=== '''What is Happening in Digital Rights Around the World?''' ===
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left: 10px; width: 20%; background-color:#A9D743;"
|'''Glitter Meetups'''
* [[Glitter Meetup|What are Glitter Meetups]]
* [[Community Updates|Notes from Past Glitter Meetups]]
* [[Calendar of Events|Virtual Events Calendar]]
* [[IFF Mattermost|Join the TCU Mattermost]]
|}

* '''Date:''' Thursday, July 24
* '''Time:''' 9am EDT / 1pm UTC
* '''Facilitator:''' Mardiya
* '''Where:''' On TCU Mattermost "IF Square" Channel.
** Don't have an account to the TCU Mattermost? [[TCU Mattermost|you can request one following the directions here.]]

Come to share emerging and existing digital rights conversations happening around the world and in your region at this Glitter Meetup! There is something new, specific or special that you would like to bring to the technology and human rights table? Join us and let's talk about it!

==== '''What is Glitter Meetup?''' ====
Glitter Meetup is the weekly town hall of the digital rights and Internet Freedom community at the [https://community.internetfreedomfestival.org/community/channels/town-square IF Square on the TCU Mattermost], at 9am EDT / 2pm UTC. It is a text-based chat where digital rights defenders can share regional and project updates, expertise, ask questions, and connect with others from all over the world! Do you need an invite? Learn how to get one [[TCU Mattermost|here]].

== Notes ==
We discussed with the community topics related to ED Tech. A lot of these workshops have been looking at how we need to be careful about just imposing new AI technologies on schools without giving parents, teachers and pupils a say, or without giving them all the information they need to be fully informed and exercise their right to reject such tech being used on them. Especially in the global north we're seeing education policymakers buy into the AI hype and practically make teachers to use it in everything, but teachers and other society actors have been giving serious pushback for many reasons. It applies to LMS but also other stuff like homework marking tools or use of generative AI for lesson planning

There are some disturbing news coming from tech related policy developments in India. The Ministry of Railways plans to install facial recognition software at key stations that witness high footfalls across the country, including New Delhi and Mumbai. The latter was one of the sites of a deadly terrorist attack in 2008. Secondly, a state down south has tabled a bill that exclusively looks at curbing mis- and disinformation but policy analysts and civil society more broadly have already expressed their deepest concerns regarding the vague wording in the law. Critics see the bill as a way of cracking down on freedom of speech. There are more but they escape my memory at the moment. Here are a few references to the above developments, one from [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/travel/news/indias-7-major-railway-stations-to-get-ai-surveillance-and-facial-recognition-these-railway-stations-are/articleshow/122820837.cms Times of India] and other from [https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/indian-tech-hub-state-pushes-jail-terms-fake-news-sparks-worries-2025-06-30/ Reuters]. Civil society, academics, and policy analysts have shared their concerns even as the Centre (India's Parliament) is relentlessly pushing ahead with its plans. The ruling political party has too strong a grip on India's polity for any strong opposition-driven narratives to ground themselves. The Supreme Court, interestingly, is trying to play a balancing act but they too - in my opinion - have appeared to be swinging to the right in recent months if their judgements on certain matters are anything to go by.

2025-07-08T13:22:06Z

Victoria: /* Notes */

[[File: Digital Rights MENA Meetups.jpeg |right|frameless|340x340px]]The '''MENA''' '''Regional Meetups''' are bimonthly video calling gatherings that bring together folks from the MENA region to share, connect, seek help, and release stress by celebrating each other. In addition, it's a time for us to find ways to support each other, and help us understand what is happening in our part of the world. If you cannot attend the monthly meetups, we are taking notes of each gathering and linking to them below.

The MENA community is connected during the week in different ways. Either through various MENA-focused channels on the '''[[TCU Mattermost]]''' or via '''[[Calendar of Events|different events organized]]''' on various topics during the year.

* '''Date:''' Wednesday, June 25
* '''Time:''' 4pm EET / 9am EDT / 1pm UTC ([https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html?iso=20250625T130000&p1=tz_eest&p2=1440&p3=tz_et What time is it in my city?])
* '''Who:''' Facilitated by Mardiya
* '''Where:''' The Google Meet link will be shared in the Regional MENA's channel on the TCU Mattermost one or two hours before the start of the meeting and via email to the participants. Don't have an account to the TCU Mattermost? [[IFF Mattermost|you can request one following the directions here.]]

==== '''Digital Iran Reloaded: Iranian Gamers vs. Information Controls''' ====
Join us on the June 25, in this Digital Rights MENA Meetup combined with TCU's Community Knowledge Share webinar format, where Melinda will be talk about:

* Digital Resistance: Iranian Gamers vs. Information Controls
* Gamer community resilience
* Implications for digital rights

'''''Melinda Cohoon''', a recent doctoral graduate in Near and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Washington, focused her dissertation on the culture of gamers in Iran, specifically those who play World of Warcraft, and the application of affect theory. She is a former ICFP senior research fellow collaborating with the Miaan Group. Her recent research as a senior fellow investigates internet access conditions from the perspective of Iranian gamers.''

