Human rights principles

Frank McCourt’s Project Liberty proposes TikTok US buyout

Frank McCourt’s Project Liberty, along with a group of partners, has formally proposed a bid to acquire TikTok’s US assets from ByteDance. The consortium announced its intentions just ahead of ByteDance’s January 19 deadline to sell the platform or face a ban under legislation signed by President Joe Biden in April.

The group has gathered sufficient financial backing, including interest from private equity funds, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals, with debt financing from a leading US bank. The proposed value of the deal has not been disclosed.

McCourt stated the goal is to keep TikTok accessible to millions of US users without relying on its current algorithm while preventing a ban. Efforts are underway to engage with ByteDance, President-elect Trump, and the incoming administration to finalise the deal.

Mexican government to launch emergency app to protect citizens in the US

At a recent press briefing, Mexico’s Foreign Secretary, Juan Ramón de la Fuente, announced an emergency mobile application slated for January to ensure the protection of Mexican citizens in the USA. Created with assistance from the Digital Transformation Agency, this app will enable Mexicans to notify their nearest consulate during immigration enforcement actions swiftly.

Additionally, immediate notifications can be directed to chosen family members and the Foreign Ministry of Mexico, strengthening personal and broader support networks. The following technological initiative forms part of a comprehensive strategy to enhance community engagement and deliver reliable assistance during emergencies.

The Foreign Secretary has personally engaged in several open meetings to convey to Mexican citizens that they remain neither isolated nor unsupported, reaffirming the availability of extensive rights and assistance. The consular app will help reach out to the big Mexican population in the US – 38.4 million Mexicans live there, with 11.5 million as first-generation immigrants, including 4.8 million undocumented.

The Mexican consular app is an example of the practical use of digital technology to conduct one of the core functions of diplomacy – to protect citizens abroad.

New AI governance law proposed in Texas

Texas lawmakers are considering a significant step in regulating artificial intelligence with the proposed Responsible AI Governance Act. The legislation targets high-risk AI systems, defining them as tools influencing decisions on education, employment, healthcare, and other critical services. Developers and deployers of such systems would face stringent requirements under the Act.

The draft mandates developers to produce detailed risk reports and maintain data records, ensuring transparency. Deployers must oversee human involvement in AI-driven decisions and report discrimination risks promptly. Regular assessments are required to address potential algorithmic biases and ensure compliance with intended uses.

The Act also sets clear prohibitions, including bans on systems manipulating behaviour, social scoring, and unauthorised biometric data collection. Developers and deployers must disclose to consumers when interacting with AI, providing clear explanations of system purposes and decision-making processes.

With enforcement led by the Texas Attorney General, businesses are urged to evaluate their practices and prepare for potential changes. The legislation could serve as a model for AI governance nationwide, shaping the future of ethical AI development and deployment.

California’s ban on addictive feeds for minors upheld

A federal judge has upheld California’s law, SB 976, which restricts companies from serving addictive content feeds to minors. The decision allows the legislation to take effect, beginning a significant shift in how social media platforms operate in the state.

Companies must now ensure that addictive feeds, defined as algorithms recommending content based on user behaviour rather than explicit preferences, are not shown to minors without parental consent. By 2027, businesses will also need to implement age assurance techniques, such as age estimation models, to identify underage users and tailor their feeds accordingly.

The tech industry group NetChoice, representing firms like Meta, Google, and X, attempted to block the law, citing First Amendment concerns. While the judge dismissed their challenge to the addictive feeds provision, certain aspects of the law, such as limits on nighttime notifications for minors, were blocked.

This ruling marks a notable step in California’s efforts to regulate the digital landscape and protect younger users from potentially harmful online content.

TikTok fined in Russia for legal violations

A Moscow court has fined TikTok three million roubles (around $28,930) for failing to meet Russian legal requirements. The court’s press service confirmed the verdict but did not elaborate on the specific violation.

The social media platform, owned by ByteDance, has been facing increasing scrutiny worldwide. Allegations of non-compliance with legal frameworks and security concerns have made headlines in multiple countries.

