Smart Africa alliance forged to promote data and digital identity interoperability
The alliance aims to promote secure and responsible digital transformation in Africa by fostering data and digital identity interoperability.
White House OSTP issues request for information on automated tools used by employers
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) has announced a request for information to learn more about the automated tools used by employers to surveil, monitor, evaluate, and manage workers.
Citizen Lab: Israeli spyware used against journalists, civil society activists
A new report from Citizen Lab highlights how journalists, civil society activists and dissidents are being spied on using an Israeli surveillance companies software.
UN Secretary-General warns of the gender digital gap as the new face of gender inequality
António Guterres highlighted the gender digital gap as a new face of gender inequality, emphasizing the male chauvinist dominance of new technologies. Civil society representatives addressed issues such as the gender gap, gender-based violence, and the exclusion of women and girls from decision-making places.
Swiss Federal Railways to stop using algorithm that assesses gender and age of passengers
After a campaign from civil society, the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) backed down from a plan to deploy software that would have automatically assessed the age and gender of passengers.
Thousands protest at Georgian ‘foreign agent’ bill
Thousands protest in Tbilisi against a Georgian bill forcing NGOs and media to declare as foreign agents, potentially leading to imprisonment and fines. Opponents fear the law threatens press freedom and civil society, warning of a shift towards authoritarianism and jeopardizing the country's EU aspirations.
The hidden mobile app provides women in Serbia with a safer way to report violence
The Serbian civil society organization, SOS Network of Vojvodina, developed a mobile application to report domestic violence and seek help, which was disguised to avoid detection by abusers.
Action Coalition on Technology and Innovation for Gender Equality calls for gender equality in Global Digital Compact
The Action Coalition on Technology and Innovation for Gender Equality calls for a feminist approach to the Global Digital Compact to secure sustainable digitalization and build a digital community that benefits everyone. Recommendations include addressing gender dimensions of digital inequality, embedding gender in digital technologies, building inclusive innovation ecosystems, and making digital spaces safe.
UN’s 67th Commission on Status of Women from 6 to 17 March
The UN's largest annual conference on gender equality and women's empowerment, the 67th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW67), will be held this year from 6 March to 17 March with the theme ‘Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.’
European Parliament moves forward with cybercrime protocol ratification
The European Parliament's civil liberties committee voted to ratify the Second Additional Protocol to the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime. The Protocol allows for emergency mutual assistance, joint investigations, and evidence collection via videoconference between signatory states. Civil society organizations criticized the Protocol for potential conflicts with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, while the European Data Protection Supervisor highlighted safeguards within the text.
