2026 Global Gathering Programming: Difference between revisions
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==== '''<big>Open Call for Programming Starts March 19!</big>''' ==== | |||
The link to the open call for programming will be shared with all approved GG attendees on March 19. For this reason, make sure to submit your GG application as soon as possible! | |||
== '''What We Are Looking for...''' == | |||
At the GG we are looking for programming that reflects real needs on the ground and helps tackle urgent tech/digital challenges impacting civil society, defenders, and journalists on the local, regional, and global levels. We especially love programming that is used to advance goals, improve skills, deepen knowledge around a specific area, or address known or emerging challenges. To facilitate these conversations, we use ''Circles'', ''Meetups'', ''Skill-Share Workshops'', and ''Villages''. | |||
We also love when projects and individuals share their work with others. To help organizations highlight their projects, we use ''Booths'', and in rare occasions, ''Circles''. | |||
== '''The Format''' == | == '''The Format''' == | ||
Given the state of the world and the numerous challenges facing the digital rights space, we have begun working on programming earlier this year in order to coordinate more pre-event and morning activities and strengthen the GG's impact. Programming formats this year will include: | |||
'''Circles''', or collaborative discussions that draw out collective wisdom, facilitate brainstorming, or help problem-solve around challenges. | '''Circles''', or collaborative discussions that draw out collective wisdom, facilitate brainstorming, or help problem-solve around challenges. | ||
'''Booths''' allow projects to use one of the venue’s permanent structures to showcase their work, demo a tool, run a | '''Booths''', which allow projects to use one of the venue’s permanent structures to showcase their work, demo a tool, run a skill-share, or have one-to-one conversations with participants. [https://www.digitalrights.community/blog/how-gg-booths-help-you-achieve-your-goals Read about why our booth design is unique.] | ||
'''Meetups''' are designed to gather participants who share a commonality or interest in a more informal setting. While Team CommUNITY will be coordinating a select number of topical and regional networking meetups, participants will be provided with tools to self-organize their own meetups. | '''Meetups''' are designed to gather participants who share a commonality or interest in a more informal setting. While Team CommUNITY will be coordinating a select number of topical and regional networking meetups, participants will be provided with tools to self-organize their own meetups. | ||
''' | '''Skill-Share Workshops:''' Additionally, in response to your feedback, more skill-share workshops will be included in the 2026 event programming. | ||
'''Villages''', which combine Circles and Booths into their programming and are community-led hubs focused on specific themes, regions or areas of practices. In the past, organizations and networks have hosted villages centered on their core work, shared challenges, or regional priorities. | |||
== '''2026 Themes''' == | == '''2026 Themes''' == | ||
In addition to the themes listed below, the areas we will be highlighting through collaborative programming include: spyware response, secure communications, and organizational security, as well as autonomous infrastructure and circumvention technology. | |||
=== '''Ecosystem Security, Sustainability, and Health''' === | === '''Ecosystem Security, Sustainability, and Health''' === | ||
| Line 31: | Line 42: | ||
* Organizational security in low-resource environments | * Organizational security in low-resource environments | ||
* Digital security training for at-risk groups and journalists | * Digital security training for at-risk groups and journalists | ||
* Challenges and updates in security education and training | |||
* Whistleblowing protection | * Whistleblowing protection | ||
* Identifying and onboarding new funders to the field | * Identifying and onboarding new funders to the field | ||
| Line 42: | Line 53: | ||
* Open source circumvention and encrypted communications tools, as well as protocols and effective approaches to tool use | * Open source circumvention and encrypted communications tools, as well as protocols and effective approaches to tool use | ||
* Emerging technological challenges and trends in digital surveillance and censorship | * Emerging technological challenges and trends in digital surveillance and censorship | ||
* Challenges and updates in security education and training | * Challenges and updates in security education and training | ||
=== '''Alternative Infrastructure and Digital Sovereignty''' === | === '''Alternative Infrastructure and Digital Sovereignty''' === | ||
* Building decentralized and community-owned technologies. | * Building decentralized and community-owned technologies. | ||
* Common challenges and practical approaches to self-hosting, adopting open source tools, and divesting from extractive technologies | * Common challenges and practical approaches to self-hosting, adopting open source tools, and divesting from extractive technologies | ||
=== '''Emerging and Urgent Tech Issues: Disinformation, AI, Platform Accountability, Internet Blackouts, Etc.''' === | === '''Emerging and Urgent Tech Issues: Disinformation, AI, Platform Accountability, Internet Blackouts, Etc.''' === | ||
* Updates on current trends in disinformation, platform accountability, and other emerging tech-related issues impacting rights defenders and journalists, prioritizing frontline experiences | * Updates on current trends in disinformation, platform accountability, and other emerging tech-related issues impacting rights defenders and journalists, prioritizing frontline experiences | ||
* Developments in platform accountability work, current needs, and brainstorming cross-regional actions | |||
* Developments in platform accountability work, current needs, and brainstorming cross-regional actions | * Best practices to navigate internet shutdowns | ||
* Best practices to navigate internet shutdowns | * Best practices in information integrity, archiving, and combatting disinformation campaigns | ||
* Best practices in information integrity, archiving, and | * AI and automated decision-making as it relates to surveillance, censorship, equity, and access | ||
* AI and automated decision-making as it relates to surveillance, censorship, equity and access | * Embedding human rights principles into automated processes | ||
=== '''Civil Society Reflections on Tech Regulation | === '''Civil Society Reflections on Tech Regulation''' === | ||
* Updates | * Updates to laws, governance frameworks, and regulatory approaches shaping digital rights, data protection and privacy, freedom of expression, Internet governance, etc. | ||
* | * Use of legal and regulatory mechanisms to attack civil society, e.g. SLAPPs | ||
* Regulatory, technical, and civic responses to emerging risks | * Regulatory, technical, and civic responses to emerging risks | ||
* | * Global impact and implications of regional tech policy and regulation | ||
Latest revision as of 18:12, 4 March 2026
Open Call for Programming Starts March 19!
