Digital Rights Explored: Local Fights, Global Pers

It’s been half a year since Russia invaded Ukraine. And while millions of people have fled the country, there are still many who remain living in different regions of Ukraine.  In this episode, we will have a closer look at the digital rights challenges that citizens who currently are staying in Ukraine, are facing, during this horrible war of aggression.  We will talk about the most common types of disinformation and propaganda that are being spread in Telegram groups. As well as learn about how Media and Information Literacy trainers are preparing children to detect deep fakes.  ----- We have compiled the references our guests mentioned during the podcast. As always, please use your own discretion and critical thinking to interpret the following sources. Article - SSU shuts down 18,000-strong bot farm in Lviv: supervised by Russians, accounts spread panic and disinformation on bomb threats. https://ssu.gov.ua/en/novyny/sbu-likviduvala-18ty-tysiachnu-botofermu-u-lvovi-pid-kuratorstvom-rf-siialy-paniku-ta-minuvaly-obiekty-video Deep Fake video of Volodymyr Zelensky - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X17yrEV5sl4 ----- Our expert speakers featured in this episode are:  Oleksandra Usenko: Media and Information Literacy trainer / MIL curriculum developer Natalya: Ground story Oleksandr Ieltsov:  Journalist and TV Presenter for the national broadcasting company of Ukraine / MIL trainer for children This episode was created by: Host and editor: Alexandre Amaral Producer: Ena Omerovic Consultant: Hanna Hempel Researcher Gaura Naithani Interpreter: Dmytro Zazulin Dubbing: Maggie Rose Bontempo This is a Podcast made by the Media and Information Literacy Expert Network (MILEN) with the support of Deutsche Welle Akademie.

In this live recording of our Podcast "Digital Rights Explored: Local Fights, Global Perspectives," we talked about content moderation by social media platforms taking a wrong turn. From their initial hands-off approach when it came to content, they turned to today’s invasive approach using also automated processes in making decisions. The platforms get to decide what stays up, and what gets to be taken down. What are the effects of these binary processes on us as society? Our expert Vladimir Cortés (Article 19) shared with us the situation from Mexico where content moderation affects different groups in society. From indigenous groups by not considering their language, to LGBTQI+ activists being limited in their expressions on platforms, and journalists facing takedowns through false DMCA claims. The ground story is the personal story of Waquel Drullard, is an LGBTQI+ activist who has been using social media platforms to talk about sexual dissidence, freedom of expression and lgbtq+ rights. She has experienced how social media platforms like instagram can restrict the voices of those who openly reaffirm their sexual dissidence. Her account was taken down without the respect of due diligence to know exactly what community standard she infringed and effective tools to appeal the decision. Our international expert is Julie Owono (Stanford Content Policy and Governance Lab ). Julie is developing a multi-stakeholder approach to content moderation in order to provide adequate responses to challenges posed by differences in culture, language, and communities. What are some of the outcomes of the research for content moderation solutions that will be respective of human rights across the globe?  RightsCon attendees could use the chat for their questions and comments, and a select number were invited to join the live Podcast discussion with their questions and contributions. Together, in the RightsCon community, we have discussed solutions to the digital rights' violation presented, thinking from both local and context-specific solutions to global ones. We engaged in a very important discussion together, as to how to solve these issues in a more systematic manner. Our expert speakers featured in this episode are: Vladimir Cortés  - Digital Rights Program Officer, Article 19, Mexico Julie Owono - executive Director, Internet Sans Frontieres (Internet Without Borders) and Executive Director, Content Policy & Society Lab, Stanford University, U.S. Waquel Drullard - ground story, LGBTQI+ activist, Mexico This episode was created by: Host and editor: Alexandre Amaral Producer: Ena Omerović Co-producer: Vladimir Cortés Consultant (partner Deutsche Welle Akademie): Hanna Hempel Researcher: Gaura Naithani  This is a Podcast made by the Media and Information Literacy Expert Network (MILEN) with the support of Deutsche Welle Akademie 

