- WITNESS at RightsCon Online 2020 Under the entwined and inflamed injustices that the world is facing (including a pandemic, authoritarianism, corporate exploitation of resources and privacy, racial capitalism, surveillance and the suppression of dissent), it is vital to have spaces that foster innovative resistance. RightsCon has long met this need. This annual gathering centers around the ever-changing role of […]
- What We Learned from the Pretoria Deepfakes Workshop (Full Report) —February 19, 2020 On 26 November 2019, WITNESS hosted a workshop at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, on deepfakes and synthetic media. Today we are releasing a full-length report on the proceedings of the workshop detailing presentation sessions, discussion points and a range of solution areas identified, compiled by Ade Johnson of the university’s […]
- To Fight Deepfakes Build Media Literacy, Say African Activists —December 23, 2019 In late November 2019, WITNESS led a workshop on deepfakes at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. Building on the success of a workshop in Brazil in July, and with another workshop in Malaysia scheduled for 2020, the event series has been a unique effort to engage academics, journalists, researchers and human rights activists […]
- In Africa, Fear of State Violence Informs Deepfake Threat Our deepfakes preparedness workshop in South Africa revealed that perceived threats from synthetic media vary greatly by region, especially where repressive government is a factor.
- Collectives From All Regions of Brazil Gather in Rio 35 activists from 6 cities met to discuss strategies on how to use video for change. The convening “#R2R – For the Right to Record” featured representatives from Belém, Santarém, Fortaleza, Recife, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasîlia and Porto Alegre. These representatives consisted of video activists, human rights lawyers, archivists, and community media collectives. […]
- Keep fighting; keep filming This month marks three years since Eric Garner was murdered by the NYPD. This month, Black Lives Matter turned four years old. And this month marked four years since a jury of almost all white women acquitted the man who killed Trayvon Martin of second-degree murder. Racism in the United States has been forced out […]
- Women, Mothers, Activists Itzel Farias from the Mexican collective Porteando por la Paz [Babywearing for Peace] discusses how she used video to share her message of activism.
- Yemeni Blogger Reflects on Experience at Video for Change Workshop Rooj Alwazir, a participant at WITNESS' recent video for change convening in Istanbul, shares experiences from the gathering of 20 filmmakers, educators and human rights defenders.
- The WITNESS Blog: A Look Back at 2014 and Look Ahead to 2015 In 2014 we contextualized dozens of citizen videos on human rights; shared resources for using video for change, archiving video and interviewing survivors of sexual violence; interviewed filmmakers, activists and journalists; advocated for better use of technology to aid those using video for change; celebrated stories of courage, and much more.
- Security for All – November 2014 Tech News Digest Privacy shouldn't be an afterthought for anyone designing online tools. Digital security, while extremely important for human rights activists, should be accessible to everyone.
- Music Monday – Nina Simone Inspires Activism This Monday we feature Nina Simone, not only because she was a brilliant singer/songwriter, a Juilliard-trained pianist, but also because of her pivotal role on the Civil Rights Movement and the liberation struggle.
- Pentagram Partners with Street Artists to Create a WITNESS Mural in London A street art mural in London featuring WITNESS partners is an inspiring reminder that in our global, connected world, we are all "witnesses."
- The Best (Potential) SXSW Sessions for 2015 We can use your help to vote two WITNESS suggested SXSW sessions into to the final round for 2015. We also share other worthy sessions to vote on.
- WITNESS Archiving Guide Receives Award from Society of American Archivists The Activists' Guide to Archiving Video wins the Preservation Publication Award from the Society of American Archivists.
- Building Bridges Between Activists and the Tech and Media Communities WITNESS Executive Director, Yvette Alberdingk-Thijm and Program Director, Sam Gregory speak on media, technology and social change at Internet Week New York 2014.
