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RightsCon2025

From February 24 - 27 the 13th edition of RightsCon was held physically in Taipei and online globally via cyberspace. I was there with. my podcast partner Brett Solomon.


We were there to interview some of the thousands of human rights activists gathered there to share their stories and find collaborators. Twenty-three people sat with us over three days for a special series of This Week In Cyberspace.


Ukranian activist Tetiana Avdieieva wore gold glitter eyeshadow for her interview. Abounding in optimism she is a Senior Legal Counsel at digital Security Lab in Ukraine. She also co-authored the media law reform in Ukraine and is engaged in AI governance process both in Ukraine and on the Council of Europe level. She talked about securitisation.


"In the case of Ukraine currently, we are trying to trade human rights for democracy and visa versa. ...We're fighting an adversary who has no rules."


Ukranian digital activist Tetiana Avdieieva
Ukranian digital activist Tetiana Avdieieva

We also spoke with Antonio Zappulla, CEO at the Thomson Reuters Foundatio. In 2022 Antionia was nighted as an Officer of the Italian Republic for "merit acquired in the firelds of public service, and social, philanthropic and humanitariran activities' under the OMRI order, the highest-ranking honour of the Italian Republic. We talked with him about LGBTIQ rights in the digital age and how to protect NGOs from legal challenges.


"The pendulum is swinging very fast in the other direction and the people who won these battles in the past 25 years in the west are concerned."


Brett and I with Antonio Zappulla
Brett and I with Antonio Zappulla

The gig came with some unexpected perks. Aws Al-Saadi helped me get back my Meta accounts after four months locked out. He is an advisory board member of International Fact-Checking Network, and the Founder and president of Tech4Peace. He talked to us about the rise of fake news and how to counter it.


I still reckon the most radical act is to disconnect. But connectivity is also vital for our ever questing minds.



Aws Al-Saadi with Brett and Nell
Aws Al-Saadi with Brett and Nell

This was the first time that Brett and I filmed our TWICS episodes. You can see each one on Spotify, Apple and now Youtube.





 
 

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© 2024 Nell Schofield

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