Rights-Based Approaches to Online Content
Governments and companies are under increasing pressure to address illegal or undesirable content and expression online, but hasty or poorly crafted solutions threaten human rights. We advocate for policies and practices to defend free expression and access to information and ensure people who are most at risk are protected.
Content governance in times of crisis: how platforms can protect human rights
In situations of armed conflicts and other crises, people use social media and messaging platforms to document human rights abuses or war crimes, access information, mobilize for action, and crowdsource humanitarian assistance.
Resources
Content Governance
Guide: how to protect human rights in content governance
We offer 26 recommendations on content governance to help lawmakers, regulators, and company leaders make decisions that will safeguard human rights.
Content Governance
What is disinformation, why it spreads, and how to stop it
Our new report explores what disinformation is, and how lawmakers can address the harms it poses to democracy.
Content Governance
The Digital Services Act: your guide to the EU’s new content moderation rules
The EU Digital Services Act has finally arrived. We unpack what this law contains and the changes people can expect to see from 2024 onwards.
Content Governance
Digital Security Helpline: our approach to content-related cases
Critical voices from civil society are being censored. Here’s how the Digital Security Helpline addresses cases related to content governance.
Content Governance
Meta’s actions “adversely impacted” Palestinians’ rights: Access Now welcomes BSR findings
Access Now welcomes the release of BSR’s human rights due diligence findings that expose Meta’s rights-violating actions against people in Palestine.
Content Governance
What does Musk’s “free speech” look like for the rest of us?
Elon Musk’s simplistic views of freedom of expression could catapult Twitter from a toxic space to a worse one — especially for those of us tweeting from the margins.
Content Governance
Access Now to Telegram: protect the rights of 500 million people
Access Now and a coalition of civil society organizations are sounding the alarm over safety and security issues plaguing Telegram.
Content Governance
Access Now releases “Fighting misinformation and defending free expression during COVID-19: recommendations for states”
We have identified practical examples and promising practices to support policy makers in respecting human rights while developing measures to address disinformation and misinformation during the COVID-19 crisis.
Latest Updates
A coalition of international organizations demands that Meta refrain from censoring criticism of Zionism on its platforms
Access Now joins over 70 civil society organizations in urging Meta to abstain from censoring criticism of Zionism on its platforms.
This website tracked hate crimes in India. Then the government took it offline
2024 elections and internet shutdowns watch
Governments around the world continue to shut down the internet during elections. Join our 2024 elections watch to #KeepItOn.
Censorship at the door: India must say no to government fact-checking
The 2023 fact-checking amendment contradicts the right to free speech and expression under Indian and international law.
The world must bring down Myanmar’s digital iron curtain
Today marks three years since Myanmar’s junta seized power in a violent coup. Access Now is calling on the international community to offer resources to resist digital oppression.
A call for global solidarity and decisive action to end Myanmar’s military rule and ensure victory for the people resisting dictatorship
Access Now and a coalition of human rights organizations call on the international and business community to resist the digital coup in Myanmar.
How Israeli soldiers are TikToking their war crimes in Gaza
No liberty, no safety: Sri Lanka must withdraw the Online Safety Bill
Access Now, Hashtag Generation, and more than 50 organisations, are demanding the Government of Sri Lanka to withdraw the Online Safety Bill.
Open letter to Sri Lankan government: Withdraw Online Safety Bill to protect people’s rights and future
More than fifty Sri Lankan and international organisations are calling on the Sri Lankan government to withdraw the Onine Safety Bill.
Submission on India’s draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023
Access Now raises concerns about peopleʼs fundamental rights in its submission on India’s Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023.
Submission to eSafety Commissioner, Australia on the draft Online Safety Industry Standards
Access Now recommends eSafety Office against mandating online communication services, as well as file storage and cloud services, to proactively detect content on their platforms.
The EU must hold VLOPs accountable
U.S. Senator joins civil society’s call: #StopSilencingPalestine
U.S. Senator joins civil society’s call to #StopSilencingPalestine. Meta’s censorship of Palestine-related content must end now.
Content and platform governance in times of crisis: applying international humanitarian, criminal, and human rights law
This new report discusses the application of international humanitarian, criminal, and human rights law in content governance in crises.
UNESCO’s guidelines for governing digital platforms: our remaining concerns
Access Now has been following with concern UNESCO’s efforts to create global content governance guidelines. With the release of the final version, our concerns persist.
Directrices de la UNESCO para la gobernanza de las plataformas digitales: las discusiones pendientes
Access Now ha seguido con preocupación los esfuerzos liderados por la UNESCO para crear unas directrices globales para la regulación de las plataformas digitales.