From 27 to 29 September 2024, I had the privilege of attending the Global Gathering 2024, supported by an APC Member Engagement and Travel Fund grant. This event was an invaluable opportunity for 7amleh - The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media to connect, collaborate and advance our mission of digital rights advocacy and combating digital threats, with a particular focus on gender-sensitive approaches to incident response. With participants from across the globe, the event fostered a unique space for sharing expertise, exploring new partnerships that align with our digital rights advocacy and support for human rights defenders from around the world. Here, I’d like to share the insights and outcomes from this gathering, which promises to strengthen our work both in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and internationally.
Representing 7amleh at a dedicated booth was an opportunity to showcase our initiatives in digital security, where I was able to highlight our work, especially our Digital Security Helpdesk. This recent initiative counters hate speech and technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) through AI-driven solutions. Attendees showed considerable interest in our AI-driven solutions to these issues, and our discussions brought attention to the need for AI to protect, rather than inadvertently harm, marginalised communities.
Sessions such as "The LLephant in the RooM" and "Discriminatory UX" resonated deeply with our ongoing work, by addressing how technology can unintentionally exclude or target vulnerable groups. This conversation is especially pertinent in the Palestinian context, where AI-driven government surveillance continues to raise concerns. Discussions on generative AI and large language models (LLMs) underscored the need to align technological advancements with human rights protections, a mission that 7amleh is actively pursuing.
The Global Gathering also featured sessions aimed at improving cybersecurity for activists and human rights defenders. "Guardians of Change" and "Threat Analysis" offered practical strategies for safeguarding digital spaces, aligning well with our current focus on hate speech detection. Additionally, we explored tools such as Tella for human rights documentation. These sessions helped us identify new tools to support 7amleh’s efforts, and better respond to evolving digital threats.
Through panel discussions and informal conversations, we engaged with organisations sharing similar goals. These interactions laid the groundwork for future collaborative projects aimed at bolstering digital rights regionally and internationally. Exchanges at the APC Village and WANA Café were especially productive, allowing us to connect with groups focused on countering online repression and supporting gender rights defenders. We left the event with plans to collaborate on joint training programmes and resource-sharing initiatives, reinforcing our shared mission to protect and promote digital security.
Outcomes and future initiatives
The Global Gathering provided us with essential knowledge and connections, which we are eager to incorporate into 7amleh’s mission. Here’s what’s next:
- Enhanced Digital Security Helpdesk: With new strategies and tools from the event, we aim to strengthen the security and effectiveness of our Digital Security Helpdesk to better serve our community.
- Joint training and resource sharing: Through new partnerships, we plan to launch training programmes and collaborative projects that enhance our digital security capabilities and benefit the wider APC network.
- Regional collaborations: With fresh connections from the MENA region, we’re developing regional partnerships focused on gender rights and combating online repression. By sharing resources and knowledge, we aim to make threat detection and response more efficient.
The Global Gathering 2024 was a pivotal experience, equipping us with insights, tools and relationships that will enhance our digital rights advocacy in the MENA region. Together with new partners, we are determined to address emerging digital threats and continue our work in protecting human rights online.
Rama Salahat, Technology Officer at APC member organisation 7amleh, attended the Global Gathering 2024 with the support of the APC Member Engagement and Travel Fund.
Image: Portion of the cover illustration of the 7amleh report "Digital Security Among Palestinian Youth Citizens of Israel: A Study on Threats and Challenges in Light of the War on Gaza" (https://7amleh.org/2024/08/28/palestinian-youth-practice-self-censorship-online-en).