Weekly Roundup 6/21/16

Happy Tuesday, Readers! It is time for your Weekly Roundup. This past week, a coalition comprised of civil rights activists released a new internet policy platform “designed to pressure the 2016 presidential candidates into prioritizing online free speech, access, privacy, and openness”. The platform has been distributed among all of the 2016 Presidential Candidates in hopes that they will emphasize internet freedom and freedom of expression online.

An important engine of political organizing and citizen empowerment, the internet is constantly at risk of losing its freedom. This includes freedom of expression online that is under increasing pressure globally from restrictive regulations and sophisticated, commercially-available surveillance. The lack of internet freedom restricts free speech and prevents the open sharing and collaboration of ideas. NDItech has remained committed to supporting the value of internet freedom because it is the key to free speech, access, privacy, transparency and openness.  

Tech News:

• China builds world's most powerful computer

• YouTube launches 'Smart Offline' in India for cheaper video downloads

• Belgium tops list of nations most vulnerable to hacking

• Britain leads Europe in tech

• Can a social media algorithm predict a terrorist attack?

• Twitter locks millions of accounts after passwords posted for sale

Civic Tech:

• UNHCR has determined that Free Expression Violations is a Global Concern

• The Dangers of Legal Ignorance in Digital Development

• Burundi Turns to WhatsApp as Political Turmoil Brings Media Blackout

• Mark Zuckerberg's New Mission: Teaching Africans to Code

• What is the Role of ICT4D in the Sustainable Development Goals?

• Internet governance guidebook: Top resource for the Global South

• Improving lives of the most vulnerable refugees using biometrics technology

• A failed coup and Facebook: The story of the Burundi’s Elections