Being online means being at risk. This episode is dedicated to a problem affecting us all, worldwide - cybercrime.   We travel to Kenya where cybercrime is on a steep rise. There has been a 37.3 % jump in cyber criminal activities in Kenya between April to June in 2021 alone. The pandemic played a major role in the rise of cyber crimes like impersonation, online fraude, abuse online etc as the use of the internet grew. We talk with Tevin Mwenda, a lawyer based in Kenya and specialized in Technology Law, Data Protection and Cyber Security.  Tevin introduces us to Rukshar, who has been a victim of the notorious Sim Swap Scam in Kenya. The cybercrime she had undergone left a deep impact on Rukshar, both psychologically and financially. We explore with Tevin and Rukshar what happened, step by step, to understand how someone as highly educated and digitally literate as Rukshar can become a victim of identity theft and money loss, without the possibility of persecuting the perpetrators. With Tevin we discuss the importance of good data policies in countries, as well as their effective implementation. Also when it comes to accountability, who are the ones to blame? In the second part of the episode, we talk with Andrijana Gavrilovic, from the Diplo foundation. Diplo, a Swiss-Maltese non-governmental organisation, works on developing capacity on internet governance, cybersecurity, data, artificial intelligence, and other emerging tech issues. Andrijana explains to us parts of the solutions towards combating cybercrime, including some tips and tricks that  we as users can implement, whether in our private or work spheres. Relevant links on cybercrime and international cybercrime cooperation and development, provided by Diplo foundation: Cybercrime Ad Hoc Committee  Cybercrime: Threats and attacks Useful links for organizations working in international development: Threat Modeling Guide: How to identify digital risks in international development projects by Deutsche Welle Akademie  Tips on cybercrime in your country or region.  Try to look up the local advices on cybercrime where you live, for instance through the CSIRT’s (Computer Security Incident Response Teams) in your country. Hellenic CSIRT (Greece)  Our expert speakers featured in this episode are: Tevin Mwenda  - Tech and policy lawyer, advocate of the high court of Kenya, Kenya Rukshar Munir - Ground Story, lawyer, Kena Andrijana Gavrilovic - digital policy programmes at DiploFoundation  This episode was created by: Host and editor: Alexandre Amaral Producer: Ena Omerović Co-producer: Tevin Mwenda Consultant (partner Deutsche Welle Akademie): Hanna Hempel Researcher: Gaura Naithani  This is a Podcast made by the Media and Information Literacy Expert Network (MILEN) with the support of Deutsche Welle Akademie 

In this episode we talk about the biggest hype of our time when it comes to our digital lives: the Metaverse. Ever since Mark Zuckerberg made the announcement of what his company Meta is developing, everyone in the digital rights community is talking about the implications of this new immersive digital world on our personal lives and on our (digital) human rights. That is why we want to engage with our Podcast in this important discussion too. With this episode we will attempt to answer some of the most basic to more complex questions when talking about the Metaverse. What is the Metaverse (from what experts know so far)?  How is it different from other virtual reality worlds we know so far, such as Second Life?  What will be the business model of the Metaverse? What could be the potential risks when it comes to our digital rights? And how will countries with emerging economies jump on the "meta train" taking into account digital divides. We will attempt to answer some of these questions and more in this episode with our two expert speakers that we are proud to have: Stefan Roolvink from the Rathenau Institute in the Netherlands and Juliet Amoah from Penplusbytes in Ghana. Stefan does in depth research on the Metaverse, and the impact of this digital technology on us. The Rathenau Institute  he works at advises the Dutch parliament on developments surrounding the Metaverse. Juliet Amoah is the executive director of PenplusBytes, an NGO that exists 20 years in Ghana focusing in their work on the media, information and digital rights of citizens in Ghana. This time we do not have a personal ground story as you are used to from us. But we have another creative solution that will bring us a perspective from witnesses from the future, that will help us put in perspective our discussion about the Metaverse. Sources used in this episode: - The Manifesto: Set 10 Design Requirements for the Metaverse, developed by the expert in our episode Stefan Roolvink and the Rathenau Institute - Report The Global State of Digital 2022 on Ghana - Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson (1992) - Ready Player One (Steven Spielberg, 2018) - 1984 by George Orwell Our expert speakers featured in this episode are: Stefan Roolvink - Researcher at the Rathenau Institute, the Netherlands Juliet Amoah - Executive director of PenplusBytes, Ghana This episode was created by: Host and editor: Alexandre Amaral Producer: Ena Omerović Co-producer: Juliet Amoah Narration: Bahia Albrecht, Deutsche Welle Akademie Consultant: Hanna Hempel, Deutsche Welle Akademie Researcher: Gaura Naithani This is a Podcast made by the Media and Information Literacy Expert Network (MILEN) with the support of Deutsche Welle Akademie (DW Akademie). Contact us with questions, comments or your Stories on digital rights' violations at: ena@milennetwork.com