TikTok encountered further setbacks recently, including a year-long ban in Albania last December. Canadian authorities also ordered the company to halt operations, citing national security threats.

The fine in Russia reflects the mounting regulatory challenges for TikTok as it navigates stricter oversight in various regions.

Instacart and Uber sue Seattle over app-based worker protections

Instacart has joined Uber in a legal challenge against a new Seattle ordinance regulating how app-based workers can be deactivated. The law, set to take effect in January, requires companies to provide gig workers with a 14-day notice of deactivation, base decisions on reasonable policies, and allow human review of all deactivations.

Seattle officials describe the legislation as a landmark move to ensure worker rights in the gig economy. Advocacy groups support the law, arguing that it addresses unfair deactivations and offers greater job security for app-based workers.

Instacart and Uber, however, claim the ordinance infringes on constitutional rights, federal laws, and operational safety. This lawsuit is part of broader disputes between tech companies and cities over labour regulations in the gig economy. Seattle has pledged to defend its policies, emphasising its commitment to protecting workers in modern app-driven industries.

Congo lawyers push for accountability from Apple

International lawyers for the Democratic Republic of Congo have welcomed Apple’s recent decision to instruct suppliers to stop sourcing minerals from conflict zones in Congo and Rwanda. However, they remain cautious, pressing ahead with legal complaints in France and Belgium that accuse Apple of using conflict minerals in its supply chain.

Apple strongly disputes these claims, stating that it has taken action to avoid sourcing tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold from the region due to escalating violence. The company highlighted that most of the minerals used in its devices are recycled and asserted its commitment to rigorous supplier audits and funding initiatives for improved mineral traceability.

Congo’s lawyers argue that Apple benefited from minerals extracted under violent conditions and smuggled through international supply chains. They insist on ground-level verification of Apple’s claims, stating that past crimes tied to conflict minerals cannot be erased. Millions of civilians in eastern Congo have been displaced or killed in decades-long conflicts fuelled by competition over valuable minerals.

While Apple has outlined its high standards for ethical sourcing, legal proceedings in Europe continue as Congo’s representatives demand accountability for alleged complicity in crimes linked to the region’s mining sector.

IGF 2024 closing ceremony: Shaping the future of internet governance

The 19th Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Riyadh concluded with a forward-looking ceremony that reflected on its achievements while setting ambitious goals for the future. The forum, a key platform for global discussions on internet governance, highlighted the importance of inclusivity, digital equality, and adapting to emerging technological challenges.

Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, emphasised the enduring relevance of the WSIS principles and the ethical considerations essential in navigating digital innovation. Vint Cerf, chair of the IGF leadership panel, proposed elevating the IGF to a permanent status within the UN structure to secure stable funding and expand its impact.

‘The IGF must evolve to deliver tangible results,’ Cerf remarked, suggesting a focus on measurable metrics and concrete outputs, including revisiting foundational documents and preparing for the next IGF in Oslo. Olaf Kolkman from the Internet Society reinforced the need for continuous self-assessment, urging the IGF to enhance its processes for greater stakeholder benefits.

Inclusivity was a dominant theme, with speakers advocating for broader representation in digital policymaking. Ghanaian physician Dr. Angela Sulemana underscored the transformative power of digital tools in healthcare, highlighting the value of diverse perspectives, especially from young professionals.

Dr. Latifa al-Abdul Karim, member of the Saudi Arabia’s Shura Council, called for legislative innovation to address digital challenges, emphasising collaboration, inclusivity, and safeguarding vulnerable groups, including children and the environment. Senior advisor in the Ministry of Communications of Cuba, Juan Fernandez, stressed the urgent need to bridge digital inequalities, particularly between developed and developing nations.

The forum also addressed pressing global issues, such as the digital divide and governance of emerging technologies like AI and quantum computing. The session closed with a call for stronger global digital cooperation and a shared commitment to implementing the Global Digital Compact.