==Notes==
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left: 10px; width: 30%; background-color:#18e2c4;"
|'''MENA Meetups'''
*[[MENA Monthly Meetups|What are the MENA Meetups]]
*[[Villages & Special Events Notes|Others Villages & Special Events]]
*[[Calendar of Events|Upcoming Meetups & Gatherings]]
|}

This research emerges in the [https://cryptpad.fr/file/#/2/file/WehHlN6zyY0x-DxOHH6c3uyd/ Interests in Iranian Gamers and why they use VPNS] because there is a gap in understanding digital resistance practices, even those marginalized. Because of the persistence of digital authoritarianism and the current Israeli attack on internet infrastructure.

Research focused on digital ethnography on Signal, Discord and Twitch of Iranian gamers and their experiences on Internet repression., analysing the circumvention tools and political surveillance practices, with a majority of men +40 as subjects and from Iran. The majority used Psiphon as the main web browser.

Melinda found rapid evolution from basic filtering to sophisticated state control over decades, like website and search term blocking to complete shutdowns. The implementation of Halal Internet, which is the censorship of spaces of the internet resistance.

Other findings were Rotate VPNs and tweak ports/protocols and using in-game voice or text channels for private talks to prevent surveillance, so it is more than entertainment. They even embed messages in memes and insider slangs. They have a highly sophisticated and experimental culture when trying to connect or play with a strong knowledge share.

The latency is limited and gamers cannot access games or playing them is almost impossible when the latency is high

Gaming spaces are spaces of socio-political engagement while they escape from physician restrictions with PNs. '''This brings psychological resistance, built solidarity, cultural creativity and technical adaptation through play and humour'''

Melinda discusses that gaming is not merely leisure, and it is used for information controls and digital authoritarianism, while gamers fight these with their own tools while gaming. Future direction is understanding the impact of unethical IA in these spheres.

==== '''Questions:''' ====

===== '''What are the implications on other authoritarian regions - esp when digital surveillance is increasing. In terms of the tools Iranian gamers are using, are there any specific recommendations or takeaways to activists in other regions?''' =====
The gamers are good at using different and creative methodologies to circumvent surveillance, and its important to speak to and hire them to support on identifying alternative routes to addressing digital surveillance.

===== '''Does Tor not work at all in Iran even with bridges?''' =====
Yes, it does but Tor is not usually used for gaming.

===== '''Is there a reason why Tor isn’t used for gaming?''' =====
I think it is a logistic problem, it doesn't work for gaming, this tendency is not related to cultural perspectives.

===== '''What trust system exists within the networks where Iranian gamers exchange their methods on VPNs and others''' =====
They operate with low trust but share it eitherways. They want to play games so they find a way to navigate their issues

===== '''Gamers like to be anonymous, who is this related to the lack of trust?''' =====
I think in concentric circles of trust, so they use their own, like knowing them IRL first and then the circles spread.

===== '''But then Psiphon is not end-to-end encrypted (E2E). It looks to me it is not easy to maintain privacy and anonymity - perhaps also explains the low trust. Are there any insights from the gamers demography?''' =====
It is impossible to maintain anonymity, but they keep trying new methodologies.

===== '''And can you tell us more about usage of popular apps like discord for communication and steam for actual gaming, are these generally blocked as a whole? or is there blocking/surveillance for specific aspects of them?''' =====
Discord is the most popular. And these aren’t generally blocked.

===== '''From what you have observed, do Iranian gamers tend to use gaming environments for socialising (political ideas, artistic or cultural projects) beyond the entertainment and gaming environment?''' =====
Yes, they do but once again they would say that it is more for entertainment even though it is becoming a political sphere.

===== '''Do Iranian gamers really engage with state sponsored games?''' =====
They don’t play those, they call this propaganda.

===== '''How do you navigate trust with these Iranian gamers being not Iranian?''' =====
It took time, it took me 4 years in the field of research.

===== '''Speaking of propaganda, don't they find the most played games (especially Call of Duty) as American propaganda? Isn't there a perception, let's say pre-politics, that this is also propaganda but ‘we want to have a good time’ so to speak?''' =====
It is easier to play these games, there are more games coming from the US and these are “good done” games even propagandistic. They can buy these games in Iran but are censored

===== '''What lessons can be drawn and applied to other contexts (such as Palestine) regarding surveillance and protection while gaming?''' =====
This is a hard question because of the volatile context. They can’t access these services right now.

