Kian Vesteinsson

We condemn the Kremlin’s new law penalizing VPN use and online searches for so-called extremist content—yet another escalation in its campaign to isolate Russian society from the global internet and suppress access to independent information.

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Tunnel Vision: Anti-censorship Tools, End-to-End Encryption and the Fight for a Free and Open Internet Governments around the world are increasingly exerting control over the technology that people depend on to access the free and open internet.

In our efforts to secure a free and open internet and support those on the frontlines of digital repression, we recently partnered with @eui-schuman.bsky.social to spotlight these and more restrictive measures imposed by authoritarian regimes on anticensorship tools: freedomhouse.org/report/speci...

Great report on Tamil language content moderation from @aliyabhatia.bsky.social @monaelswah.bsky.social @cendemtech.bsky.social. Useful insights on overbroad moderation of LTTE-related content and the mechanics of T&S in South Asia - and a gorgeous cover!

This week’s ruling against NSO Group—an Israeli surveillance firm—is a welcome step toward securing accountability for commercial spyware abuse.

These technologies are all too often leveraged against human rights defenders & others in retaliation for their criticisms of those in power... (1/2)

I wrote a thing! It’s about how our totally legitimate desire to regulate platforms keeps leading to laws that empower *governments* in ways that are very dangerous to ordinary people.

This is not the way.

a reflection as I leave Tallinn: it turns out it is possible to eat smoked or pickled fish for six meals in a row in this wonderful city

as US states pass age-verification laws for websites with adult content, I've wondered how they might be abused to restrict access to LGBTQ+ voices online. Kansas might make this explicit, with a bill defining "sexual conduct" to include "homosexuality" www.404media.co/kansas-age-v...

Diktaturer tar AI till hjälp för att angripa sina motståndare. I minst 16 länder har det använts för att styra debatten, berättar @kianvest.bsky.social, @freedomhouse.bsky.social. "Jag betraktar biblioteken som den ursprungliga väktaren mot falsk information." www.biblioteksbladet.se/nyheter/digi...

The Democratic Stakes of Artificial Intelligence Regulation Recent efforts from the Biden administration offer opportunities to codify protections for human rights.

"AI–manipulated media misrepresenting candidates’ positions & policies have already circulated...[this] content may shape the information people consume about candidates, voting, & the election."

FH's @kianvest.bsky.social on the need for effective AI regulation.
freedomhouse.org/article/demo...

The Democratic Stakes of Artificial Intelligence Regulation Recent efforts from the Biden administration offer opportunities to codify protections for human rights.

The Biden administration launched a landmark executive order on AI last October. For @freedomhouse.bsky.social, I wrote about the human rights stakes of the EO, and where policymakers should look next for rights-respecting AI regulation freedomhouse.org/article/demo...