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Description
The project builds on the Digital Watchdog project started in April 2020. We desire to further develop watchdog and advocacy activities in the field of digital rights already started in the previous project. The need for it derives from the postponed completion of ongoing legislative activities due to the pandemics as well as from inclusion of new topics - such as wider use of artificial intelligence by public authorities or the assessment of the impact of anti-pandemic measures on privacy. In addition, we also want to continue to develop the community, especially by expanding to the regions and continuing the systemic and financial stabilization of the organization.
The project focuses on three key current topics: Digital exclusion, the use of artificial intelligence by security forces and the pandemic and its long-term legislative and societal implications for privacy. In addition, the project also deals with thematically undefined watchdog activities in the field of privacy protection allowing us to draw attention to current threats. This is also related to the traditional Big Brother Awards announcement.
We want to promote the discourse emphasizing the idea that digital rights and the issue of digital exclusion are crucial for maintaining the democratic character of society. Another goal is to achieve concrete positive shifts in legislation and practice of exercising digital rights (privacy rights) and preventing digital exclusion. The target groups are those we address in order to promote our goals (politicians, key officials, journalists, ICT experts, digital activists), groups strengthening our capacities (organization staff, volunteers), people who can benefit from actions against digital exclusion (digidisidents) and, last but not least, the general public.
Summary of project results
In addition to general watchdog activities in the field of digital rights, the project focused on three issues that could potentially lead to restrictions on citizens'' rights and freedoms.
The first problem is the digitisation of public administration. Digitisation should be seen not only as an opportunity to improve life, but also as a risk of limiting the ability to participate in society or to receive and share information for a significant group of citizens - those at risk of digital exclusion. This risk needs to be addressed at the outset of digitisation projects.
The second problem is the use of artificial intelligence by the security forces, especially the police of the Czech Republic. We have addressed this issue in particular in relation to the use of face recognition in CCTV surveillance. We also followed European developments and responded in particular to the forthcoming AI Act.
The third issue we focused on was the changing level of acceptance of privacy intrusions in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the risk of privacy restrictions even in the aftermath of the pandemic.
As part of the project, we have prepared two analyses. One was about how the police work with artificial intelligence. The second was on the transformation of privacy in a pandemic. In particular, the study on artificial intelligence resonated very strongly.
In collaboration with Senator Jitka Chalánková, we organised a seminar on whether and under what circumstances there should be a right to an offline life.
We have worked with volunteers and activists on a number of open letters (particularly around AI and the right to analogue), and we have also shared many cases of digital exclusion. We also produced a print newsletter with volunteers.
We held more than ten screenings of our film Digital Dissidents. Along with it, we also held discussions. The film was also screened abroad. Thousands more people saw the film online afterwards.
We ran a crowdfunding campaign to raise and preserve cash. We also organised two editions of the Big Brother Awards.
We worked with politicians and civil society representatives on a number of initiatives - whether they were about privacy or the right to analogue.
One of the major achievements of our project is to draw attention to facts that would otherwise be unknown. Thanks to our scrutiny and initiative, the public became aware of
- That the Czech police are working with a biometric system that contains photos from all people''s ID cards and passports.
- In connection with this, we subsequently found out that the Ministry of the Interior was planning a modification that would lead to a "Chinese model", according to the Office of the Ombudsman.
- We also drew attention to the MoLSA''s efforts to obtain details of the financial transactions of benefit claimants.
- We brought several stories of digital exclusion to light.
Thanks to intensive cooperation with journalists, we often got the issue covered. Had it not been for our activity, the problems would have gone unnoticed.
We firmly believe that our activity benefits the whole of society, which is better informed and therefore more aware.
Especially at the end of the project, we saw that the topic of digital exclusion has indeed - thanks to us - become a mainstream that no one disputes anymore.