===== '''Piracy is the (legitimate) way to access culture, is it right? Do you expand this topic in your research?''' =====
It is legitimate but I do not expand on this topic in this research. Mobile gaming is more prevalent than computer gaming. This is a class issue mostly but I would like to expand my research on that.

===== '''What role does diaspora play in supporting Iranian gamers' visibility and access internationally?''' =====
A lot of people end up leaving Iran and end up being streamers on Twitch as a professional gamer, this is the main mechanism. Some of them don’t have access to monetization. They support each other in networks like these but this doesn’t help that much with access.

2025-07-07T14:14:03Z

Victoria:

CKS Notes

2025-07-07T14:13:18Z

Victoria:

[[File:Feather.png|left|40px]]
{|class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-right: 30px; width: 25%; background-color:#89dff7;"
|
* [[Calendar of Events|Upcoming Workshops]]
* [[CKS Notes|Notes from Past Events]]
* [[Community Knowledge Share|What are the CKS Workshops?]]

|}

The Community Knowledge Share (CKS) workshop series brings to you a diversity of online gatherings lead by community leaders in the Internet Freedom field. 

CKS focus on a variety of topics found in the digital rights space ranging from technology infrastructure to community health to regional research. Workshops last 1-2 hours, and are interactive, allowing the community not just to learn and share knowledge, but also to brainstorm on issues together! CKS are designed to deepen your knowledge in a particular area; connect with others interested in the same topics or areas; promote collaboration and the fomentation of partnerships across regions and disciplines; and showcase and celebrate the amazing people that are leading our community! They can be hosted individually or under a [[Villages & Special Events Notes|village]].

==The following are the past CKS sessions and workshops with corresponding notes==

[[July 30 2025, Asia Meetup|Cybersecurity with Chinese Characteristics]]

[[June 25 2025, MENA Meetup|Digital Iran Reloaded: Iranian Gamers vs. Information Controls]]

[[18 de Junio, 2025 LATAM|Tecnologías para la Autonomía: Construyendo Redes Comunitarias en América Latina]]

[[June 17: Outline Psiphon Integration: A New Era in Circumvention Tech|Outline + Psiphon Integration: A New Era in Circumvention Tech]]

[[April 30 2025, Africa Meetup|Digital Rights Organizational Analysis: Lessons from Gambia]]

[[April 16 2025, MENA Meetup|Tech, Policy & Support: SMEX's Work in Action]]

[[October 30: Outline Managers Meetup|Outline Managers Meetup]]

[[September 12: Outline Community Hub Kick-Off Meetup|Outline Community Hub Kick-Off Meetup]]

[[Entender, eludir y confrontar apagones: Formaciones en línea con la Shutdown Academy]]

[[Advanced Outline Deployments for Resilience and Scale]]

[[November 30 2023 GM|Preparing for the 2024 Election and Addressing Surveillance and Censorship in Tanzania]]

[[Growing With the People: How Outline VPN Providers Adapt to Support Diverse Populations]]

[[The Impact of Witnessing Human Rights Abuses: Vicarious Trauma]]

[[Survivor Guilt, Regret Rumination and How to Cop it as an Activist]]

[[Responding to Defeat and Creating Communities of Hope 2023|Responding to Defeat and Creating Communities of Hope]]

[[Getting to Know our Stress & Anxiety]]

[[Commonalities Between the Regions]]

[[Africa Digital Rights Perspectives]]

[[Asia Digital Rights Perspectives]]

[[Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Digital Rights Perspectives]]

[[Latin America Digital Rights Perspectives]]

[[A Career in Technology Research]]

[[A Career in Grassroots to International Nonprofits]]

[[A Career in Public Interest Technology]]

[[A Career in Tech Tool Making]]

[[A Career in Policy Advocacy]]

[[An Overview of the Digital Rights Landscape for Career Seekers]]

[[NewNode VPN: Internet Access In Shutdowns And Disruptions]]

[[How to Critically Choose a VPN]]

[[Getting Started with Outline: Helping your friends and family access the Open Internet]]

[[“All of them claim to be the best”: A multi-perspective study of VPN users and VPN providers]]

[[Threat Modeling 101: Understanding When to Use or Not Use a VPN]]

[[Run Snowflake Proxies and Strengthen Internet Freedom]]

[[November 17 2022 GM|Becoming Your Community’s VPN Provider with WEPN]]

[[Deconstructing Trauma]]

[[Trauma & Identity: a deep dive on intersectionality]]

[[Healing in the In-Between: Exploring Migration and Vicarious Trauma]]

[[Responding to Defeat and Creating Communities of Hope]]

[[Processing Rage 101]]

[[Your Own Oxygen Mask First: An Intimate Conversation for Digital Rights Leaders about Burnout]]

