@thraets profile picture
thraets @thraets

A Civic Tech Research Lab Confronting Digital Threats to Democracies in the Global South.

Joined July 2023
  • Tweets 477
  • Following 124
  • Followers 558
83 Photos and videos
Epstein's shadow network was not just in the US and in Europe. It reached across the continent of Africa. Thraet's new investigation and interactive map looks at some of the connections that brought him to an unexpected country, Uganda. ๐Ÿ”— thraets.org/epstein-in-africโ€ฆ
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We are part of the 11th Biennial Surveillance & Society Conference hosted by the Surveillance Studies Network & Surveillance & Society at Universitรฉ Catholique de Lille. Tomorrow, we will contribute to discussions on infrastructural surveillance, joining online from Uganda.
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Thraets is at the Oslo Freedom Forum this week, where global leaders tackle authoritarianism and build tools for open societies. We believe accountability systems are essential for freedom. If youโ€™re in Oslo, letโ€™s connect. @OsloFF #FreedomTech #HumanRightsMatter
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CIPESA
@cipesaug
May 20
For over a decade, we've documented Africa's digital rights landscape through the annual State of Internet Freedom in Africa reports. From the first edition in 2014 investigating policies in East Africa, to the 2025 report on AI and digital democracy. These reports have shaped policy conversations across the continent, and each one has been launched at FIFAfrica ,the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa. Access past reports here:cipesa.org/resources/ Now it's your turn to shape the conversation. โฐ The Call for Proposals for #FIFAfrica26 closes on 29 May. Submit your session ideas on digital democracy, data governance, AI, platform accountability, digital inclusion, and more here: tinyurl.com/42rwc2nv ๐Ÿ—“๏ธ #Mauritius | 28 September โ€“ 1 October 2026 #InternetFreedomAfrica #FIFAfrica26
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It was meant to happen at RightsCon. Instead, some of us who were headed to Lusaka met in Kampala. Grateful to @PollicyOrg for bringing Ugandaโ€™s digital rights community together and reminding us that community matters as much as the work. On to Data Tamasha Africa in Zanzibar!
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Pollicy
@PollicyOrg
May 7
Today we held space for a few partners, colleagues & friends who would have been at @rightscon this week. We had honest conversations about the futures we want to build and how we actually show up for one another. We can be each other's RightsCon. Drop each other's names in rooms. Cite each other's work. Show up to each other's launches. To @accessnow, we see every bit of work that went into planning this. We stand with you in solidarity. The work continues.
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CIPESA
@cipesaug
May 7
Since its inception in 2014, FIFAfrica has been the heartbeat of internet freedom advocacy across Africa. A space where activists, technologists, journalists, policymakers, and communities come together to shape the future of the open internet on the continent. What started as a conversation has grown into a movement. #FIFAfrica26 will convene more than 500 participants from more than 60 countries in Mauritius from September 28 to October 1, 2026. This promises to be the most powerful edition yet. Please note the deadlines for call for proposals and travel support. ๐Ÿ—’๏ธRegister here:tinyurl.com/4xt386e7 #InternetFreedomAfrica
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Rightscon may have been cancelled, however, the show must go on. Join us tomorrow for Splintercon Online. To register and participate, click the link below. splintercon.net/splintercon-โ€ฆ

Online - SplinterCon

Update, 30.04.2026: SplinterCon was set to host a 0-day event at RightsCon in Lusaka, Zambia. Following the cancellation of RightsCon, we are moving online. Join us on May 5th from 14:00 to 19:00 CET...

