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Digital Rights
Readings on Digital Rights you shouldn't miss

09.06.2024

14.6 Minutes

IAF

Readings on Digital Rights

Digitalisation has opened huge opportunities: cheap access to the means of communication, technology and services. But there is also a dark side to the story: Digitalization has given rise to new and powerful threats to democratic processes, human rights, privacy and the rule of law. For our seminar "Safeguarding Freedom in the Digital World" we have compiled a selection of publications on this topic that you can download for free and we are happy to share:

Democracy and AI

Democracy and AI

Beyond threat scenarios and mere optimism, this report offers a realistic look at how AI can strengthen our democracy. Given a dwindling trust in democracies worldwide, concrete potentials of AI are in focus. Thirty global examples of successful AI implementation to strengthen democracy are analyzed and classified. Simultaneously, the study also highlights potential concerns and problems of the applications and examines the importance of non-technological prerequisites for democracy-promoting AI deployment.

Vilify, Ridicule, Disinform

Vilify, Ridicule, Disinform

This report examines political communication and media trust in the age of generative artificial intelligence systems (AI). Firstly, it provides a brief explainer of generative AI tools and techniques, looking separately at systems that generate text and those that generate or manipulate images, videos and audio. By reference to real-world examples, the paper then surveys the ways in which generative AI systems have recently been used by political actors, distinguishing between three different use-cases: political campaigning, entertainment and disinformation campaigns. Building on this empirical analysis, the paper distils important insights for policymakers. This is followed by an evaluation of emerging technical and policy solutions, namely the detection and labelling of deepfakes as well as the development of systems to certify content authenticity and provenance. The section concludes with a discussion of the emerging legal landscape, including the European Union’s AI Act. Finally, the authors provide concluding reflections, emphasising that regulating technologies, labelling deepfakes, and reducing the supply of disinformation are only partial solutions to a complex problem – restoring citizens’ trust in democratic institutions, and in particular the news media, must be the overarching mission for those concerned about the spread of AI-generated disinformation.

Watching the Watchdogs

Watching the Watchdogs

In 2024, the European Union enters a new era in the fight to protect journalists and press freedom from illegal spyware abuse. After months of debate and tense final negotiations, EU institutions reached a historic agreement on the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) in December 2023. Among multiple new rules, the provisional deal includes strengthened safeguards for journalists and their sources from coercive surveillance, including spyware.

The Everything Everywhere Censorship of China

The Everything Everywhere Censorship of China

The Internet is facing its biggest crisis to date. A significant part of this is that state-related actors attempt to turn the Internet into a realm of tools for the surveillance of Internet users as well as societies. This publication analyses China’s model of Internet governance and the complex toolbox of digital suppression. Beijing utilized a sophisticated and evolving set of legal, technical, and operational apparatuses to perfect a near real-time censorship system across all platforms and channels to conduct propaganda and disinformation campaigns and collect massive amounts of data. The publication formulates the most important lessons learned from history so that democracies can find new ways or improve their strategy to preserve our liberal values and protect the rights of Internet users.

Dark Crypto

Dark Crypto

Blockchain technology and the cryptocurrencies based on it offer considerable innovation potential for the economy and society as a whole. But cryptocurrencies have also become the payment method of choice for certain criminal activities. In this study, economists Johannes Rieckmann and Tim Stuchtey of the BIGS (Brandenburgisches Institut für Gesellschaft und Sicherheit – Brandenburg Institute for Society and Security) provide an overview of illegal uses of cryptocurrencies. They explain various methods to obfuscate and anonymize transactions using crypto mixers as well as the differences between classical cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ether on the one hand and anonymized cryptocurrencies on the other hand, which make it almost impossible to track transactions. They reveal for which crimes cryptocurrencies are misused, both within the blockchain and at the intersections between the analog and digital world. The authors recommend actions, based on their analysis and expert interviews, as to how the misuse of cryptocurrencies for illegal purposes can be prevented without disproportionately limiting the technology’s potential to innovate.