As participants look to the IGF 2025 in Oslo, the focus remains on turning discussions into actionable outcomes, ensuring the internet remains a safe, inclusive, and transformative tool for all.

All transcripts from the Internet Governance Forum 2024 sessions can be found on dig.watch.

Human rights concerns over UN Cybercrime Treaty raised at IGF 2024

A panel discussion at the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) raised serious concerns over the UN Cybercrime Treaty and its potential to undermine human rights. Experts from organisations such as Human Rights Watch and the Electronic Frontier Foundation criticised the treaty’s broad scope and lack of clear safeguards for individual freedoms. They warned that the treaty’s vague language, particularly around what constitutes a ‘serious crime,’ could empower authoritarian regimes to exploit its provisions for surveillance and repress dissent.

Speakers such as Joey Shea from Human Rights Watch and Lina al-Hathloul, a Saudi human rights defender, pointed out the risks posed by the treaty’s expansive investigative powers, which extend beyond cybercrimes to any crimes defined by domestic law. Flexibility like this one could force countries to assist in prosecuting acts that are not crimes within their own borders. They also highlighted the treaty’s weak privacy protections, which could jeopardise encryption standards and further harm cybersecurity researchers.

Deborah Brown from Human Rights Watch and Veridiana Alimonti of the Electronic Frontier Foundation shared examples from Saudi Arabia and Latin America, where existing cybercrime and anti-terrorism laws have already been used to target journalists and activists. The panelists expressed concern that the treaty could exacerbate these abuses globally, especially for cybersecurity professionals and civil society.

Fionnuala Ni Aolain, a former UN Special Rapporteur on counterterrorism and human rights, emphasised that the treaty’s provisions could lead to criminalising the vital work of cybersecurity researchers. She joined other experts in urging policymakers and industry leaders to resist ratification in its current form. They called for upcoming protocol negotiations to address these human rights gaps and for greater involvement of civil society voices to prevent the treaty from becoming a tool for transnational repression.

IGF 2024 addresses cybercrime laws in Africa and the Middle East

Discussions at the IGF 2024 in Riyadh shed light on growing challenges to freedom of expression in Africa and the Middle East. Experts from diverse organisations highlighted how restrictive cybercrime legislation and content regulation have been used to silence dissent, marginalise communities, and undermine democracy. Examples from Tunisia and Nigeria revealed how critics and activists often face criminalisation under these laws, fostering fear and self-censorship.

Panellists included Annelies Riezebos from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jacqueline Rowe of the University of Edinburgh, Adeboye Adegoke from Paradigm Initiative, and Aymen Zaghdoudi of AccessNow. They discussed the negative effects of vague cybercrime regulations and overly broad restrictions on online speech, which frequently suppress political discourse. Maria Paz Canales from Global Partners Digital added that content governance frameworks need urgent reform to balance addressing online harms with protecting fundamental rights.

The speakers emphasised that authoritarian values are being enforced through legislation that criminalises disinformation and imposes ambiguous rules on online platforms. These measures, they argued, contribute to a deteriorating climate for free expression across the region. They also pointed out the need for online platforms to adopt responsible content moderation practices while resisting pressures to conform to repressive local laws.

Panellists proposed several strategies to counter these trends, including engaging with parliamentarians, building capacity among legal professionals, and ensuring civil society’s involvement during the early stages of policy development. The importance of international collaboration was underlined, with the UN Cybercrime Treaty cited as a key opportunity for collective advocacy against repressive measures.

Participants also stressed the urgency of increased representation of Global South organisations in global policy discussions. Flexible funding for civil society initiatives was described as essential for supporting grassroots efforts to defend digital rights. Such funding would enable local groups to challenge restrictive laws effectively and amplify their voices in international debates.

The event concluded with a call for multi-stakeholder approaches to internet governance. Collaborative efforts involving governments, civil society, and online platforms were deemed critical to safeguarding freedom of expression. The discussions underscored the pressing need to balance addressing legitimate online harms with protecting democratic values and the voices of vulnerable communities.

All transcripts from the Internet Governance Forum sessions can be found on dig.watch.