splintercon.net
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Digital Agenda Forum
@DigitalAgendaT
May 4
In the April 2026 Newsletter 1. Data is no longer just an asset; it is now a weapon and a battlefield. 2. Ugandaโ€™s bold Sovereignty Bill: Is sovereignty still real in a deeply interconnected digital system? 3.๐Ÿ”ž Is age verification in Operating Systems and Social media really about child safety or something else? 4.๐Ÿ†” The quiet rebranding of Digital ID, and what is not being said. โš ๏ธ The centralisation paradox: why massive data breaches are not slowing down centralisation policies. - If you care about sovereignty, surveillance, and the future of digital rights, this one is for you. ---At thedigitalagenda.org/wp-contโ€ฆ or thedigitalagenda.org/newsletโ€ฆ #DigitalID #DigitalAgenda #DataSovereignty #DigitalRights
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Despite RightsConโ€™s cancellation, our panel goes ahead on May 7. @rightscon 2026 has been cancelled after the Zambian government blocked the conference days before it was set to begin. We stand in solidarity with organizers, speakers, and attendees affected by this decision. Our panel discussion, originally planned for RightsCon, will go ahead virtually on May 7 as planned. Some conversations canโ€™t be postponed. Register here: csohate.org/event/south-asiaโ€ฆ
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Happy Labour Day!
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ARTICLE 19
@article19org
Apr 30
ARTICLE 19 condemns the Zambian authoritiesโ€™ cancellation of RightsCon 2026, raising serious concerns for free expression and freedom of assembly. Zambia must demonstrate its commitments and uphold the rights of civil society, journalists & partners. article19.org/resources/zambโ€ฆ

Zambia: RightsCon cancellation is a blow to freedom of expression - ARTICLE 19

The Zambian government's cancellation of global digital rights conference RightsCon is a direct attack on freedom of expression and assembly.

article19.org
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Internet Society
@internetsociety
Apr 30
To our communityโ€”we want to hear from you! The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) is the worldโ€™s primary multistakeholder platform for dialogue on Internet governance. We would like to see it evolve and have even more impact. To help inform our thinking and facilitate community discussions, we invite your input on how to make the most of the IGF. Contribute to our consultation by 11 May โฌ‡๏ธ internetsociety.org/our-workโ€ฆ

Call for Input: Making the Most of the Internet Governance Forum - Internet Society

We invite your to provide your input on how to make the most of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF).

internetsociety.org
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thraets retweeted
Unwanted Witness
@UnwantedWitness
Apr 30
We've been ๐’˜๐’‚๐’•๐’„๐’‰๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ. We've been ๐’…๐’๐’„๐’–๐’Ž๐’†๐’๐’•๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ. Now we're ready to ๐’•๐’‚๐’๐’Œ. The ๐‘ซ๐’‚๐’•๐’‚ ๐‘ท๐’“๐’๐’•๐’†๐’„๐’•๐’Š๐’๐’ ๐‘ฌ๐’๐’†๐’„๐’•๐’Š๐’๐’ ๐‘พ๐’‚๐’•๐’„๐’‰ ๐‘น๐’†๐’‘๐’๐’“๐’• on ๐‘ผ๐’ˆ๐’‚๐’๐’…๐’‚'๐’” 2026 ๐‘ฎ๐’†๐’๐’†๐’“๐’‚๐’ ๐‘ฌ๐’๐’†๐’„๐’•๐’Š๐’๐’๐’” is officially out. Your data. Your vote. Your right

Uganda 2026 General Elections Data Protection Watch Report

unwantedwitness.org
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thraets retweeted
NBS Television
@nbstv
Apr 29
We have never had a CEDAW general recommendation on technology or artificial intelligence. However, we are seeing violations happening online, and rules continue to be lacking. So now we are starting to work on one. H.E. Dr. Brenda Akia #NBSUpdates #JSCConversations
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#RightsCon 2026 has been cancelled, which is a serious setback for global digital rights engagement. Thraets had planned to be there to exhibit. We stand in solidarity with @accessnow and the broader digital rights community in defending open civic space and internet freedom.
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RightsCon@rightscon
Apr 29
It is with heavy hearts that we share: RightsCon will not proceed in Zambia or online.
STATEMENT: It is with heavy hearts that we share: RightsCon will not proceed in Zambia or online. We understand this news is deeply upsetting for our community and while we know everyone has questions, our goal right now is to notify you of the eventโ€™s status because many of you have imminent travel plans. We do not recommend registered participants travel to Lusaka for RightsCon. Over the last 48 hours we have experienced an overwhelming surge of support from civil society, government representatives, sponsors, and our community as a whole. For this, we wholeheartedly thank you. Weโ€™ll communicate more information soon.

ALT STATEMENT: It is with heavy hearts that we share: RightsCon will not proceed in Zambia or online. We understand this news is deeply upsetting for our community and while we know everyone has questions, our goal right now is to notify you of the eventโ€™s status because many of you have imminent travel plans. We do not recommend registered participants travel to Lusaka for RightsCon. Over the last 48 hours we have experienced an overwhelming surge of support from civil society, government representatives, sponsors, and our community as a whole. For this, we wholeheartedly thank you. Weโ€™ll communicate more information soon.

