https://manilaprinciples.org/ The internet has become the backbone of modern communication, enabling billions of people to share ideas, engage in commerce, and participate in public discourse. At the heart of this ecosystem are intermediaries—Internet service providers (ISPs), social media platforms, search engines, and other digital services that facilitate the flow of information. However, the legal frameworks…
Climate change is being undermined through various means, primarily driven by a combination of ignorance, vested interests, and short-term thinking. These undermining efforts hinder progress in addressing climate change and exacerbate its impacts. Who is undermining climate change and why? When discussing the undermining of climate change, it is important to note that it involves…
Climate change and sustainability have become pressing global concerns, urging humanity to take immediate action. The Earth’s climate is undergoing significant transformations, primarily due to human activities. This essay explores the interconnectedness of climate change and sustainability, highlighting the urgent need for collective efforts to mitigate the adverse effects and ensure a sustainable future for…
When I first spoke of AI 6 years ago, everyone said ‘sentient’ is way in the future. Apparently not, and especially not after ChatGPT4. It is becoming more serious and, so far, more disturbing. I am neither an alarmist nor a luddite. However, there are some disturbing issues about it. While doing some more research,…
In June 2023, Executive Director Marlyn Tadros attended the 53rd session of the Human Rights Council (19 June to 14 July 2023) in Geneva, Switzerland at the UN headquarters. UNHRC is an intergovernmental body within the United Nations system responsible for promoting and protecting human rights globally, with 47 member states elected by the UN General…
Apparently Microsoft’s new ChatGPT AI is having a nervous breakdown. It started sending ‘unhinged’ messages to people, according to the Independent newspaper. Looking further into the matter, it seems that it hurled insults at people who were attempting to hack it or to get it to spit out its code secrets. For example, in conversations…
VA and the Egyptian Human Rights Forum will be presenting a panel at CSW67 on March 8th entitled: Current/Emerging Tech: Enhancing Gender Equality or Exacerbating Authoritarian Abuse? The digital revolution has brought about many advancements and opportunities for women and for human rights defenders, but it has also raised concerns about its impact on gender…
SecondEye is a product that was developed in Iran by a web and development company in Iran named UltimateSoft Co, and marketed as a parenting or employee surveillance tool. However, it has been reportedly repurposed and used as spyware known as EyeSpy. The malware is allegedly deployed by disguising it as a free VPN package…