Experts Recap Major Digital Rights Stories of Our Time Some of you listeners have asked us to explain the basics of digital rights, “what type of rights are there exactly”? Our response is this special episode of Digital Rights Explored where international experts talk with us about the major digital rights stories of our time.  In this episode we will recap some of the most important digital rights news stories of last year- 2021. When you hear them, you will certainly remember them. Using the real-life examples you already know, we will explain the specific digital rights being at stake there.  Whether it is access to the internet, violation of privacy and surveillance, or a morality discourse to what extent it is desirable to have AI impacting our lives online and offline. As always we will also start a discussion of possible solutions with the three experts that we are proud and happy to have on this episode.  Our expert speakers featured in this episode are:  Mercy Abang  - Journalist and CEO of Hostwriter, Germany Vladimir Cortes Roshdestvensky - Program officer Digital Rights Article 19, Mexico and Central America William Uricchio - Professor Comparative Media Studies at MIT, U.S. & the Netherlands  Sources:  The news clips were used for contextualisation -  fair use intended Find the report by virtual private network (VPN) website Top10VPN on Internet Shutdowns here. The Project in the Netherlands Public Spaces.   This episode was created by: Host and editor: Alexandre Amaral Producer: Ena Omerović Consultant (partner Deutsche Welle Akademie): Hanna Hempel Researcher: Gaura Naithani This is a Podcast made by the Media and Information Literacy Expert Network (MILEN) with the support of Deutsche Welle Akademie (DW Akademie). Contact us with your feedback, comments or your Stories on digital rights' violations at: ena@milennetwork.com

As people get online, they are encouraged or even forced to share significant amounts of personal information. What happens when this data is collated? And what happens when this data gets into the wrong hands? This can have very real effects offline, putting individuals’ lives in danger. Large corporations and government bodies, while digitising their services for more data-driven societies, violate also (whether deliberate or not) citizens' digital rights by surveilling them, criminalising citizens based on their (digital) data, and/or sharing their data and violating their right to privacy. In face of such a deep systemic digital rights violation, what can be done?  In this live recording of one of our podcast episodes of “Digital Rights Explored. Local Fights, Global Perspectives,” we talk about digital data collection by governments taking a wrong turn. Our expert from Myanmar, Annie Zaman, shares with us the situation from the ground where citizens face checkpoints where their digital devices are being checked by military, and they can be arrested for the slightest indications of "rebellion", like photos of protests, texts on social media etc. We hear from a young woman who had been arrested and faced serious human rights violations because she had photos on her phone of the protests. What can be done in closed societies and dictatorships- to enhance digital security?  Our second expert Osama Manzar explored the effects of intrusive digital ID systems, such as the Aadhar system in India. What can be done to make this ID system more privacy enhancing and inclusive? Shruti Trikanad shares the research results and recommendations of the research by the Center for Internet Society. But we will also bring a global expert on the topic of government surveillance and ID systems - Edin Omanovic - the advocacy director from Privacy International. Edin's work revolves around exposing and challenging abuses of power by governments and corporations. Our questions cover, but are not limited to: How can policy, spanning both privacy and education, help us to reduce this danger and protect our digital citizens? What kind of regulations need to be put in place to protect our rights, and what actions can regular citizens take in order to safeguard their personal information? This episode was created by: Host and editor: Alexandre Amaral Producer: Ena Omerović Co-producer: Osama Manzar & Annie Zaman Consultants (partner Deutsche Welle Akademie): Hanna Hempel & Leah Winnett This is a Podcast made by the Media and Information Literacy Expert Network (MILEN) with the support of Deutsche Welle Akademie (DW Akademie). Contact us with questions, comments or your Stories on digital rights' violations at: ena@milennetwork.com

