✨🌈 Home of Digital Rights Defenders

2026 Global Gathering 2026 themes announced:

Surveillance & Censorship
Alternative Infrastructure & Digital Sovereignty
Emerging & Urgent Tech Challenges: Disinfo, AI, Platform Accountability, Internet Shutdowns
Civil Society Reflections on Tech Reg
Ecosystem Security, Sustainability, & Health

📣 Applications Are Now Open for the 2026 Global Gathering! ✨
📍 When: September 4–6, 2026
📍 Where: Portugal 🇵🇹
👉 Apply: gathering.digitalrights.community

❤️ Gathering defenders at the intersection of rights and technology ❤️ beneath a canopy of trees.

#GlobalGathering2026 #DigitalRights #TechJustice

😂

Britain distances itself from Australia’s social media ban for kids A No. 10 spokesperson said there’s “no current plans to implement a smartphone or social media ban for children.”

Britain distances itself from Australia’s social media ban for kids www.politico.eu/article/brit...

Weekly Newsletter | Digital Rights “OMG. This newsletter has so much juice! It has a lot of the news and stuff I don’t usually find, even from my obsessive searching and twitter searches. Thanks for this great resource!” - Alex P.

The Digital Rights Weekly Newsletter brings together community and global news in digital rights, surveillance, censorship; funding opportunities and jobs, and practical resources. You can share your news or subscribe:

buff.ly/yRfQ5bW

#InternetFreedom #HumanRights

Amazon's Ring to partner with Flock, a network of AI cameras used by ICE, feds, and police | TechCrunch Agencies that use Flock can request that Ring doorbell users share footage to help with "evidence collection and investigative work."

Amazon’s surveillance camera maker Ring announced a partnership on with Flock, a maker of AI-powered surveillance cameras that share footage with law enforcement.

Civil groups question independence of Irish privacy watchdog | Digital Watch Observatory Campaigners call for stronger oversight of the body enforcing the EU’s GDPR.

Civil groups ask EU to investigate Ireland's privacy regulator following the appointment of former Meta lobbyist Niamh Sweeney.

US court bars Israeli spyware firm from targeting WhatsApp users Judge rules Israeli firm NSO caused 'irreparable harm', but said an earlier award of $168m in damages was 'excessive'.

US court bars Israeli spyware firm from targeting WhatsApp users, saying the firm’s software causes “direct harm.”

Peace of mind: New report explores neurotechnology and human rights The Australian Human Rights Commission has released a groundbreaking report that explores how we can embrace the benefits of neurotechnology while making sure human dignity stays front and centre.…

New report explores neurotechnology and human rights, specifically how it can impact rights such as freedom of expression, the right to privacy and freedom of thought.

A law professor uncovers internet pricing discrimination Professor Catherine Sandoval’s research reveals how broadband providers are disproportionately charging low-income neighborhoods in Los Angeles in a form of digital redlining.

Professor Catherine Sandoval’s research reveals how broadband providers are charging low-income LA neighborhoods significantly more for Internet - at the tune of $240 more per year.

Netherlands curtails intelligence-sharing with US over ‘human rights’ Dutch spy chiefs cite concerns about Trump administration’s ‘politicisation’ of services

The Netherlands has curtailed intelligence co-operation with the US over fears it could be used to violate human rights or assist Russia.

EU Launches New LGBTIQ+ Strategy This month, the European Commission released its LGBTIQ+ Equality Strategy 2026–2030, a renewed and ambitious step in the European Union’s commitment to equality, inclusion, and human rights.

EU has launched its new LGBTIQ+ equality strategy aimed at strengthening the EU’s legal and policy framework against discrimination, calling for and stronger safeguards against hate speech, hate crimes, and “conversion practices.”

Surveillance Secrets Trove of surveillance data challenges what we thought we knew about location tracking tools, who they target and how far they have spread

A major Lighthouse Reports investigation exposes a powerful surveillance tech used to spy on thousands worldwide, offering one of the most detailed looks at the modern spying industry.

Find a Job | Digital Rights Job Board The Digital Rights Job Board has opportunities in over 144+ countries at the intersection of human rights, technology and social justice. Kickstart your tech and human rights career, find a social…

Check out job ops from this week's Digital Rights Job Board! Account Executive, Pivot; Program Coordinator Levante, CPJ; Communications and Program Director, Chosen Family Law Center; Creative Lead United Food and Commercial Workers buff.ly/bg6YjQA

Weekly Newsletter | Digital Rights

The Digital Rights Weekly Newsletter brings together community and global news in digital rights, surveillance, censorship; funding opportunities and jobs, and practical resources. You can share your news or subscribe:

www.digitalrights.community/weekly-newsl...