[[Organizational Accountability Wheel Webinar]]

[[The archives of positive future: dance with a furious smile as you are the future: To be Fire]]

[https://wiki.digitalrights.community/index.php?title=Understanding_&_Designing_your_Mental_Health_Plan Understanding & Designing your Mental Health Plan]

[[Regenerative Activism]]

[[Imagining Alternative Worlds through Activism]]

[[Mayan Healing Ceremony]]

[[Embodied Connection]]

[[Dealing with Conflicts in Activist Groups and Teams]]

[[Care is Resistance: From Being Detained as a "Terrorist" to the Coping-with-prison-guide]]

[[Into the Fediverse on the Back of Mastodon]]

[[Tor en dispositivos móviles, Transportes Conectables & Snowflake]]

[[Pathways to Organizational Health]]

[[Tor on Mobile Devices, Pluggable Transports / Snowflake]]

[[Grab a cup of coffee and come to talk about making your podcast!]]

[[OTF Fireside Chat: Funding Opportunities & Feedback]]

[[Launching your Podcast 101]]

[[Even The Finest of Warriors]]

[[Fundraising and Participatory Decision Making in the LGBTQAI Non-Profit Ecosystem]]

[[How to Report Software Bugs / Thunderbird Bug Party]]

[[Everything You Need to Know About Mailvelope]]

[[The 2020 Community Health Report Debrief]]

[[SignalBoost: Secure Messaging at Scale for Digital Organizers]]

[[Colombian Human Rights in the Digital Age]]

[[Design, Human Rights, and Harm]]

[[Nonprofit Management 101: Understanding the Basics of Running a Nonprofit]]

[[Remote Online Harassment During COVID19]]

[[Into the Zanga]]

[[The Data Detox Kit and Engaging Audiences]]

[[The Feminist Ecosystem Funding: Why Doria Feminist Fund]]

[[Q&A with The Tor’s Circumvention Lead About Snowflake]]

[[Disinformation Workshop: Tools & Techniques]]

[[Collaborative Conversation on Free Speech, Extremist Organizing & The Paradox of Intolerance]]

[[Story Time Cafe with Internet Master Storytellers]]

[[November 20 2020, MENA Meetup|Independent Media in Lebanon After the Blast]]

[[Annotated Bibliography: Transnational Digital Repression]]

[[Creating Your Own Custom Security Policy]]

[[VPN & Policy]]

[[Telling Stories about Algorithms]]

[[Civilsphere's Emergency VPN: Analyzing Mobile Network Traffic to Detect Digital Threats]]

[[Icarus Project: Testing and Analyzing Internet Censorship Circumvention Solutions]]

[[The State of Internet Freedom Around the World]]

[[The Alarming Growing Trend of Digital Identification Systems]]

[[Resisting Public Space Surveillance: Fostering privacy and anonymity in the age of mass video and facial recognition surveillance]]

[[How to VPN]]

[[Identity 2.0: Exploring Digital Identities Through Art]]

[[The Intergenerational Ruptures and Bridges in Feminism]]

[[Decentralized Web: Research Findings]]

[[Procesos en Capacitaciones en Seguridad Integral y Digital]]

[[Understanding Hong Kong]]

[[Digital Rights in Southeast Asia]]

[[So You Want to be a Digital Security Trainer]]

[[How to Better Prepare for the Next Internet Shutdown]]

[[Disinformation Strategies and Tactics]]

[[Covid-19 Without a Lockdown: Digital Tools Used in Taiwan for Coronavirus Prevention & Monitoring]]

[[América Latina: la tecnología en tiempos de COVID-19]]

[[How Activists Organize Self Care and Collective Care?]]

[[Growing Privacy Concerns During COVID-19]]

[[Fireplace Chat with Funders in the Internet Freedom Space]]

[[The Story of Diversity, Security & Love in Southern Africa]]

[[Magick of Glitter & Tales of Building Community]]

[[Silencing Across Borders: Digital Threats and Transnational Repression against Exiled Activists]]

[[Constructing Feminist Tech through Fiction]]

[[Online Facilitation]]

[[Taking the High Route - the Internet routing architecture and human rights]]

2025-06-26T13:26:47Z

Victoria:

2025-06-19T12:53:14Z

Victoria:

__NOTOC__
=== Featured Recurring Events===

'''Glitter Meetups:''' [[Glitter Meetup|Every Thursday at 9am EDT]] we host a weekly town hall for digital rights advocates from around the world, which take place on the [http://community.internetfreedomfestival.org/ IF Mattermost Square Channel]. Email us at team[at]digitalrights.community if you need a [[TCU Mattermost|invite]]

< '''>>''' '''Add our Google Calendar!!'''

