Research on transnational repression

Defending Democracy in Exile, report by Freedom House

What is Transnational Repression? It is governments reaching across borders to silence dissent among diasporas and exiles, including through assassinations, illegal deportations, abductions, digital threats, Interpol abuse, and family intimidation. It is a daily assault on civilians everywhere — including in democracies like the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Australia, and South Africa.

Critical voices that challenge authoritarian rule become voices to silence. Journalists and human rights defenders. Diaspora groups and family members of exiles. Political activists, dissidents and civil society leaders.

What appear to be isolated incidents when viewed separately—an assassination here, a kidnapping there—in fact form a constant threat across the world that is affecting the lives of millions of people and changing how activists, journalists, and regular individuals go about their lives. Transnational repression is no longer an exceptional tool, but a normal and institutionalized practice for dozens of countries that seek to control their citizens abroad.

Its impact on the rights of victims is severe. Even those who are not directly targeted may decide based on the threat against their community to remain silent. This is true of the most extreme violence: a single killing or rendition sends ripples throughout a huge circle of people. But even digital threats or family intimidation—the easiest and most common forms of transnational repression—create an atmosphere of fear among exiles that pervades everyday activities.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86Q_9IUosCE&t=71s [video] https://freedomhouse.org/report/transnational-repression [overview and report]

The silencing effect of digital transnational repression, report by HIVOS

Marcus Michaelsen’s report examines the online efforts of authoritarian regimes to intimidate activists living abroad. Hivos is proud to have acted as a host organization for the one-year research project leading to the publication of this report.

Authoritarian regimes have long used a variety of repressive tools to control, silence, and punish dissidents living abroad. Yet the advent of the Internet – and its central role in activist communities – has changed the way these regimes intimidate those who dare speak out against them. Today, subtle but pervasive forms of online transnational repression are increasingly common. Activists living outside their homeland now face digital surveillance, threats, and smear campaigns designed to stifle their opposition and induce self-censorship.

https://hivos.org/the-silencing-effect-of-digital-transnational-repression/ [overview and report]

Psychological and Emotional War: Digital Transnational Repression in Canada, report by The Citizen Lab

In this report, we describe how Canadian activists and dissidents living in exile in Canada are impacted by digital transnational repression. We conclude that digital transnational repression has a serious impact on these communities, including their ability to undertake transnational advocacy work related to human rights.

https://citizenlab.ca/2022/03/psychological-emotional-war-digital-transnational-repression-canada/ [video, overview and report]

Responding to Transnational Repression [video] - recorded panel discussion from Dec 2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D4EjMq5FK4

Going after the family: Transnational repression and the proxy punishment of Middle Eastern diasporas, article co-authored with Dana M. Moss & Gillian Kennedy. Available here (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/glob.12372) via institutions or for purchase

The Arab Spring Abroad: Diaspora Activism against Authoritarian Regimes, book by Dana Moss You can download this book for free here: https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/arab-spring-abroad/D7EC15ED46D37A2DB8CDDB83F06CC591#overview

Transnational Repression: The Long Arm of Authoritarianism (parts 1 and 2) - recorded panel discussion from Sept/Oct 2022. Watch the videos here https://www.orionpolicy.org/orionforum/111/transnational-repression-the-long-arm-of-authoritarianism

Resisting Digital Authoritarianism - a recorded panel discussion from the Resistance Bureau. This show will therefore bring together thought leaders, digital activists, and those who have been spied on themselves to discuss these threats to freedom and how they can be effectively countered. What can be done to push back against the expansion of digital surveillance? And how can we protect citizens’ basic human rights from governments that are clearly determined to hack into their lives and monitor their every move? Watch the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg3CQXEe7K0