[Event postponed] We are actively working to reschedule the event and we will update this page of the new date and time as soon as it is available. Thank you for understanding.
Note: Registration is now required to join the conversation.
Date and Time: February 7, 1PM – 2:30PM Bangkok time (UTC+7)
Room: Zoom (to be emailed to registrants prior to the event)
Description:
Across the Asia region, an explosion in internet use in recent decades has coincided with a rise in authoritarianism in several countries. Many global tech companies have enthusiastically pursued users in Asian markets, often without careful assessment of the human rights challenges involved when operating under authoritarian regimes. In some countries, tech companies face legal and policy demands to cooperate directly in human rights abuses.
Article 19 published a report on “Human Rights Responsibilities and Challenges For Tech Companies Operating In Authoritarian Countries” to assess the challenges faced in China, Myanmar and Vietnam in upholding the rights to freedom of expression and privacy, criticizing the passive compliance of tech companies with local laws that often result in human rights abuses.
This DRAPAC Series will delve into the findings of the report on the human rights responsibilities and challenges of tech companies in China, Myanmar, and Vietnam as well as explore the recommendations for improving tech companies’ respect for human rights in authoritarian contexts.
Guest speakers:
Svetlana Zens is the Programme Manager for Engaging Tech for Internet Freedoms, Asia, Article 19. She is a seasoned professional in the fields of public diplomacy, corporate partnerships, and ICT regulations and policies. With a background in linguistics and economics, Svetlana has held positions at various organisations, including the Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business, the European Union Delegation to the Kyrgyz Republic, and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Claire P is the Senior Program Officer and Head of International Advocacy at Human Rights In China (HRIC). Previously a commercial litigator, Claire has worked in NGOs in Japan and Myanmar. HRIC’s work focuses on HRDs in the mainland and Hong Kong, specifically on freedom of expression and digital rights.
Quynh-Vi Tran is the Executive Director of Legal Initiatives for Vietnam (LIV) and Editor-in-Chief of The Vietnamese Magazine. A former litigation lawyer in California, she became a democracy advocate and journalist in 2015. Vi co-founded LIV in 2014, operating two online newspapers, Luat Khoa and The Vietnamese.
Harpreet Kaur is a Business and Human Rights Specialist at the UNDP’s Regional Bureau of Asia and the Pacific, where she oversees a regional project promoting responsible business practices through partnerships in Asia. She provides technical and advisory support to governments and businesses on how to mitigate and address human rights risks and impacts in operations and supply chains in Asia.
Laura Notess is a former Senior Legal Officer, Centre for Law and Democracy and an international human rights lawyer who spent six years advocating on issues such as freedom of expression, media freedom and civic space at the Centre for Law and Democracy in Canada. Previously, she worked on land rights for rural communities and Indigenous Peoples at the World Resources Institute.
