘all appropriate measures’ to block illegal content could result in legal – and vital – content also being blocked.

'This proposal is a dangerous threat to freedom of expression and the right to information. Even if particular content may be restricted under international law, blocking and filtering through the DNS or browser rarely, if ever, present a necessary or proportionate action. As it stands, this bill fundamentally undermines freedoms that are guaranteed by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.’

– Mehwish Ansari, Head of Digital, ARTICLE 19

• Press freedom has suffered several assaults in the United States, including attacks against 2 local media organisations serving small communities, an organisation documenting hate speech and disinformation, and online freedoms more broadly. Advocates and experts have condemned the attacks and highlighted how vulnerable these key rights are everywhere – not just in authoritarian or non-democratic countries.

• In Malaysia, authorities recently raided a bookshop and confiscated 2 publications under the auspices of the country’s Printing Presses and Publication Act. The Act goes against international human rights law and standards and must be repealed, alongside other problematic legislation, including a sedition law.

• Amid ongoing political turmoil, people in Senegal have found it increasingly difficult to access the internet and social media platforms, especially TikTok. The government must prioritise people’s access to information and honour their right to share news and opinions.

• Human rights defender and journalist Iryna Danylovych (pictured above) is still in detention in Russia, where she continues to face legal harassment as punishment for her work in the Occupied Crimea. She must be immediately released and allowed to return to Ukraine, and her needs for necessary medical care must be met.

ARTICLE 19 and partners talk to .coda about Jordan’s cybercrime legislation and why it will stifle freedom of expression – especially for anyone trying to hold the government to account.

ARTICLE 19 and partners tell La Lista about the need to protect journalist María Luisa Estrada, one of many journalists facing threats in Mexico (in Spanish).

Suay Boulougouris (Turkey Programme Officer, ARTICLE 19) spoke to Voice of America about the rise of homophobic rhetoric in Turkey.

Michael Caster (Asia Digital Programme Manager, ARTICLE 19) tells Tech Policy Press why Nepal’s national internet gateway will likely forge a path to further repression.

An initiative that brings together organisations, institutions, and people playing an active role in ICT policy and regulation, Kenya ICT Action’s work includes e-learning guides, podcasts, events, policy analysis, and a range of programmes. 

Recently, together with ARTICLE 19 and 3 other international organisations, Kenya ICT Action Network’s Victor Kapiyo briefed the media during the latest set of negotiations for the UN Cybercrime Treaty about the current draft’s failure to adequately safeguard human rights.

You can advance freedom of expression around the world by supporting ARTICLE 19!

Working in human rights is a challenging but rewarding career choice. With ARTICLE 19 you will find an international community of activists, legal specialists, and experts working together to protect basic freedoms. 

One Man and His Smog

This episode of the Oh God, What Now? podcast explores culture wars, climate change, and the plight of refugees in the UK. Presented by Alex Andreou with hosts Matt Green and Zoe Grunewald, and featuring special guest Sam Fowles. 

Social Media 4 Peace in Colombia