Harriet Moynihan

Este archivo solo abarca los artículos del autor incorporados a este sitio a partir del 1 de diciembre de 2006. Para fechas anteriores realice una búsqueda entrecomillando su nombre.

Giant digital mural in Trafford Park, Manchester supporting England footballers Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Bukayo Saka who were targeted with racist abuse online after the Euro 2020 final. Photo by Charlotte Tattersall/Getty Images.

Europa, , ,

The ugly online abuse targeted at members of the England football team following the Euros final, and then at Lewis Hamilton after the British Grand Prix, was not only hateful to the individuals concerned, but divisive for the UK more broadly.

More needs to be done to regulate online platforms to avoid the spread of such abuse at scale. Online platforms are making increasing efforts to ‘self-regulate’ in order to tackle online abuse. Over the past year, Facebook and Twitter have strengthened their policies on hateful speech and conduct, such as Facebook’s policy banning Holocaust denial. Both have become more vigilant at deplatforming those who violate their terms of service, such as Donald Trump, and at removing online abuse using a combination of machines and humans.…  Seguir leyendo »

Reproducing the atmosphere of a large data centre using an infinity chamber at the Futurium in Berlin, a space for dialogue between governments, technology scientists, industry, and society. Photo by JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP via Getty Images.

ReflexionesNuevas Tecnologías

Technology governance is beset by the challenges of how regulation can keep pace with rapid digital transformation, how governments can regulate in a context of deep knowledge asymmetry, and how policymakers can address the transnational nature of technology.

Keeping pace with, much less understanding, the implications of digital platforms and artificial intelligence for societies is increasingly challenging as technology becomes more sophisticated and yet more ubiquitous.

To overcome these obstacles, there is an urgent need to move towards a more anticipatory and inclusive model of technology governance. There are some signs of this in recent proposals by the European Union (EU) and the UK on the regulation of online harms.…  Seguir leyendo »

Sharing an iPhone selfie from the campus of Wuhan University, Hubei Province, China. Photo by Wang HE/Getty Images.

MundoAsia

Freedom of expression was subject to significant restrictions in Asia even before the pandemic, with several governments having enacted laws that stifle online debate. But since COVID-19, restrictions have increased even further due to a rash of so-called ‘emergency measures’ introduced by governments across the region.

Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam have all put new laws into place, and many restrictions are already being applied in a draconian fashion, such as in the Philippines and Bangladesh.

As outlined in a new Chatham House research paper, one inspiration behind this trend is China, home to the world’s most sophisticated and restrictive system of internet control.…  Seguir leyendo »

Lorenzo Mendoza, president and chief executive officer of Empresas Polar SA, speaks during a news conference outside the company’s headquarters in Caracas, Venezuela, on 31 October 2016. Photo credit: Copyright © Wil Riera/Bloomberg/Getty Images

ReflexionesPensamiento, Cultura y Ciencia

Robust civic space is essential for good governance, the rule of law and for enabling citizens to shape their societies. However, civil society space around the world is under significant pressure and the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this situation.

The weakening of international institutions and democratic norms worldwide has resulted in fewer constraints on autocracies. Meanwhile, the rise of nationalism, populism and illiberalism is taking its toll on civil liberties.

The private sector is in a unique position to work with civil society organizations to uphold and defend civic freedoms and support sustainable and profitable business environments. Companies have the capacity, resources and expertise to enhance the protection of civic space.…  Seguir leyendo »

Photo illustration of Donald Trump and the Twitter logo. Photo by Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images.

ReflexionesNuevas Tecnologías, , ,

The ‘deplatforming’ of Donald Trump – including Twitter’s announcement that it has permanently banned him due to ‘the risk of further incitement of violence’ after the riots in the US – shows once more not only the sheer power of online platforms but also the lack of a coherent and consistent framework for online content governance.

Taking the megaphone away from Trump during the Capitol riots seems sensible, but was it necessary or proportionate to ban him from the platform permanently? Or consistent with the treatment of other ‘strongmen’ world leaders such as Modi, Duterte and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who have overseen nationalistic violence but whose accounts remain intact?…  Seguir leyendo »

The 'Fearless Girl' bronze sculpture by Kristen Visbalthe wears a voting sticker in front of the New York Stock Exchange. Photo by KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images.

MundoAmérica

In America, business leaders are no strangers to elections, whether contributing to and endorsing candidates, or trying to influence positions that may translate into policy. But the electoral process itself and its outcomes were largely taken for granted until the recent presidential election, when many felt compelled to make unprecedented statements supporting first the process, and then the outcome.