[https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=c_tjb803smtn9ds1ff9akgks19bk%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz Copy these events] to your Google calendar. Events in [https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/c_tjb803smtn9ds1ff9akgks19bk%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics iCal format]. //

'''July 2025'''
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
|-
| style="width:10%" |'''Date'''
| style="width:15%" |'''Time'''
| style="width:20%" |'''Title'''
| style="width:40%" |'''Description'''
| style="width:15%" |'''Presenter'''
|-
|July 31
|9am EDT / 1pm UTC
|'''[[July 31 2025 GM|The Power and Relevance of Humanizing Tech and Digital Rights Through Storytelling (Glitter Meetup)]]'''
|Why the prevailing environment of covering and discussing tech issues and their impact on communities is problematic and/or concerning? Learn how storytelling can be an effective antidote or catalyst for change.
|Vinayak Rajesekhar
|-
|July 24
|9am EDT / 1pm UTC
|'''[[July 24 2025 GM|What is Happening in Digital Rights Around the World? (Glitter Meetup)]]'''
|Come to share emerging and existing digital rights conversations happening around the world and in your region at this Glitter Meetup. There is something new, specific or special that you would like to bring to the technology and human rights table? Join us and let's talk about it.
|Mardiya
|-
|July 10
|9am EDT / 1pm UTC
|'''[[July 10 2025 GM|The Social Networking Glitter Meetup (Glitter Meetup)]]'''
|The Social Networking Glitter Meetup is a space to connect with others in the community. Join us to talk about whatever you want: a project that you are working on, an event that caught your attention, general questions about the experience of working in the digital rights field, your insights on the latest big tech nonsense, and even your vacations.
|Mardiya
|-
|}

'''June 2025'''
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
|-
| style="width:10%" |'''Date'''
| style="width:15%" |'''Time'''
| style="width:20%" |'''Title'''
| style="width:40%" |'''Description'''
| style="width:15%" |'''Presenter'''
|-
|June 26
|9am EDT / 1pm UTC
|'''[[June 26 2025 GM|2025 Global Gathering Ask-Me-Anything (AMA) (Glitter Meetup)]]'''
|Join the Ask-Me-Anything (AMA) session to get your questions answered about the [[Global Gathering 2025|2025 Global Gathering (GG)]]. Come and learn about this year’s GG structure, what makes a strong booth proposal, and which elements could make yours stand out!
|Erin
|-
|June 25
|9am EDT / 1pm UTC
|'''[[June 25 2025, MENA Meetup|Digital Iran Reloaded: Iranian Gamers vs. Information Controls (Digital Rights MENA Meetup)]]'''
|In this Digital Rights MENA Meetup combined with TCU's Community Knowledge Share webinar format, where Melinda will be talk about Digital Resistance: Iranian Gamers vs. Information Controls, gamer community resilience, and the implications for digital rights.
|Melinda Cohoon
|-
|June 19
|9am EDT / 1pm UTC
|'''[[June 19 2025 GM|The Social Networking Glitter Meetup (Glitter Meetup)]]'''
|The Social Networking Glitter Meetup is a space to connect with others in the community. Join us to talk about whatever you want: a project that you are working on, an event that caught your attention, general questions about the experience of working in the digital rights field, your insights on the latest big tech nonsense, and even your vacations.
|Mardiya
|-
|June 18
|5:30pm EDT / 9:30pm UTC
|'''[[18 de Junio, 2025 LATAM|Tecnologías para la Autonomía: Construyendo Redes Comunitarias en América Latina (Digital Rights LATAM Meetup)]]'''
|En esta [[Latin American Monthly Meetups|reunión regional de América Latina]], en combinación con el formato de seminario web [[CKS Notes|Compartir Conocimientos Comunitarios]], Adrián López compartirá su experiencia trabajando con comunidades y organizaciones rurales e indígenas para ayudarlas a construir sus propios medios de comunicación y conectividad en América Latina. '''[[18 de Junio, 2025 LATAM|Lea las Notas Acá]]'''
|Ursula
|-
|June 17
|9:30am EDT / 1:30pm UTC
|'''[[June 17: Outline Psiphon Integration: A New Era in Circumvention Tech|Outline + Psiphon Integration: A New Era in Circumvention Tech (CKS)]]'''
|This is part of the [[Outline Community Hub]]. Discover how two of the best known censorship circumvention tools - Outline SDK and Psiphon - have joined forces to ensure more resilient access to the open internet.
|Vinicius Fortuna & Duncan Leikucs
|-
|June 12
|9am EDT / 1pm UTC
|'''[[June 12 2025 GM|Digitized Divides: Revealing The Trade-offs of a Tech-dependent World (Glitter Meetup)]]'''
|Safa, Associate Program Director at Tactical Tech, will talk about the 10-part series “Digitized Divides: Revealing the Trade-Offs of a Tech-Dependent World”, which highlights the human and environmental costs, systemic inequities, and ethical challenges that technology can create or amplify. '''[[June 12 2025 GM|Read Notes Here]]'''
|Safa
|-
|June 5
|9am EDT / 1pm UTC
|'''[[June 5 2025 GM|What is Happening in Digital Rights Around the World? (Glitter Meetup)]]'''
|Come to share emerging and existing digital rights conversations happening around the world and in your region at this Glitter Meetup. There is something new, specific or special that you would like to bring to the technology and human rights table? Join us and let's talk about it.
|Danae
|-
|}