Digital Policy in an Age of Global Systemic Rivalry

Digital Policy in an Age of Global Systemic Rivalry

Global considerations are gaining ever greater importance in German and European politics. To date, however, the digital space has only played a subordinate role in this. In the digital age, the sovereignty of Europe and of liberal democracies in general depends on a free, open, global internet coupled with access to technology and secure, diversified supply chains. Three examples are used to analyse where dependencies arise (in undersea cables, with regard to norms and standards and in the chips industry) and what the role of private actors is in international digital policy. (satellites from Elon Musk’s Starlink system, Huawei and China’s “Digital Silk Road”, Google and Apple as gatekeepers for apps on smartphones). The present analysis considers the relationships between various diffe- rent forms of dependency.

Crypto Mining & Sustainability

Crypto Mining & Sustainability

Since the introduction of Bitcoin, cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology have had their fair share of criticisms. Over the years, people have criticized cryptocurrencies for their use in illicit activities, price volatility, and high transaction fees. Recently, the issue of sustainability has overshadowed the previous cryptocurrency debates. More and more lawmakers, environmentalists, and public figures are expressing their discontent with the negative effect of digital assets on the environment. Georgia has joined the countries where cryptocurrency sustainability problems are actively discussed on the state and public levels. Two cryptocurrencies are particularly affected by criticism regarding their consumption of energy: Bitcoin and Ether. While Ethereum is transitioning to a different consensus mechanism and in so doing will consume less energy, Bitcoin will require a different approach. The author identifies the Lightning Network as a way to reduce its energy consumption. With regard to the case of Georgia, the author recommends to address energy subsidies in order to reduce economic incentives for mining.

CBDC in Vietnam

CBDC in Vietnam

Vietnam has begun to develop its own Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), i.e. a digital version of its own currency. The Southeast Asian country is thus following the example of over 80 central banks around the world. Compared to other countries in the region, Hanoi got a comparatively late start, and so far, there has been little progress. However, China's progress in implementing the digital renminbi (eRMB) is creating greater pressure among policymakers in Vietnam. This policy paper analyzes developments to date and makes recommendations for the design of a Vietnamese CBDC.

The Rise of the e-RMB: Domestic Control, Global Influence

The Rise of the e-RMB: Domestic Control, Global Influence

China’s new digital currency is being implemented in many parts of China, and will soon achieve nationwide distribution. This publication will introduce the latest developments regarding the implememtation of e-RMB, analyze its possible impact to the world, and provide policy recommendations.

Platform-Proofing Democracy

Platform-Proofing Democracy

Who determines what we are allowed to say on social media platforms? How do we deal with content that is legal but still harmful? When are deletions and bans legitimate? We need to platform-proof our democracies and consider how we can democratically co-decide what the rules should be on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and co. Platform councils are an interesting approach to this and one that needs to be discussed.

How to counter disinformation

How to counter disinformation

Disinformation, hatred, incitement against dissenters and manipulation with false or falsified depictions have developed into a danger to freedom of expression, domination-free discourse and democratic processes in recent years with the increasing digitalisation of the political discourse.

Licence to kill

Licence to kill

Lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS) are the third revolution of warfare. Like gunpowder and the atomic bomb before them, LAWS will radically change the way that war is waged and will therefore determine the balance of power in the world of tomorrow. Many states are already working on developing fully autonomous weapons, the most prominent being the USA, China, Israel, and South Korea. The EU member states have adopted very different positions on LAWS. The national conditions and skills needed to develop military AI also vary strongly. In Germany, beyond the specific topic of drones, military AI has not yet been given much attention by expert circles, and even less so by the general public.

Behind Closed Curtains

Behind Closed Curtains

The novel coronavirus that has been rampant since the beginning of 2020 revealed what many people, at least in Germany, were unaware of: disinformation is also present in the non-political sphere, and it is increasingly being spread via messengers such as WhatsApp and Telegram. In Germany, for example, two voice messages went viral via WhatsApp and spread disinformation about the virus. What findings do we have so far on the spread of disinformation via messengers? The paper explores this question, and looks not only at Germany but also at India and Brazil - two countries that have already had to struggle with the problem to a considerable extent. What can politics, what can we do to stop the mass spread of disinformation?