But can such a strong response by business to the pressures on the society in which they operate go further in 2021, and translate into action in support of civil society space at a time when it is fast deteriorating around the world?…  Seguir leyendo »

A computer hacked by a virus known as Petya. The Petya ransomware cyberattack hit computers of Russian and Ukrainian companies on 27 June 2017. Photo: Getty Images.

Internacional

In discussions to date about how international law applies in cyberspace, commentators have tended to focus their attention on how the rules on the use of force, or the law of armed conflict, apply to cyber activities conducted by states that give rise to physical damage, injury or death.

But in practice, the vast majority of state cyberattacks fall below this threshold. Far more common are persistent, low-level attacks that may leave no physical trace but that are capable of doing significant damage to a state’s ability to control its systems, often at serious economic cost.

Such cyber incursions might include network disruptions in the operation of another government’s websites; tampering with electoral infrastructure to change or undermine the result; or using cyber means to destabilize another state’s financial sector.…  Seguir leyendo »

Students holding Chinese national flags watch the live broadcast of the 40th anniversary celebration of China's reform and opening-up at Huaibei Normal University on 18 December. Photo: Getty Images.

MundoAsia

China’s adherence to the rules-based international system is selective, prioritizing certain rules in favour of others. States supportive of that ‘system’ – or, as some argue, systems[1] – should identify areas of mutual strategic interest so that they can draw China further into the global rules-based order and leverage China as a constructive player that potentially also contributes to improvements in such areas. This is particularly apposite at a time when the US is in retreat from multilateralism and Russia seems bent on disrupting the rules-based international order.

Supportive player

There are many reasons for actively engaging with China on mutual areas of interest.…  Seguir leyendo »

Soldiers stand in line as the frigate Xuzhou arrives at the port of Djibouti in May 2018. In 2017, China established its first foreign naval base in Djibouti. Photo via Getty Images.

MundoAsia

China’s involvement in UN peacekeeping contributions has been on the rise for some time. China is also stepping up its own military and security operations abroad to protect its commercial and strategic interests, particularly in Africa. In doing so, China is exposing itself to a more complex set of issues – including international legal issues – with which it is only just starting to grapple.

China’s contribution to UN peacekeeping over the last 10 years has expanded dramatically. In September 2016, it pledged $1 billion to help fund UN peace, security and development activities, while in 2018 it supplied 10.3 per cent of the UN peacekeeping budget, up from 3.93 per cent in 2012.…  Seguir leyendo »

The Xuelong 2 icebreaker is christened in Shanghai on 10 September. Photo via Getty Images.

MundoAsia,

As polar ice melts, the Arctic will become increasingly important for its untapped oil, gas and minerals as they become more accessible, as well for its shipping routes, which will become increasingly cost efficient for cargo as parts of the routes become ice-free for extended periods.

A number of countries, including Russia and China, are also exploring the possibilities around overflights, commercial fishing, the laying of submarine cables and pipelines, and scientific research.

Earlier this month, China announced the launch of its first domestically built conventionally-powered polar icebreaker, Xuelong 2, or Snow Dragon 2. Like its (foreign-built) predecessor,Snow Dragon, this vessel’s purpose is framed as scientific research into polar ice coverage, environmental conditions, and biological resources.…  Seguir leyendo »

A staff member at the UK National Cyber Security Centre in London. Photo: Getty Images.

EuropaUnión Europea,

The UK has been working towards building its offensive cyber capability since 2013, as part of its approach to deter adversaries and to deny them opportunities to attack, both in cyberspace and in the physical world. But reports that the government considered an offensive cyberattack as part of its response to the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury on 4 March have brought the issue of whether and when offensive cyber operations would be justified under international law to the fore.

Under international law, a state is entitled to take countermeasures for breaches of international law against it that are attributable to another state.…  Seguir leyendo »

A Yemeni inspects the rubble of a destroyed funeral hall building. Photo by Getty Images.

Internacional,

Cooperation among states for the purposes of armed conflict and counterterrorism is increasingly commonplace. In Syria, for example, and in Iraq’s battle with ISIS, various coalitions of states operate behind the scenes, providing each other with a range of support and assistance, often under the radar. Assistance may be operational (embedded soldiers, the supply of weapons, the provision of military bases), but equally may take the form of technical, logistical or financial support. States also increasingly assist one another in counterterrorism situations, for example through the provision of training or intelligence.

The provision of such assistance has legal ramifications. What if, for example, that assistance contributes to a breach of international law?…  Seguir leyendo »