policy

The Asia Pacific Internet Governance Forum just completed in July 2019 and it took place in Russia. There were very few sessions that dealt with either gender or human rights and none that addressed sexuality. At one session there were discussions on the ICT related-laws and particularly on the broad and unclear provisions that deal with online censorship.

Between right-wing governments and corporate capture of online spaces, there are interesting shifts in how sexuality is censored and governed online and offline. This article looks at the reach and over-reach of laws related to obscenity and censorship in South Asia and the impact that has had on free speech around sex, sex work and sexuality.

The annual Forum on Internet Freedom, Africa brings together people from across the African continent to to deliberate on gaps, concerns and opportunities for advancing privacy, access to information, free expression, non-discrimination and the free flow of information online on the continent. But what about gender perspectives? 

In Tanzania, even as access to internet has brought changes to the lives of people, there is still a lot to be done to get everyone connected and at the same time ensuring good policies to lay the ground for a safer internet. Rebecca explores legal options to the non consensual sharing of intimate images of women in the country. 

Governments around the world are clamping down on citizens' fundamental rights, with increased focus on civil liberties in digital spaces. Zainab Durrani highlights how various policy measures taken my governments in South Asia impact universally recognised rights.

The bill titled, Personal Data Protection Bill, 2025, introduces new compliance obligations for local and international businesses while keeping state agencies largely exempt. It claims to align with global data protection laws, improving some aspects through key changes while making others even more draconian than before.

Amidst the protests to reject the Finance Bill 2024 in Kenya, protestors were subjected to online campaigns with particular attacks on queer individuals in the country. Data analysis of Twitter activities of some of the most active accounts suggests that these smear campaigns were in fact coordinated, and pointed towards an ongoing trend victimising marginalised communities.

Bangladesh's Cyber Security Act replicates the draconian legislative framework that its predecessors imposed on online civil liberties in the country. With the new government in place, activists are demanding for its repeal. 

The impact of digital censorship and attacks on freedom of speech in the US have a direct impact in developing countries where authoritarian governments look at the countries in the West for policymaking frameworks.