Tunisian police are using drones and Facebook to doxx LGBTQ+ protesters
Apr 25, 2021 1:42 PM PHT
Francesca Ebel
The worst attacks against Rania Amdouni began in February. The 26-year-old human rights activist and artist had been on the front lines of a new wave of protests in Tunisia for months fist raised, often wearing the Gay Pride flag or a brightly-colored wig, shouting until her voice went hoarse.
Sparked by unemployment rates that had worsened during the pandemic, the nationwide demonstrations, which began as clashes between police and marginalized youth in mid-January had broadened their scope. Around 1,700 protestors – many of them minors – had been detained and there were reports of police torturing and abusing many of those held in custody. In the capital, hundreds of young Tunisians and civil society activists peacefully took to the streets, calling for economic equality, an end to police brutality and the decriminalization of homosexuality and marijuana.
The Kremlin’s digital campaign against Alexei Navalny is cranking up pressure
Apr 23, 2021 6:57 PM PHT
Katia Patin
Digital attacks against Alexei Navalny’s online operations have opened a firehose of pressure against his supporters while the Russian opposition leader enters a third week of hunger strike amid widespread concern that he may be on the brink of death.
The government’s powerful internet watchdog Roskomnadzor, which has expansive jurisdiction in investigating and punishing nearly any internet user, platform or organization online in Russia, is leading the campaign to quash Navalny’s anti-corruption investigations and network of regional offices around the country.
India wants to use facial recognition in its coronavirus vaccine drive
Apr 23, 2021 6:28 PM PHT
Mariam Kiparoidze
India is planning to add a facial recognition system based on Aadhaar, the country’s centralized biometric identity program, to the national Covid-19 vaccination drive. The proposal has prompted criticism from tech experts and digital rights advocates.
In an interview last week, chair of the National Health Authority chair R.S. Sharma said that the government is testing the system in the state of Jharkhand. He added that facial recognition, as opposed to the fingerprint and iris scans currently being used, would make the entrance to vaccination centers “contactless” and reduce the spread of infection.
Twitter becomes platform of hope amid the despair of India s COVID crisis
Apr 21, 2021 6:25 PM PHT
Reuters
After spending hours fruitlessly calling government helplines in a search for a hospital bed for a critically ill COVID-19 patient, Indian lawyer Jeevika Shiv posted an SOS request on Twitter. Serious #covid19 patient in #Delhi with oxygen level 62 needs immediate hospital bed, Shiv, part of a 350-member COVID-19 volunteer Medical Support Group, said on Twitter late last week.
Help came quickly. The patient found a bed and was soon showing signs of recovery. Finally, it was help online that worked as people responded with information, Shiv said.