Days of Action

In November 2021, Global Focus, an association of Danish non-governmental organisations, arranged 47 sessions under the title Days of Action to shed light on the role of civil society in making tech work for democracy and human rights.

Virtual Global Dialogue

Days of Action: Amplifying the voice of civil society through global consultations into tangible action.

On 8-12 November 2021 Global Focus gathered civil society from around the world during five Days of Action to turn talk into concrete action and to ensure that solutions are based on the actual challenges and needs of communities and civil society around the world. Additionally, Global Focus formed three international advisory groups and a working group, which aim to transform identified problems and solutions into tangible policy recommendations and concrete action.

8 - 12 November

Programme

8:30 am08 Nov

Day 1: The pandemic of disinformation and what to do about it – “infodemics”

This first day of the Days of Action will cover the themes: Deep fake/shallow fake, disinformation, content moderation, SoMe regulations, political polarisation, algorithms and the right to non-discrimination, and freedom of expression.

8:30 am09 Nov

Day 2: Digital security and the digital resilience pathway

This second day of the Days of Action will cover the themes: Digital awareness and education, digital capacity building for CSOs and activists, digital first aid kit and digital tools and grassroot mobilisation.

9:00 am10 Nov

Day 3: Internet for all, by all – infrastructure, access, availability, and safe spaces

This third day of the Days of Action will cover the themes: Digital infrastructure serving public interest, internet shutdowns, digital divide, digital equity, accessibility, online violence, cyber feminism, access for all and cost of access.

9:00 am11 Nov

Day 4: The authoritarian playbook

This fourth day of the Days of Action will cover the themes: The relationship between governments and big tech, criminalisation of online activism, surveillance, internet shutdowns, geopolitical cyber security, and anti-democratic content moderation and censorship.

9:30 am12 Nov

Day 5: Digital responsibility from duty bearers and the private sector - how do we move on from here?

This fifth day of the Days of Action will cover the themes: Transparency, surveillance, data privacy, SoMe regulations, algorithms and the right to non-discrimination.

Civil Society at the forefront

Civil society is key in ensuring people-centered solutions and actions. We are determined to ensure that civil society is at the forefront of Tech for Democracy. 

Technology and digitalisation have contributed greatly to global democracy, the fight for human rights and a more just and equal world. However, technology is also used as a tool to counteract democracy and misuse power. Civil society and human rights defenders around the world are often main targets of digital crackdowns, surveillance and censorship.

Civil society plays a crucial role in ensuring that Tech for Democracy’s multi-stakeholder solutions are based on local challenges and needs. Building digital resilience and mobilisation of civil society is key to ensuring that technology fosters democratic and inclusive societies. The Danish civil society platform Global Focus is representing civil society in Tech for Democracy and we are determined to ensure that global civil society and citizen’ voices are at the forefront.

Tech for Democracy Action Programme

Civil society will raise the bar and create a clear path for actions.

A key outcome of the Days of Action was a Tech for Democracy Action Programme: a global document that consolidates the findings from the Days of Action, civil society consultations and sets out a clear path for actions needed.

The programme provides a strong basis for civil society advocacy and will contribute to raising the bar for real action amongst decision makers all over the world as part of the Tech for Democracy initiative.