In the face of the global pandemic, many countries have imposed different control measures on their citizens under the veil of curbing the further spread of the virus. In this episode we will discuss with Agnes Venema - an expert on national security and emerging surveillance technology digital surveillance - measures taken in Australia during the Covid-19 pandemic. Australia is a country that took perhaps one of the strictest measures globally in containing the spread of the virus.  With closed international borders, constant lockdowns, rigorous home quarantine, and no movement between the different states, they managed to keep the infection numbers low.  Recent events have sparked some controversy on their approach to keep an eye on their population. One of them is the Covid Home quarantine app introduced by the government in South Australia. Promoted as a voluntary app, we find out that this app is not that voluntary as the government likes its citizens to believe. The app uses geolocation tracking and facial recognition software sparking a human rights discussion, when it comes to the protection of citizen’s privacy. Although a wider public saw the measures as being for a great good, more and more citizens have a growing dissatisfaction feeling that the measures are simply overly cautious and unsustainable. In the second part of the episode we talk to Masa Borak, digital technology reporter  in Hong Kong. Masa talks about the facial recognition technology used for tracking the Muslim Uighur minority in province Xinjiang, China.  Furthermore we discuss different government approaches when it comes to Covid contact tracing, looking at both China and Hong Kong. *For more information on the systemic tracking of Uighurs in China read this article. Please join us at the Internet Governance Forum, online or on location in Katowice (Poland, 6-10 December), for a Live  Recording of our Podcast where we will continue this discussion, Internet For All But Privacy For Me.  Our expert speakers featured in this episode are: Agnes Venema  - expert on national security and emerging surveillance technology & legally trained in human rights Masa Borak - technology reporter, Hong Kong Steven - testimonial from South Australia  This episode was created by: Host and editor: Alexandre Amaral Producer: Ena Omerović Co-producer: Agnes Venema Consultant (partner Deutsche Welle Akademie): Hanna Hempel This is a Podcast made by the Media and Information Literacy Expert Network (MILEN) with the support of Deutsche Welle Akademie (DW Akademie). Contact us with questions, comments or your Stories on digital rights' violations at: ena@milennetwork.com

The founder of Tinder said: “Nobody joins Tinder because they’re looking for something.” “They join because they want to have fun. It doesn’t even matter if you match because swiping is so fun.” However in this episode we have examined how dating apps have revolutionised the world of dating and relationships. We explore with an anthropologist and expert on partner choice, sexology, dynamics of long-term relationships and relationship satisfaction - Jaroslava Varella Valentova - why dating apps are so popular in Brazil. We hear the personal testimonies of Jaroslava’s student, Bruno from São Paulo who has had a vast experience using dating apps and shares that at some point he was even addicted to them. In the second part of the episode we talk to an expert in the digital, human centred design and a columnist for renowned Dutch newspaper Trouw. Ilyaz Nasrullah zooms in with us on what the inherent gamified design features are that make dating apps possibly addictive. And how is the business model behind dating apps correlated with their design? This exploration of the digital world of love brings up a wider question to ponder on; how does digital design influence user’s behavior beyond the world of the online. Has meeting in person become a thing of our past? Our expert speakers featured in this episode are: Jaroslava Varella Valentova  - Professor Doctor at the Department of Experimental Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil Bruno Henrique do Amaral - Ground story, Student of Psychology University of São Paulo (USP) Ilyaz Nasrullah - Digital strategist and columnist on digitisation of Dutch newspaper Trouw  This episode was created by: Host and editor: Alexandre Amaral Producer: Ena Omerović Co-producer: Jaroslava Varella Valentova Consultant (partner Deutsche Welle Akademie): Hanna Hempel This is a Podcast made by the Media and Information Literacy Expert Network (MILEN) with the support of Deutsche Welle Akademie (DW Akademie). Contact us with questions, comments or your Stories on digital rights' violations at: ena@milennetwork.com

