Association for Progressive Communications (APC)

🌍 #AfriSIG2026 starts tomorrow in Accra! 52 fellows. 21 countries. One cohort. From 27 October to 1 November, fellows will come together to learn, exchange perspectives and build connections across Africa's internet governance community.

Meet the fellows behind these conversations! Their experiences span internet and AI governance, digital rights, cybersecurity, inclusion, media and public-interest technology. Together, they bring perspectives from across the continent. 🌍

🌍 At #FIFAfrica26, APC community shared reflections on feminist digital rights, from technology-facilitated gender-based violence to women’s participation in digital governance. 👇 Our thread highlights six voices.

🌱 The stories continue! The second batch of LocNet narratives explores how connectivity can strengthen climate resilience, support emergency communications and protect the environment. 🧵 Discover three new stories on #EnvironmentalJustice and #CommunityNetworks.

🌿 Can connectivity support conservation while respecting nature? In Zambia's Kafue National Park, Tamara Bengesai explores how connected technologies support wildlife protection and how camouflaged infrastructure could minimise ecological disturbance.

🌱 The stories continue! The second batch of LocNet narratives explores how connectivity can strengthen climate resilience, support emergency communications and protect the environment. 🧵 Discover three new stories on #EnvironmentalJustice and #CommunityNetworks.

🌪️ What happens when storms leave communities disconnected? In New Orleans, Jen Liu and Monique Verdin trace three major hurricanes and the emergence of SwampNet, exploring how community-built networks support mutual aid and emergency communications.

🌐 APC is joining #BreadAndNet2026, organised by APC member @smex.org, in Beirut and online from 14 to 16 October! We're contributing to two workshops exploring technology-facilitated harms against women human rights defenders and feminist approaches to collective protection. 🧵👇

🔹 14 October | 12:45–14:15 UTC | Hybrid Together with SMEX, we'll explore how technology-facilitated harms affect #WHRDs in SWANA beyond online spaces and what evidence is needed to strengthen advocacy and accountability. 🔗 Register for online participation: breadandnet.org

This FIRN research, led by sex workers with a feminist academic, explores the challenges and opportunities Uruguayan sex workers face online, and the individual and collective safety and self-care strategies they develop to navigate digital spaces. 🎨 Illustration by @perempuanmelawanart for FIRN

Even in the absence of meaningful protection from either state institutions or digital platforms, sex workers in Uruguay have developed diverse strategies of resistance – both individual and collective – to mitigate harm and ensure survival.

This FIRN research, led by sex workers with a feminist academic, explores the challenges and opportunities Uruguayan sex workers face online, and the individual and collective safety and self-care strategies they develop to navigate digital spaces. 🎨 Illustration by @perempuanmelawanart for FIRN

While technology has helped sex workers remain in the industry, they are exposed to significant risks, including image-based violence, harassment and emotional abuse, threats and blackmail, risk of physical violence and privacy violations.

Research by Women’s Center “Gulrukhsor”, developed under third cycle of FIRN, examines technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) as a continuum with offline violence, reinforcing patriarchal norms used to control women. 🎨 Illustration by @perempuanmelawanart

More than a way of generating knowledge, research can be a political practice through which women reclaim their narratives.

Research by Women’s Center “Gulrukhsor”, developed under third cycle of FIRN, examines technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) as a continuum with offline violence, reinforcing patriarchal norms used to control women. 🎨 Illustration by @perempuanmelawanart

Social expectations around honour, morality and family reputation shape women's experiences of TFGBV, while hate speech is used to silence women who speak up.

Research by Women’s Center “Gulrukhsor”, developed under third cycle of FIRN, examines technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) as a continuum with offline violence, reinforcing patriarchal norms used to control women. 🎨 Illustration by @perempuanmelawanart

The @teamcommunity.bsky.social Global Gathering was not only a space to reflect on today’s challenges, but also to imagine what we can build differently together. Featuring @engagemedia.org @equalitie.bsky.social Read more: www.apc.org/en/news/what...

Our community shared ideas on collective action, community-centred connectivity, care as infrastructure and locally rooted technologies – including practical services and tools that respond to communities’ own needs and contexts.

How do existing stigma around sexuality and gender stereotypes shape university students’ experience of finding love on social media and online dating apps in South Africa? Research by KASA Training and Development, under FIRN’s third cycle, investigates students’ experiences of TFGBV. 🧵

Participants spoke about deep distrust to the South African law enforcement body, at the same time, doubt in platform governance and moderation system. South African youth need safe spaces where they can talk about TFGBV without being judged, stigmatised or victim-blamed.

How do existing stigma around sexuality and gender stereotypes shape university students’ experience of finding love on social media and online dating apps in South Africa? Research by KASA Training and Development, under FIRN’s third cycle, investigates students’ experiences of TFGBV. 🧵

Meet the 45 fellows joining the African School on Internet Governance 2026 🌍Coming from 20 countries, the #AfriSIG26 cohort brings together perspectives from across Africa’s internet and digital policy ecosystem. Meet the fellows 🧵

Across more than five days in Accra, fellows will explore internet and digital policy in Africa and globally – with a particular focus on AI governance in the African context, alongside data governance, digital inclusion, cybersecurity, human rights and platform regulation.

@greennet.social has been building digital communications for social and environmental justice for 40 years. 🌱 Founded in 1985, it helped NGOs and activists get online when email and international information exchange were still costly and difficult. 🧵

In 1990, GreenNet became one of the organisations that founded APC. Four decades later, it is still supporting charities, activists and movements with digital tools grounded in trust, autonomy and community.

At the 2026 TeamCommUNITY Global Gathering, members of the APC community reflected on some of the issues shaping digital rights work today.

Across the gathering, conversations explored platform accountability, censorship, AI, digital violence, collective organising and the need to safeguard online spaces.