Crypto RMB: Finance Innovation Or New Tool For Control?

Crypto RMB: Finance Innovation Or New Tool For Control?

Rumors about a Chinese digital currency, a "digital crypto-renminbi" have been around for a while. In April 2020, the Chinese government announced that the first pilot trials of the new digital currency were being carried out in several cities. What is this new currency? What goals is the Chinese government pursuing with it? And what does it mean for Europe and the euro? Andrew Work has analyzed this for the foundation's Global Innovation Hub.

Deepfakes and Disinformation

Deepfakes and Disinformation

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is playing an increasingly important role in our society - but the new possibilities of this technology are also accompanied by new risks. One of these risks is the misuse of the technology for the deliberate dissemination of false information. Even though the possible use of AI-manipulated content, deepfakes, in election campaigns is being discussed primarily, this type of video only accounts for a fraction of all manipulations: In 96% of cases, the technology is used to create pornographic films featuring prominent women. How should we deal with this? What legal provisions are there for this? And what are the potential positive applications of deepfake technology?

From Mobile Money to Digital Cash

From Mobile Money to Digital Cash

The overall trend shows mobile money continuing to scale rapidly in a number of countries globally, although a number of implementations have been unsuccessful. This report details the key lessons from the mobile money experience in Africa that can contribute to the effective design, regulation
and operation of CBDCs, based on the wealth of theoretical and empirical evidence on the social, economic and cultural impact of mobile money. The lessons are categorized into regulatory, technology, economic and socio-cultural.

Disruptive technologies and digital transformation for modern EU society

Disruptive technologies and digital transformation for modern EU society

The world is experiencing an era of change as several all-pervasive and large-scale trends are having a significant effect on our way of living. This policy paper will focus on AI and blockchain. As transversal technologies, they have the potential to disrupt a variety of industries and have profound
consequences for society and business, the success of Europe’s green and digital transitions, as well as the expansion of Europe’s technological sovereignty.

Public Money? Public Code!

Public Money? Public Code!

This publication features easily understandable language and examples of daily scenarios that civil servants and the public may encounter, helping readers painlessly grasp technical terms such as open source, open standards, and free/libre and open source software (FLOSS). The author also provides practical policy recommendations on enhancing the use of FLOSS in governments.

New Money

New Money

Bitcoin was founded as a groundbreaking value-transmission experiment with the explicit objective of separating money and state. This paper seeks to place the reader in the context present in 2021 when El Salvador became the first country to make bitcoin legal tender. It starts by explaining the cultural and technological origins behind Bitcoin, how it gave rise to other cryptoasset platforms liked Ethereum, and some of the resulting views of the future. It then zooms into El Salvador’s Bitcoin Law, starting with an analysis of its text and following with an analysis of its implications, criticism, and potential.

Four Waves of Digital Currencies and the Future of Money

Four Waves of Digital Currencies and the Future of Money

The rise of digital currency has changed the financial world in record time. Established business models are facing new challenges. The development is often reduced to a single cryptocurrency: Bitcoin. But numerous other digital currencies have come into being since the appearance of this
first crypto asset that enables direct transactions between private individuals. This policy paper outlines how different types of digital currencies have arisen in four waves and offers policy recommendations on how to shape their future development.

Cyber Capacity Building and Strategic Engagement with Africa

Cyber Capacity Building and Strategic Engagement with Africa

Germany and Europe must cooperate more strategically with African countries in cyber capacity building to stop "digital authoritarianism". Ideally, the advantages of a digitalised economy, in conjunction with adequate cyber security, should be used.

Towards a safer and more free internet

Towards a safer and more free internet

With the Digital Services Act (DSA), the European Union will set the standard for regulating platforms on the net and bring fundamental rights into focus. After the GDPR, it is the next legislative project to set international legal standards. The legal opinion commissioned by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom deals with concrete questions on the effectiveness of the DSA, especially in the area of tension with freedom of communication and in relation to disinformation.