In this episode we talk about digital censorship of independent and critical voices on major social media platforms. This is a contradictory circumstance since it is exactly these platforms that serve, in particular in countries with oppressive regimes, as the channels for dissenting voices to be heard and seen. The platforms often state that the content removal is due to a “technical bug,” but many independent journalists and activists believe they are being silenced by political reasons.  In this episode we travel to Turkey, where we speak to Gürkan Özturan, executive manager at the news agency Dokuz8News and an expert on media and censorship in Turkey. Gurkan introduces us to Nesibe Kırış, a lawyer and women’s rights activist. Through Gurkan’s and Nesibe’s stories we learn about their first-hand experience with publishing work on social media followed by their accounts being suspended and/or content removed. In the second part we talk to Ellery Roberts Biddle - a projects Director at Ranking Digital Rights - who tells us about how platforms are scoring across the human rights spectrum, in terms of freedom of expression and right to privacy. Also, how are social media companies responding to the pressure by authoritarian regimes? And why are they accepting some of these laws imposed on them? Ellery shares with listeners her views on what can be done, and practical tips on how we can act when our content is removed.  Our expert speakers featured in this episode are: Gürkan Özturan - Executive director at Dokuz8News Nesibe Kırış - Lawyer and women’s rights activist who writes for ApostoNews & Metapolitik Ellery Roberts Biddle - Projects director at Ranking Digital Rights and former Advocacy director at Global Voices This episode was created by: Host and editor: Alexandre Amaral Producer: Ena Omerović Co-producer: Gürkan Özturan Consultant (partner Deutsche Welle Akademie): Hanna Hempel This is a Podcast made by the Media and Information Literacy Expert Network (MILEN) with the support of Deutsche Welle Akademie (DW Akademie). Contact us with questions, comments or your Stories on digital rights' violations at: digitalrightsexplored@protonmail.com and/or ena@milennetwork.com

In this episode we explore the topic of the smartphone divide in Namibia amongst its youth. In Namibia, smartphones are the main entry point to the Internet for young people. The country officially has an excess of smartphones per capita. Yet the distribution of smartphones shows a deep urban-rural gap, and therefore leaves around half of the population disconnected from the Internet. In this episode we explore what is at stake for young Namibians who are not digitally connected, in terms of their livelihood opportunities. Petrina Mathews and Opeyemi Toriola are both experienced MIL facilitators at MiLLi* (Media and Information Literacy Learning Initiative). They take us on a journey to rural Namibia, all the way to the Zambezi region, located in the extreme north-east Namibia. Here they talk to and train youth who are not digitally connected.  In the second part of the episode we talk with MILEN member Venu Arora, an expert on smartphone devices as an access point for first-time digital users. Venu shares with us what  some of the general reasons are behind smartphone divide(s). But also what governments, companies and MIL practitioners can do to bridge the digital divide and help youth to keep up with the progress and development, and provide them access to any knowledge system(s), which is their basic human right.  Read and follow the work of Venu Arora @ideosyncmedia Follow the work of MiLLi*  @millinamibia For more information on digital use in Namibia (number of internet users, social media users, and mobile connections) check out this Report.  Our expert speakers featured in this episode are: Petrina Mathews - MIL Facilitator at MiLLi* Opeyemi Toriola (aka Tangi) - MIL Facilitator at MiLLi* Venu Arora - Co-founder Ideosync Media Combine and Professor Voice Equity at the Jindal School of Journalism and Communication, Jindal Global University  This episode was created by: Host and editor: Alexandre Amaral Producer: Ena Omerović Co-producers: Petrina Mathews, Opeyemi Toriola, Joost van de Port (founder MiLLi*) Feedback rounds: Hanna Hempel This is a Podcast made by the Media and Information Literacy Expert Network (MILEN) with the support of Deutsche Welle Akademie (DW Akademie). Contact us with questions, comments or your Stories on digital rights' violations at: digitalrightsexplored@protonmail.com and/or ena@milennetwork.com

