"Multifaceted, uncensored, promoting democracy - that is the internet, many people had long hoped. But from today's perspective, this is not true - or only partially. Because the big digital platforms and the world wide web are both: media of freedom and control. In many places, they support civil society, but often they also pose a massive threat to it. On the one hand, civil society organisations, activists and bloggers use digital tools to organise their work and make it more efficient: Through them, they disseminate reports and campaigns and exchange information. On the other hand, governments restrict freedom of expression and the press through online censorship: They block access to certain websites or platforms or shut down the internet entirely and monitor activists and journalists with digital technologies, often made in Europe. Policymakers, platforms and civil society face major challenges: They have to negotiate and decide how to deal with hate on the web and in social media without compromising freedom of expression. How more people, especially in the Global South, can get better access to the internet. And, how the data collection frenzy of the big tech companies and the dangers posed to democracy by Facebook & Co can be contained. Civil society voices call for more human rights based regulation and containment of digital capitalism." (Summary, p.6)
Contents
The internet and civil society: Digital space is narrowing, 7
Is the constitutional state caught in the web? 12
Facebook: A catalyst for conflicts, 16
Biometric surveillance, 19
The surveillance state: Made in Europe, 22
"Data and money flow in one direction only", 23
This is how our data is collected: past and present, 24
When machines make decisions about humans, 26
Mexico: bugged and spied on [Pegasus Spyware], 30
Indonesia: an all-purpose weapon against criticism [Online commerce regulation], 36
Tanzania: as if someone had pulled the plug [Internet Shutdown], 42
Ukraine: lies as a weapon [Countering Russian disinformation], 48
Our demands, 54