The link to the open call for programming will be shared with all approved GG attendees on March 19. For this reason, make sure to submit your GG application as soon as possible!
What We Are Looking for...
At the GG we are looking for programming that reflects real needs on the ground and helps tackle urgent tech/digital challenges impacting civil society, defenders, and journalists on the local, regional, and global levels. We especially love programming that is used to advance goals, improve skills, deepen knowledge around a specific area, or address known or emerging challenges. To facilitate these conversations, we use Circles, Meetups, Skill-Share Workshops, and Villages.
We also love when projects and individuals share their work with others. To help organizations highlight their projects, we use Booths, and in rare occasions, Circles.
The Format
Given the state of the world and the numerous challenges facing the digital rights space, we have begun working on programming earlier this year in order to coordinate more pre-event and morning activities and strengthen the GG's impact. Programming formats this year will include:
Circles, or collaborative discussions that draw out collective wisdom, facilitate brainstorming, or help problem-solve around challenges.
Booths, which allow projects to use one of the venue’s permanent structures to showcase their work, demo a tool, run a skill-share, or have one-to-one conversations with participants. Read about why our booth design is unique.
Meetups are designed to gather participants who share a commonality or interest in a more informal setting. While Team CommUNITY will be coordinating a select number of topical and regional networking meetups, participants will be provided with tools to self-organize their own meetups.
Skill-Share Workshops: Additionally, in response to your feedback, more skill-share workshops will be included in the 2026 event programming.
Villages, which combine Circles and Booths into their programming and are community-led hubs focused on specific themes, regions or areas of practices. In the past, organizations and networks have hosted villages centered on their core work, shared challenges, or regional priorities.
2026 Themes
In addition to the themes listed below, the areas we will be highlighting through collaborative programming include: spyware response, secure communications, and organizational security, as well as autonomous infrastructure and circumvention technology.
Ecosystem Security, Sustainability, and Health
- Best practices for navigating new organizational realities
- Organizational security in low-resource environments
- Digital security training for at-risk groups and journalists
- Challenges and updates in security education and training
- Whistleblowing protection
- Identifying and onboarding new funders to the field
Surveillance and Censorship
- Current research and frontline insights
- Threat and/or trend discovery
- New and emerging spyware developments
- Combatting smart cities, data brokers, and other privacy intrusive tools
- Open source circumvention and encrypted communications tools, as well as protocols and effective approaches to tool use
- Emerging technological challenges and trends in digital surveillance and censorship
- Challenges and updates in security education and training
Alternative Infrastructure and Digital Sovereignty
- Building decentralized and community-owned technologies.
- Common challenges and practical approaches to self-hosting, adopting open source tools, and divesting from extractive technologies
Emerging and Urgent Tech Issues: Disinformation, AI, Platform Accountability, Internet Blackouts, Etc.
- Updates on current trends in disinformation, platform accountability, and other emerging tech-related issues impacting rights defenders and journalists, prioritizing frontline experiences
- Developments in platform accountability work, current needs, and brainstorming cross-regional actions
- Best practices to navigate internet shutdowns
- Best practices in information integrity, archiving, and combatting disinformation campaigns
- AI and automated decision-making as it relates to surveillance, censorship, equity, and access
- Embedding human rights principles into automated processes
Civil Society Reflections on Tech Regulation
- Updates to laws, governance frameworks, and regulatory approaches shaping digital rights, data protection and privacy, freedom of expression, Internet governance, etc.
- Use of legal and regulatory mechanisms to attack civil society, e.g. SLAPPs
- Regulatory, technical, and civic responses to emerging risks
- Global impact and implications of regional tech policy and regulation
