"Just days before the conference was set to begin and as participants had begun to arrive in Lusaka, organizers that RightsCon would no longer proceed in Zambia or online after mounting political pressure and demands that would have excluded vulnerable communities and constrained discussion."
"RightsCon has long served as one of the few truly global convenings where civil society groups, grassroots organizers, technologists, and policymakers can meet on equal footing to confront some of the most urgent human rights challenges of the digital age-from censorship and surveillance to internet shutdowns, platform accountability, and the safety of marginalized communities online."
"For many advocates-particularly those from the global majority- it is not merely another conference . It is a rare opportunity to build solidarity across borders, form lasting partnerships, learn from other regions' experiences, secure funding and support for local work, and ensure that the people most impacted by digital repression have a seat at the table."
RightsCon, the world’s largest annual global digital rights conference, was abruptly canceled in Zambia and online after political pressure and demands would have excluded vulnerable communities and constrained discussion. The event’s related World Press Freedom Day activities were scaled down, and its press freedom prize ceremony was postponed. RightsCon has served as a rare global convening where civil society groups, grassroots organizers, technologists, and policymakers meet on equal footing to address digital-age human rights issues such as censorship, surveillance, internet shutdowns, platform accountability, and online safety for marginalized communities. The cancellation harms researchers, journalists, technologists, and activists, especially advocates from the global majority who rely on the conference for cross-border solidarity, partnerships, learning, funding, and representation of people most affected by digital repression.
Read at Electronic Frontier Foundation
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