'''May 2025'''
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
|-
| style="width:10%" |'''Date'''
| style="width:15%" |'''Time'''
| style="width:20%" |'''Title'''
| style="width:40%" |'''Description'''
| style="width:15%" |'''Presenter'''
|-
|May 29
|9am EDT / 1pm UTC
|'''[[May 29 2025 GM|Creating "Digital Playgrounds for Creative Communities" with Portal (Glitter Meetup)]]'''
|The creative director of uzoma.studio will be talking about what inspired the ‘Portal', they will show a demo of the project as it currently exists, and what it aims to achieve for creative communities.
|Uzoma Orji
|-
|May 22
|9am EDT / 1pm UTC
|'''[[May 22 2025 GM|Safety & Responsibility in AI-driven Applications in War and Armed Conflict (Glitter Meetup)]]'''
|Learn about the types of AI applications in the military domain during war or armed conflict, the key actors involved in AI governance in military applications and some recommended safety measures for responsible use of AI in war/armed conflict operations. '''[[May 22 2025 GM|Read Notes Here]]'''
|Sarra
|-
|May 15
|9am EDT / 1pm UTC
|'''[[May 15 2025 GM|The Social Networking Glitter Meetup (Glitter Meetup)]]'''
|The Social Networking Glitter Meetup is a space to connect with others in the community. Join us to talk about whatever you want: a project that you are working on, an event that caught your attention, general questions about the experience of working in the digital rights field, your insights on the latest big tech nonsense, and even your vacations.
|Mardiya
|-
|May 8
|9am EDT / 1pm UTC
|'''[[May 8 2025 GM|DRAPAC VPN Project Protects Human Rights Defenders From Censorship And Surveillance (Glitter Meetup)]]'''
|Learn about the DRAPAC VPN Project, the new DRAPAC VPN bot and get insights about other projects related to EngageMedia's Human Rights Technology Initiative. [[May 8 2025 GM|'''Read Notes Here''']]
|Meg, EngageMedia Program Coordinator
|-
|}

'''April 2025'''
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
|-
| style="width:10%" |'''Date'''
| style="width:15%" |'''Time'''
| style="width:20%" |'''Title'''
| style="width:40%" |'''Description'''
| style="width:15%" |'''Presenter'''
|-
|April 30
|10am EDT / 2pm UTC
|[[April 30 2025, Africa Meetup|'''Digital Rights Organizational Analysis: Lessons from Gambia''']]
|During this webinar, Poncelet will be sharing his approach to conducting timely organizational assessments to identify strengths, opportunities and weaknesses within current models. The goal is to share knowledge on how small digital rights organizations can map out emerging trends to make timely decisions contributing to their sustainability in the long run. '''[[April 30 2025, Africa Meetup|Read Notes Here]]'''
|Poncelet Ileleji
|-
|April 24
|10am EDT / 2pm UTC
|'''[[April 24 2025 GM|The Sound of Independence: Building Your Own Music Streaming Service (Glitter Meetup)]]'''
|Hear from Raphael from Horizontal, who will be sharing ethics and politics on why anyone would want to move away from Spotify or other corporate music streaming services, how to build your own music streaming service without coding or technical skills, how we can make this accessible to more people, even non-techies. '''[[April 24 2025 GM|Read Notes Here]]'''
|Raphael Mimoun
|-
|April 23
|5:30pm EDT / 9:30pm UTC
|'''[[23 de Abril, 2025 LATAM|Digital Rights LATAM Meetup]]'''
|Los '''[[Latin American Monthly Meetups|Digital Rights LATAM Meetups]]''' son video llamadas cada dos meses para charlar, compartir proyectos, soltar un poco de estrés, contar buenas noticias y ayudarnos entre todes a solucionar lo que podamos en las no tan buenas. '''[[23 de Abril, 2025 LATAM|Lea las notas aca]]'''
|Ursula y David
|-
|April 17
|9am EDT / 1pm UTC
|'''[[April 17 2025 GM|The Social Networking Glitter Meetup (Glitter Meetup)]]'''
|The Social Networking Glitter Meetup is a space to connect with others in the community. Join us to talk about whatever you want: a project that you are working on, an event that caught your attention, general questions about the experience of working in the digital rights field, your insights on the latest big tech nonsense, and even your vacations.
|Mardiya
|-
|April 16
|9am EDT / 1pm UTC
|[[April 16 2025, MENA Meetup|'''Tech, Policy & Support: SMEX's Work in Action''']]
|Join this webinar with Smex’s team, who will introduce a quick look at SMEX’s mission in the MENA region, share tech and policy work at SMEX, and the result of Tech and policy work on analyzing and reviewing applications. '''[[April 16 2025, MENA Meetup|Read Notes Here]]'''
|Metehan and Madleine
|-
|April 10
|9am EDT / 1pm UTC
|'''[[April 10 2025 GM|Network Measurements - How to Gather and Use Evidence of an Internet Shutdown Happening in Your Country? (Glitter Meetup)]]'''
|Learn about Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI) and open datasets that allow to investigate internet shutdowns, tools to coordinate rapid response to social media and other websites blockings, and communities to be part of to get support. '''[[April 10 2025 GM|Read Notes Here]]'''
|Elizaveta
|-
|April 3
|9am EDT / 1pm UTC
|'''[[April 3 2025 GM|What is Happening in Digital Rights Around the World? (Glitter Meetup)]]'''
|Come to share emerging and existing digital rights conversations happening around the world and in your region at this Glitter Meetup. There is something new, specific or special that you would like to bring to the technology and human rights table? Join us and let's talk about it. '''[[April 3 2025 GM|Read Notes Here]]'''
|Mardiya
|-
|}

