Digital Rights Under Threat: Insights from RightsCon 2021
This year marked the 13th iteration of RightsCon, an event that originated as the Silicon Valley Human Rights Conference in 2011. The urgency of this year’s discussions was felt acutely, primarily due to significant transformations within the U.S. government involving Elon Musk’s DOGE initiative, which has started to create ripple effects globally.
Concerns Over Funding Cuts
One of the dominant themes at RightsCon was the alarming budget reductions facing the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Historically, USAID has been a crucial supporter of digital rights initiatives, playing a vital role in ensuring internet access during elections and crises globally, and establishing digital security lines for activists and journalists who are often targets of surveillance and cyberattacks. Recent proposals indicate a staggering budget cut of over 90% under the current administration.
The ramifications of this financial withdrawal are profound for the international digital rights sector. Nikki Gladstone, the director of RightsCon, conveyed these concerns during her opening remarks, pointing out the disturbing trend of diminishing multistakeholderism, which is characterized by reduced civil society involvement, ongoing democratic decline, and corporations stepping back from commitments to uphold human rights.
A Growing Climate of Hostility
Cindy Cohn, the head of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, expressed grave concerns regarding the unprecedented and rapid assaults on civil liberties, stating simply, “The scale and speed of the attacks on people’s rights is unprecedented. It’s breathtaking.”
The conference attendees noted that the issues at hand go beyond mere financial constraints. A worrying shift has seen the United States transitioning from a champion of a free and open internet to a model for dismantling it.
The Global Impact of U.S. Policy Changes
A striking example of this shift surfaced just ahead of RightsCon, when Serbian authorities conducted raids on several civil society organizations focused on promoting government accountability. They cited allegations from the U.S. concerning misappropriations linked to USAID funding, which were all based on claims made by Musk and former President Trump.
According to Nenad Stefanovic, a state prosecutor, the Serbian Special Anti-Corruption Department reached out to the U.S. Justice Department demanding information about USAID, focusing on alleged misuse of funds and potential money laundering in Serbia.
“Since Trump’s second administration, we cannot count on them [the platforms] to do even the bare minimum anymore.” —Yasmin Curzi
This development illustrated how authoritarian regimes might exploit U.S. narratives to justify actions against dissenters. By leveraging the justifications provided by the Trump administration for the scaling back of USAID resources, these regimes seek to gain a facade of legitimacy in their crackdown on critics.
Conclusion
The discussions at RightsCon 2021 highlighted a pressing issue: as funding disappears and U.S. policies shift towards greater repression of digital rights, the global digital rights community faces existential threats. The information and strategies shared at this year’s conference will be crucial in addressing these challenges moving forward.
