Human rights principles

Discord banned in Turkey following court ruling

Turkey has blocked access to the messaging platform Discord after the company refused to share information requested by the government. A court in Ankara issued the decision, citing concerns over child sexual abuse and obscene content being shared by users on the platform. The Information Technologies and Communication Authority confirmed the ban.

The action follows outrage after a 19-year-old in Istanbul murdered two women, with Discord users allegedly praising the incident online. Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc explained that there was sufficient suspicion of illegal activity linked to the platform, which prompted the court to intervene.

Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu added that monitoring platforms like Discord is difficult, as security forces can only act when users report content. Discord’s refusal to provide data, such as IP addresses, further complicated the situation, leading to the decision to block the service.

The ban in Turkey coincides with a similar action in Russia, where Discord was blocked for violating local laws after failing to remove prohibited content. The platform has faced growing scrutiny over its handling of illegal activity.

Amazon accused of illegal union-busting by US labour board

Amazon faces a fresh legal challenge from the US National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) over its relationship with drivers employed by a third-party contractor, Battle Tested Strategies (BTS). The NLRB claims that Amazon is a ‘joint employer’ of BTS drivers and broke federal labour laws by refusing to negotiate with a union representing those drivers. The complaint stems from Amazon’s decision to terminate its contract with BTS after the drivers at a California facility voted to unionise with the Teamsters union last year.

Amazon denies the allegations, asserting it does not exert enough control over the drivers’ working conditions to be classified as a joint employer under labour law. However, the NLRB previously found merit in the union’s claims that Amazon holds significant control over the drivers, and the board plans to issue additional complaints involving other Amazon contractors. The case will be heard in March 2025, with potential implications for Amazon’s dealings with drivers nationwide.

The issue of joint employment has been hotly debated in the US for years, with labour advocates pushing for a broader definition of employer responsibility. At the same time, businesses argue that only direct control should qualify. A ruling against Amazon could force the company to bargain with driver unions and alter its relationships with contractors across its delivery network.

Meta battles scam ads in Australia

Meta and Australian banks have worked together to remove 8,000 fraudulent ‘celeb bait’ advertisements from Facebook and Instagram. The scams, often using AI-generated images of celebrities, deceive users into investing in fake schemes. Australian banks flagged 102 such cases since April.

The rise in these scams has led Australia to draft a new anti-scam law, which could impose fines of up to A$50 million on companies that fail to combat online fraud. Reports in 2023 show that Australians lost a staggering A$2.7 billion to various scams.

Meta is currently facing legal challenges in Australia, including a lawsuit for allowing cryptocurrency ads featuring celebrities like Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman. Despite these issues, Meta continues its efforts to fight fraudulent ads.

Meta, alongside Australian banks, believes that early signs within ads could help detect wider scam activity. The company is reviewing Australia’s draft legislation, signalling a continued focus on anti-scam measures in the future.

NTIA to boost digital literacy in native communities in the US

The US National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) provides over $45 million in grant funding through the Digital Equity Capacity & Planning Grant Program, a significant initiative to enhance digital literacy and access to internet-enabled devices in Native communities. The program addresses the digital divide faced by federally recognised American Indian tribes, Alaska Native corporations, and Native Hawaiian communities.

It adopts a holistic approach to digital equity, which comprises three key components – infrastructure that ensures high-speed internet access at home, the availability of various internet-enabled devices, and essential skills and training for effective internet use. Additionally, the NTIA aims to tackle broader challenges beyond traditional infrastructure, including the availability of connected devices, digital skills development, cybersecurity awareness, and network maintenance.

Moreover, digital literacy is vital for participation in the digital economy, particularly in telehealth and distance learning areas. Consequently, access to devices and skills significantly impacts community well-being and educational opportunities. That funding also addresses barriers that lead to lower participation rates in tech careers and limited access to computer science courses for Native students in the US. Furthermore, applications for the grant program are open until 7 February 2025, allowing tribes to seek funding for projects that promote digital literacy and device access, thereby contributing to a more equitable and connected future for Native communities.

Star Health takes legal action over Telegram data leak

One of India’s top insurers, Star Health, has taken legal action against Telegram and a hacker following the leak of personal data. The data breach involved medical reports and policyholder information being shared through chatbots on Telegram.

The case comes as Telegram faces global criticism for being exploited for illegal activities. Founder Pavel Durov, who was recently arrested, denies the allegations and insists the platform is addressing these issues. The insurer also sued Cloudflare for hosting websites distributing stolen data.

A Tamil Nadu court granted a temporary injunction to block the chatbots and websites sharing this information. Star Health reassured customers, stating that sensitive data remains secure, though policy and claim documents were leaked.

The lawsuit is part of a larger trend of hackers using chatbots to sell stolen data, with India representing the largest portion of global victims. Telegram removed the offending chatbots, but new ones quickly appeared.

Judge rules NYC food delivery data law unconstitutional

A federal judge has ruled that New York City’s law requiring food delivery companies to share customer data with restaurants is unconstitutional. The decision, handed down by US District Judge Analisa Torres, found the law violated the First Amendment by regulating commercial speech inappropriately.

The law, introduced in 2021 to support local restaurants recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, required delivery platforms like DoorDash and UberEats to share customer details. Delivery companies in US argued that the law threatened both customer privacy and their business by allowing restaurants to use the data for their own marketing purposes.

Judge Torres stated that New York City failed to prove the law was necessary and suggested alternative methods to support restaurants, such as letting customers opt-in to share their data or providing financial incentives. City officials are reviewing the ruling, while delivery companies hailed it as a victory for data protection.