'''March 2025'''
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
|-
| style="width:10%" |'''Date'''
| style="width:15%" |'''Time'''
| style="width:20%" |'''Title'''
| style="width:40%" |'''Description'''
| style="width:15%" |'''Presenter'''
|-
|March 27
|9am EDT / 1pm UTC
|'''[[March 27 2025 GM|Target Threats Research - A Breakdown of 3 Years of Civil Society Threat Research in South & North Korea (Glitter Meetup)]]'''
|Ovi, a security researcher and threat analyst with over 10 years of experience, who will be taking us through a broad analysis of threats faced by CSOs in Korea, based on 100+ real-life events and threat research analyses conducted over the past 3 years. '''[[March 27 2025 GM|Read Notes Here]]'''
|Ovi
|-
|March 20
|9am EDT / 1pm UTC
|'''[[March 20 2025 GM|The Social Networking Glitter Meetup (Glitter Meetup)]]'''
|The Social Networking Glitter Meetup is a space to connect with others in the community. Join us to talk about whatever you want: a project that you are working on, an event that caught your attention, general questions about the experience of working in the digital rights field, your insights on the latest big tech nonsense, and even your vacations. '''[[March 20 2025 GM|Read Notes Here]]'''
|Mardiya
|-
|March 13
|9am EDT / 1pm UTC
|'''[[March 13 2025 GM|The Digital Security School (Glitter Meetup)]]'''
|Hear from Sebastien who will be talking about the digital security school. He will take us through: connectivity in hard-to-reach place, using technological tools to defend human rights, and the importance of teaching digital security. '''[[March 13 2025 GM|Read Notes Here]]'''
|Sebastien
|-
|March 6
|9am EST / 2pm UTC
|'''[[March 6 2025 GM|What is Happening in Digital Rights Around the World? (Glitter Meetup)]]'''
|Come to share emerging and existing digital rights conversations happening around the world and in your region at this Glitter Meetup. There is something new, specific or special that you would like to bring to the technology and human rights table? Join us and let's talk about it.
|Mardiya
|}