#InternetFreedom #HumanRights

BIRN Invites Journalists: Apply for Grants for Investigative Stories - BIRN Journalists covering EU member countries and EU aspiring countries are invited to apply for grants to produce investigations shedding light on critical social, political and economic issues.

BIRN Invites EU Journalists to apply for grants for investigative stories. Make sure to apply before October 31

What Are Broken People Worth? Falling Apart on a Burning Planet

Things are rough out there for a lot of folks, and it seems a good time to repost this. medium.com/a-side-of-my... The broken people, the weirdos, the sads, the uncomfortably pointing things out, the sometimes can't get out of bed, you're going to need us when all this bullshit falls apart.

Post a Job

Are you looking for job candidates that have an understanding of system thinking and work at the intersection of technology, human rights and social justice from 144+ countries? Post your opportunity on the Digital Rights Board - Its free!

www.digitalrights.community/job-board-form

#recruiters

US court bars Israeli spyware firm from targeting WhatsApp users Judge rules Israeli firm NSO caused 'irreparable harm', but said an earlier award of $168m in damages was 'excessive'.

US court bars Israeli spyware firm from targeting whatsApp users. Evidence at trial showed that NSO reverse-engineered WhatsApp code to stealthily install its spyware Pegasus on users’ phones, and repeatedly redesigned it to escape detection & bypass security fixes

www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10...

2/2 As long-time organizers, we’ve witnessed rising safety and security concerns across our spaces in the last few years, BUT also the tremendous love and care so many of us are putting into protecting and caring for our communities. For all organizers, we are here to support you too.

1/2 Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by the tragic situation that unfolded in New York this weekend during a Wikimedia conference, and are incredibly relieved that no one was hurt. Immense energy of love to the Wiki community If we can support in anyway, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

3/3 Have an opportunity to share sitting at the intersection of technology, human rights and social justice? Send it our way by using this simple form: www.digitalrights.community/job-board-form

#Recruiters #techjobs. #humanrightsjobs

2/3 - Digital Protection Coordinator MENA, @frontlinedefenders.bsky.social

- Communications and Operations Coordinator, ASL19

- Advocacy Director, The Glitch

- Open Source Community Manager, Chayn

#digitalrights #jobs

1/3 This week's Digital Rights Job Board roundup! To see this and other jobs at the intersection of tech, human rights and social justice, visit: www.digitalrights.community/job-board

- Technical System Admi, @apc.org
- Associate for Resilient Tech, @theengineroom.bsky.social

#Jobs

Online Safety Act consultation : Threat to protest and political content The Online Safety Act The Online Safety Act (OSA) has given Ofcom powers over what we say, see and do online. Services have to comply with a large set of complicated rules and regulations. They risk…

Don't let activism blink out of sight!

Ofcom wants all social posts to be scanned for 'illegal' content before they appear in our feeds.

And the AI doing it will go OTT. Posts about protest could get removed or suppressed.

Say no to more censorship ⬇️

action.openrightsgroup.org/online-safet...

Weber State Censors, Then Cancels, Censorship Conference University officials said that several planned presentations violated a Utah state law banning diversity, equity and inclusion at public universities.

Dark comedy: Weber State University censored its own conference about censorship. The irony was not lost on faculty buff.ly/d6WrMdR #censorship

Find a Job | Digital Rights Job Board The Digital Rights Job Board has opportunities in over 144+ countries at the intersection of human rights, technology and social justice. Kickstart your tech and human rights career, find a social jus...

NEW additions today to the Digital Rights Job Board.
- @apc.org Technical System Administrator;
- @frontlinedefenders.bsky.social Digital Protection Coordinator MENA;
- Chayn Open Source Community Manager.
Check out these and other roles at www.digitalrights.community/job-board

Scientist Suresh Venkatasubramanian @geomblog.bsky.social explains why once you start collecting data, “you’re almost never going to stop,” and how that impulse can be used to control citizens and undermine democracy. buff.ly/6qOIidQ

Scientists accidentally create a tiny “rainbow chip” that could supercharge the internet Researchers at Columbia have created a chip that turns a single laser into a “frequency comb,” producing dozens of powerful light channels at once. Using a special locking mechanism to clean messy…

Scientists accidentally Cceate a tiny “Rainbow Chip” that could
supercharge the Internet buff.ly/fhyz9ZM
#Internet

ICD Session RSVP - Dash Chat (Oct 29, 2025) Join us on Wednesday, October 29 at 11am ET / 4pm CET (or check your time zone here) for an online session to learn about Dash Chat, a new shutdown-resilient secure messaging tool! Dash Chat is a…

Dash Chat is a secure messenger that runs on regular internet, internet
shutdowns, and bridges between them. Join them on October 29 to see an app demo, ask questions about how it works, and how to get involved. Note, the app is in pre-alpha.
Register: