RightsCon 2024, the annual global conference on digital and human rights organized by the nonprofit Access Now, was canceled just days before its scheduled start after the Zambian government required “full alignment with national values” for the event to proceed. This move reflects growing authoritarian influence in international forums where civil society seeks to convene and share expertise on technology and human rights.
Government Pressure and Authoritarian Influence
The cancellation emerged from political demands that effectively compromised the independence of the event. Michael Caster of Article 19 attributed the government’s demands in part to expanding Chinese authoritarian influence in global civil society spaces. Such pressure constrains the ability of activists and organizations to freely engage in discussions related to human rights and digital freedoms.
Luisa Ortiz Pérez, executive director of Vita-Activa.org, described the cancellation as a source of “moral injury” for the digital rights community. She emphasized that political interference not only limits physical gatherings but also reshapes decision-making processes, isolates activists, and reduces the fragile space available for civil society activities worldwide.
Impact on Global Civil Society, Including Taiwan
E-Ling Chiu, national director of Amnesty International Taiwan, highlighted the broader implications of the cancellation for civil society, particularly Taiwan’s participation in international rights forums. Taiwan frequently faces exclusion due to Chinese governmental pressure, and Chiu stressed that normalizing such suppression threatens the entire global human rights community. Taiwan, with its advanced technology sector and active public engagement, offers important perspectives for global digital rights discussions, making its inclusion vital.
Next Steps for Access Now and the RightsCon Community
Access Now’s executive director Alejandro Mayoral Baños and RightsCon director Nikki Gladstone acknowledged the significant disruption caused by the cancellation and the challenges it poses to the community. RightsCon is surveying participants through May 13 to assess the impact and gather input on future directions. The nonprofit remains committed to convening the digital rights community and adapting to the evolving political landscape affecting civil society.
Why it matters
The abrupt cancellation of RightsCon in Zambia underscores increasing political challenges facing international civil society events, particularly in the area of digital rights. It highlights how authoritarian governments are influencing global human rights agendas and restricting open dialogue. The exclusion of key participants due to political pressure threatens the global exchange of knowledge essential to defending digital freedoms and human rights worldwide.
Background
RightsCon is a major annual conference established over a decade ago by Access Now to bring together activists, policy makers, and technologists focused on digital rights. The event has historically served as a key platform for advocacy on internet governance, privacy, and free expression. The 2024 cancellation marks a severe interruption of this gathering, drawing attention to the fragility of civil society spaces amid geopolitical pressures.
Sources
This article is based on reporting and publicly available information from the following source:
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