'''February 2025'''
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
|-
| style="width:10%" |'''Date'''
| style="width:15%" |'''Time'''
| style="width:20%" |'''Title'''
| style="width:40%" |'''Description'''
| style="width:15%" |'''Presenter'''
|-
|February 27
|9am EST / 2pm UTC
|'''[[February 27 2025 GM|The Hong Kong Accountability Archive (Glitter Meetup)]]'''
|The Hong Kong Accountability Archive will cover Hong Kong 2019 protest video archive - objectives & functionality; data visualisation tool of 2019 protests; challenges in building and managing the archive, and future priorities and directions. '''[[February 27 2025 GM|Read Notes Here]]'''
|Hong Kong Accountability Archive
|-
|February 26
|9am EST / 2pm UTC
|'''[[February 26 2025, Africa Meetup|Digital Rights Africa Meetup]]'''
|The [[Africa Monthly Meetups|'''Digital Rights Africa Regional Meetups''']] are bimonthly video calling gatherings that bring together folks from the African region to share, connect, seek help, and release stress by celebrating each other. '''[[February 26 2025, Africa Meetup|Read Notes Here]]'''
|Mardiya
|-
|February 20
|9am EST / 2pm UTC
|'''[[February 20 2025 GM|Supporting Furloughed Employees Town Halls (Glitter Meetup)]]'''
|In this space we will provide support for individuals who have been furloughed, and Team CommUNITY staff will be available to offer resume reviews and any other guidance where possible. This is also a space to connect with others in the digital rights community, share your projects, and discuss events that caught your attention.
|TCU Team
|-
|February 19
|5:30pm EST / 10:30pm UTC
|[[19 de Febrero, 2025 LATAM|'''Digital Rights LATAM Meetup''']]
|Los '''[[Latin American Monthly Meetups|Digital Rights LATAM Meetups]]''' son video llamadas cada dos meses para charlar, compartir proyectos, soltar un poco de estrés, contar buenas noticias y ayudarnos entre todes a solucionar lo que podamos en las no tan buenas. '''[[19 de Febrero, 2025 LATAM|Lean las Notas Aca]]'''
|Ursula
|-
|February 18
|7am EST / 12pm UTC
|'''[[February 18 2025, Asia Meetup|Digital Rights Asia Meetup]]'''
|Lezismore Taiwan’s largest privacy-first platform supporting sexual minorities will be sharing their work, experiences and challenges with community work in the region. The '''[[Asia Monthly Meetups|Asia Regional Meetups]]''' are bimonthly text-based gatherings that bring together folks from the Asian region to share, connect, seek help, and release stress by celebrating each other. '''[[February 18 2025, Asia Meetup|Read Notes Here]]'''
|Lezismore Taiwan
|-
|February 13
|9am EST / 2pm UTC
|'''[[February 13 2025 GM|What is Happening in Digital Rights Around the World? (Glitter Meetup)]]'''
|Come to share emerging and existing digital rights conversations happening around the world and in your region at this Glitter Meetup! There is something new, specific or special that you would like to bring to the technology and human rights table? Join us and let's talk about it!
|Mardiya
|-
|February 6
|9am EST / 2pm UTC
|'''[[February 6 2025 GM|Supporting Furloughed Employees Town Hall (Glitter Meetup)]]'''
|In this space we will provide support for individuals who have been furloughed, and Team CommUNITY staff will be available to offer resume reviews and any other guidance where possible. This is also a space to connect with others in the digital rights community, share your projects, and discuss events that caught your attention.
|TCU Team
|-
|}

'''January 2025'''
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
|-
| style="width:10%" |'''Date'''
| style="width:15%" |'''Time'''
| style="width:20%" |'''Title'''
| style="width:40%" |'''Description'''
| style="width:15%" |'''Presenter'''
|-
|January 30
|9am EST / 2pm UTC
|'''[[January 30 2025 GM|Undersea Cables in Africa - New Frontiers for Digital Colonialism (Glitter Meetup)]]'''
|Esther Mwema, an award-winning artist and digital inequalities expert from Zambia, will be talking about the analysis of undersea cables ownership by Big Tech in Africa, art as a focal point of resistance and advocacy, and Internet infrastructure and Climate justice in the African context. '''[[January 30 2025 GM|Read Notes Here]]'''
|Esther Mwema
|-
|January 23
|9am EST / 2pm UTC
|'''[[January 23 2025 GM|What is Happening in Digital Rights Around the World? (Glitter Meetup)]]'''
|Come to share emerging and existing digital rights conversations happening around the world and in your region at this Glitter Meetup! There is something new, specific or special that you would like to bring to the technology and human rights table? Join us and let's talk about it! '''[[January 23 2025 GM|Read Notes Here]]'''
|Maridya
|-
|January 16
|9am EST / 2pm UTC
|'''[[January 16 2025 GM|Bitpart: Sending Secure Automated Messages Over Signal (Glitter Meetup)]]'''
|Throneless Tech is a technology worker-cooperative with a new product: Bitpart , a platform that allows activists, journalists, and human rights defenders to send automated messages over Signal. They will share their learnings from design research which led to them developing it and a prototype that they would love for you to try out! '''[[January 16 2025 GM|Read Notes Here]]'''
|Throneless Tech
|-
|January 9
|9am EST / 2pm UTC
|'''[[January 9 2025 GM|Welcome Back Glitter Meetup (Glitter Meetup)]]'''
|Join us to talk about whatever you want: a project that you are working on, an event that caught your attention, general questions about the experience of working in the digital rights field, your insights on the latest big tech nonsense, and even your vacations. [[January 9 2025 GM|'''Read Notes Here''']]
|Ursula
|-
|}

==Past TCU Virtual Events==
'''[[TCU Calendar of Events 2024]]'''

'''[[TCU Calendar of Events 2023]]'''

'''[[TCU Calendar of Events 2022]]'''

'''[[Past Events 2020 - 2021]]'''