Author: WITNESS

23 Jan Civil society coalition launches campaign calling for Direct-to-Cell satellite connectivity amid Iran’s internet shutdowns

News and Events | WITNESS

Iran’s government-imposed internet shutdown amid nationwide protests highlights the urgent need for crisis-ready connectivity. With millions cut off from the rest of the world, we’re calling on technology companies and policymakers to urgently prioritize humanitarian internet access for civilians in the deployment of the Direct-to-Cell (D2C) satellite technologies. Humanitarian applications embedded in D2C satellite connectivity regulatory and operational frameworks can offer a lifeline to civilians and help uphold fundamental human rights. The recent protests in Iran have once again demonstrated how internet restrictions are deliberately weaponized by authorities to suppress dissent and isolate populations. This recent blackout is thought to have aided the regime in massacring what is now thought to be at least 16,500 protesters. While some limited connectivity has been partially restored after weeks of near-total blackout, access remains heavily filtered and monitored, with international connectivity severely restricted. Millions of people remain unable to freely communicate with loved ones, access independent information, or safely share evidence of human rights violations. Essential services, including banking, healthcare, emergency response, and telecommunications, continue to face significant disruptions, deepening the humanitarian impact and placing lives at risk. Experience in Iran has shown that satellite-based connectivity can function even during government-imposed blackouts, but

18 Dec WITNESS Submits Expert Comment to Meta Oversight Board on AI-Generated Video in the Israel–Iran Conflict

News and Events | WITNESS

On 2 December 2025, WITNESS submitted a public comment to Meta’s Oversight Board in response to a post about an AI-generated video circulating that falsely showed destruction in Haifa during the June 2025 Israel–Iran war. WITNESS urged Meta’s independent Oversight Board, which reviews content decisions on the platform, to go beyond incremental fixes. The organization recommended urgent investment in robust provenance infrastructure, advanced AI detection systems, clear and contextualized labeling, strengthened fact-checking, user controls, likeness protection policies, and a governance framework grounded in human rights and global equity. According to Mahsa Alimardani, Associate Director of Technology, Threats and Opportunities at WITNESS, the case raises urgent questions about how platforms identify, label, and respond to synthetic media in fast-moving conflict or high-risk situations, where misleading visuals can spread more quickly than verification or platform action. “Highly realistic AI-generated content is now shaping public understanding of events before facts can be established. We encourage the Oversight Board to tackle this challenge head on and demand Meta to cultivate sustained investment in transparency infrastructure, detection systems that work in real-world conditions, and platform responses that help users understand how content was created without undermining trust in authentic evidence,” Alimardani said. The submission also

27 Nov WITNESS and AfrOrigens project Launch Underwater Filming Guide

News and Events | WITNESS

In November, WITNESS and partners in Brazil launched new guidance on collecting underwater audiovisual evidence, aiming to strengthen community efforts to protect their territories, defend their rights, and preserve historical memory. Available in Portuguese and English, the Underwater Filming Guide brings together technical instructions and practical recommendations to support communities and research groups working to document submerged environments. The guide outlines methods for planning safe dives, producing stable footage, and capturing relevant scenes for advocacy, environmental monitoring, and historical investigation. For those documenting underwater environments for the first time, it offers step-by-step guidance on advance planning, safe practices before and during water entry, attention to currents and weather conditions, and recommendations for preserving collected footage. According to Natalie Hornos, Program Manager at WITNESS, the launch of the guide in partnership with AfrOrigens is an important step in supporting the investigation of environmental crimes, the documentation of violations, the recording of historical events, and the strengthening of community knowledge about aquatic ecosystems. “Images produced over time are powerful records for revealing stories that have been erased. That’s why we support documentation methods and initiatives that strengthen struggles for justice and reinforce the defense of traditional territories,” Hornos says. With increasing environmental

14 Nov WITNESS calls on India to develop an innovative, interoperable and effective AI Transparency regulations

News and Events, Tech and Advocacy | WITNESS

On November 6, WITNESS submitted comments to the Ministry of Electronic and Information Technology (MeitY) in response to the Draft IT Amendment Rules “in relation to synthetically generated information”. WITNESS welcomes the government’s recognition of the growing impact of AI-generated content. However, we caution that the proposed framework remains too broad and platform-centric to achieve genuine transparency or accountability. This current amendment provides the potential for over-broad content takedowns that could stifle freedom of expression, arts, satire, and journalism. Drawing on nearly a decade of work at the intersection of AI transparency, detection, provenance, and human rights, WITNESS believes India can lead globally by creating a dedicated, risk-based AI Transparency Framework aligned with international best practices. Effective governance must move beyond simplistic “AI or not-AI” binaries and instead focus on how content is created, disclosed, and used. The goal should be process transparency, not punitive or reactive content moderation. WITNESS Executive Director Sam Gregory notes: “We cannot regulate AI by only regulating intermediaries; we must build the infrastructure of trust through transparency, provenance and accountability through every stage of the AI pipeline.” We also echo the perspective of India’s leading digital rights organization, the Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF), which has

13 Nov WITNESS joins open letter urging EU to stop plans that could weaken digital rights protections

News and Events, Tech and Advocacy | WITNESS

This week, WITNESS joined 127 civil society organizations, trade unions, and public interest advocates in signing an open letter urging the European Commission to halt plans that could weaken core digital rights protections in Europe. The proposal, known as the Digital Omnibus or Digital Package on Simplification, seeks to review and “streamline” existing EU digital laws, but could in fact roll back essential safeguards for privacy and accountability online. Among the laws at risk are the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which ensures people have control over their personal data, the ePrivacy framework, which protects online communications from intrusive tracking, and the AI Act, the EU’s first major law to regulate artificial intelligence and prevent harmful or discriminatory uses of the technology. As highlighted in WITNESS’ recent submission to the European Commission, simplification efforts should not come at the expense of human rights. WITNESS stands with partners across Europe in calling on the Commission to strengthen, not dismantle, these hard-won protections, ensuring that technology serves people, not power. The letter’s content is the following: The EU must uphold hard-won protections for digital human rights We 127 civil society organisations, trade unions and defenders of the public interest write to emphasise