Across Latin America, Indigenous human rights defenders have been targeted by enemies who wish to see them silenced because of their work. According to the Colombian non-governmental organization, Indepaz, 269 Indigenous leaders have been murdered in the country since 2016, with 94 leaders in the state of Cauca. As with most types  of activism, digital communications figure prominently in organizing among their community, as well as for raising awareness and international solidarity. As more and more communities are getting online, so does the risk of harassment and threats, hacking, and other types of digital disruptions. In this episode we talk with Diana Figueroa from the feminist radio collective i-Radia, which is closely affiliated with Nasa indigenous communities in the state of Cauca (Colombia), providing us a vivid insight into what is happening with this community on the ground offline and online. We also talk with digital security defender Nathaly Espitia from the project Convite, which provides a participatory approach to better protecting one’s self online by integrating local cultural and linguistic elements to come up with solutions together.  Our global expert in this episode is Sarah Aoun, a human rights technologist. Sarah gives us a wider perspective on activists’ work and the opportunities and threats they face in the digital spheres. In addition Sarah gives hands-on practical tips on what we all can do to protect ourselves better online. Find more practical tips on digital security and do your own Threat Model: https://akademie.dw.com/threatcheck/ For more info read also this article. Link to app for two-factor authentication https://authy.com Our expert speakers featured in this episode are: Nathaly Espitia - Project coordinator of Convite Eddie Avila - MILEN member and director of Rising Voices Diana Figueroa - Radio collective i-Radia Sarah Aoun - Human rights technologist / Open Technology Fund  This episode was created by: Host and editor: Alexandre Amaral Producer: Ena Omerović Co-producer: Eddie Avila Dubbing: Fernanda Jaraba Feedback rounds: Hanna Hempel Consultant: Nicolas Martin This is a Podcast made by the Media and Information Literacy Expert Network (MILEN) with the support of Deutsche Welle Akademie (DW Akademie). Contact us with questions, comments or your Stories on digital rights' violations at: digitalrightsexplored@protonmail.com and/or ena@milennetwork.com

In Kashmir (India) citizens suffered the high-handedness of the government with the longest imposed Internet shutdown of 213 days, just before entering into Covid-19 time.  Mir Basit Hussain, a journalist and the initiator of the first digital news platform in the valley - Free Press Kashmir - tells us about this period of being digitally left “in the dark”. What were Kashmireans doing to get information across, in and out of the Kashmir state? The shutdown undermined the citizens’ capacity to organise, curbed their freedom to a voice and access to information. In this episode we explore what was behind the Internet shutdown and the socio-economic and personal impact on its citizens. Our expert speakers featured in this episode are: Mir Basit Hussain - Journalist at Free Press Kashmir Osama Manzar - MILEN member and founder of the Digital Empowerment Foundation Felicia Anthonio - Access Now Campaigner for the #KeepItOn Campaign This episode was created by: Host and editor: Alexandre Amaral Producer: Ena Omerović Co-producer: Osama Manzar Consultant: Nicolas Martin This is a Podcast made by the Media and Information Literacy Expert Network (MILEN) with the support of Deutsche Welle Akademie (DW Akademie). Contact us with your Stories on digital rights' violations: digitalrightsexplored@protonmail.com