The New York City Hospitality Alliance expressed disappointment, claiming the ruling hurts small businesses and calling for the city to appeal the decision.

Celebrities fall for ‘Goodbye Meta AI’ hoax

Over 600,000 users, including celebrities like James McAvoy, Ashley Tisdale, and Tom Brady, have been tricked by a viral hoax on Instagram. The message claimed sharing the ‘Goodbye Meta AI’ post would prevent Meta, owner of Facebook and Instagram, from using personal images for AI training.

The viral trend led many to believe posting the message would revoke Meta’s ability to use their data. However, fact-checkers, including Lead Stories, have labelled these posts as false, confirming that users can only opt-out via account settings, not by posting stories.

Meta confirmed that the viral post, which gained momentum after major celebrity shares, has no impact on privacy settings. The hoax stemmed from opposition to Meta’s June announcement regarding the use of public posts to train its AI models.

Though the trend began on 1 September, its popularity spiked after celebrities shared it, with Google Trends showing increased interest after 24 September. This instance echoes past privacy-related hoaxes and reflects public unease about AI data usage.

UN adopts ‘Pact for the Future’

On 22 September 2024, world leaders convened in New York to adopt the ‘Pact for the Future’ – a comprehensive agreement designed to reimagine global governance in response to contemporary and future challenges.

The ground-breaking Pact includes a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations, aiming to update the international system established by previous generations. The Secretary-General stressed the importance of aligning global governance structures with the realities of today’s world, fostering a more inclusive and representative international system.

The Pact covers many critical areas, including peace and security, sustainable development, climate change, digital cooperation, human rights, and gender equality. It marks a renewed multilateral commitment to nuclear disarmament and advocates for strengthened international frameworks to govern outer space and prevent the misuse of new technologies. To bolster sustainable development, the Pact aims to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), reform international financial architecture, and enhance measures to tackle climate change by committing to net-zero emissions by 2050.

Digital cooperation is notably addressed through the Global Digital Compact, which outlines commitments to connect all people to the internet, safeguard online spaces, and govern AI. The Compact promotes open-source data and sets the stage for global data governance. It also ensures increased investment in digital public goods and infrastructure, especially in developing countries.

Why does it matter?

The ‘Pact for the Future’ encapsulates a detailed, optimistic vision geared toward creating a sustainable, just, and peaceful global order. The Summit of the Future, which facilitated the adoption of this Pact as an extensively inclusive process, involves millions of voices and contributions from diverse stakeholders. The event was attended by over 4,000 participants, including global leaders and representatives from various sectors, and was preceded by Action Days, which drew more than 7,000 attendees. Such a forum shows firm global commitments to action, including pledges amounting to USD 1.05 billion to advance digital inclusion.

Snapchat’s balance between user safety and growth remains a challenge

Snapchat is positioning itself as a healthier social media alternative for teens, with CEO Evan Spiegel emphasising the platform’s different approach at the company’s annual conference. Recent research from the University of Amsterdam supports this view, showing that while platforms like TikTok and Instagram negatively affect youth mental health, Snapchat use appears to have positive effects on friendships and well-being.

However, critics argue that Snapchat’s disappearing messages feature can facilitate illegal activities. Matthew Bergman, an advocate for social media victims, claimed the platform has been used by drug dealers, citing instances of children dying from fentanyl poisoning after buying drugs via the app. Despite these concerns, Snapchat remains popular, particularly with younger users.

Industry analysts recognise the platform’s efforts but highlight its ongoing challenges. As Snapchat continues to grow its user base, balancing privacy and safety with revenue generation remains a key issue, especially as it struggles to compete with bigger players like TikTok, Meta, and Google for advertising.

Snapchat’s appeal lies in its low-pressure environment, with features like disappearing stories and augmented reality filters. Young users, like 14-year-old Lily, appreciate the casual nature of communication on the platform, while content creators praise its ability to offer more freedom and reduce social pressure compared to other social media platforms.

Telegram to share user data with authorities

Telegram apparently decided to alleviate its policy restrictions and to provide users’ IP addresses and phone numbers to authorities in response to valid legal requests. The shift in policy, announced by CEO Pavel Durov, marks a significant change for the platform, which has long been known for its resistance to government data demands. The update comes in the wake of Durov’s recent legal troubles in France, where he is facing charges related to the spread of child abuse materials on the platform.

Durov, under investigation since his arrest in France last month, says the new measures are part of broader efforts to deter criminal activity on Telegram. Historically, Telegram has been criticised for its lax approach to moderation, often ignoring government requests to remove illegal content or share information on suspected criminals. Now, with AI and human moderators, the app conceals problematic content from search results.

The case against Durov has intensified scrutiny of Telegram’s role in facilitating illegal activities. French authorities have accused Durov of refusing to cooperate with law enforcement by not providing data for wiretaps related to criminal investigations. Durov denies the charges despite these accusations and has remained in France in the inquiry.

Why does this matter?

Telegram has long been a tool for activists and dissidents, especially in countries like Russia and Iran, where it has been used to challenge authoritarian regimes. However, the platform has also attracted extremists, conspiracy theorists, and white supremacists. In some cases, Telegram has been used to coordinate real-world attacks, leading to mounting pressure on the company to take greater responsibility.

In response to these challenges, Telegram has introduced several policy changes. Earlier this month, the platform disabled new media uploads to combat bots and scammers. These moves signal a new chapter for Telegram as it navigates the delicate balance between privacy, free speech, and public safety.