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As elections become more digital and the internet more fragmented, the stakes are shifting. Our Researcher @Mablees will explore the balance between protection and control, and what digital sovereignty could mean for the future of elections across Africa. #Splintercon #Rightscon
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thraets retweeted
RightsCon@rightscon
Apr 24
Join Luminate and The Maybe on day 3 of #RightsCon2026 for a live Computer Says Maybe session. A sharp conversation on power, equity, and what todayโ€™s tech frameworks get right and wrong. Register for RightsCon and explore the full program. rightscon.org/registration/
Are โ€œInclusionโ€ and โ€œSovereigntyโ€ enough? Reimagining Africaโ€™s technological future. Speakers Mercy Mutemi, Executive Director of The Oversight Lab Africa. Kavisha Pillay, Founding Director of the Campaign on Digital Ethics. Chenai Chair, Director of the Masakhane African Languages Hub. Chioma Agwuegbo, Executive Director of TechHerNG. Alix Dunn, host of the Computer Says Maybe podcast. (Moderator) Hosts: Luminate and The Maybe May 7 | 5:30 - 6:30 pm CAT Podcast In-person

ALT Are โ€œInclusionโ€ and โ€œSovereigntyโ€ enough? Reimagining Africaโ€™s technological future. Speakers Mercy Mutemi, Executive Director of The Oversight Lab Africa. Kavisha Pillay, Founding Director of the Campaign on Digital Ethics. Chenai Chair, Director of the Masakhane African Languages Hub. Chioma Agwuegbo, Executive Director of TechHerNG. Alix Dunn, host of the Computer Says Maybe podcast. (Moderator) Hosts: Luminate and The Maybe May 7 | 5:30 - 6:30 pm CAT Podcast In-person
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Join the #Splintercon Day Zero Satellite event on the 5th of May, where our researcher will be speaking on the effect of the Splintercin on election integrity.
RightsCon@rightscon
Apr 23
Join @eQualitie's #SplinterCon, a 0-day satellite event at #RightsCon2026. RightsCon registration required. Find this event and more in our expanded programming: rightscon.org/exp-program/
SplinterCon One Shutdown After Another: Control and Resilience in African Networks This edition will examine how the practices and technologies of network control are increasingly permeating African networks, and how this trend is shaping the evolution of digital control and episodic isolation across the continent. The inaugural African SplinterCon brings together technologists, researchers, and practitioners to discuss the rising trend of shutdowns in the region, the commercialization of network control technologies supporting this trend, and the work taking place on the front lines to maintain communication and access to information under these evolving conditions. Host: eQualitie May 5 | 9 AM to 3 PM In-person RightsCon registration required

ALT SplinterCon One Shutdown After Another: Control and Resilience in African Networks This edition will examine how the practices and technologies of network control are increasingly permeating African networks, and how this trend is shaping the evolution of digital control and episodic isolation across the continent. The inaugural African SplinterCon brings together technologists, researchers, and practitioners to discuss the rising trend of shutdowns in the region, the commercialization of network control technologies supporting this trend, and the work taking place on the front lines to maintain communication and access to information under these evolving conditions. Host: eQualitie May 5 | 9 AM to 3 PM In-person RightsCon registration required

Some of the speakers: Felicia Anthonio #KeepItOn Global Campaign Manager at AccessNow Mable Amuron Researcher โ€“ Tech and Society at Thraets Foundation, Kampala, Uganda Daouda Diagne Director of the Computech Institute, Dakar, Senegal J. Alex Dalessio Executive Director of eQualitie Mahsa Alimardani Associate Director of Technology Threats and Opportunities, WITNESS Providence Baraka Founder and Program Associate at the Bingwa Civic Tech Lab, DRC

ALT Some of the speakers: Felicia Anthonio #KeepItOn Global Campaign Manager at AccessNow Mable Amuron Researcher โ€“ Tech and Society at Thraets Foundation, Kampala, Uganda Daouda Diagne Director of the Computech Institute, Dakar, Senegal J. Alex Dalessio Executive Director of eQualitie Mahsa Alimardani Associate Director of Technology Threats and Opportunities, WITNESS Providence Baraka Founder and Program Associate at the Bingwa Civic Tech Lab, DRC
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