05: Human Rights and Internet Access Kill Switch

In response to the recent internet shutdown in Belarus, more than 50 human rights organizations, including Access Now, signed an open letter condemning Belarus' actions.  The letter cites a number of international articles and resolutions from the European Court of Human Rights, the United Nations, and others in support of its central argument. As the letter’s opening lines read: “Such disruptions are impermissible under international human rights law”.
This is the argument that we are making in this episode of Kill Switch as well. We talk to a journalist, an activist, and a human rights researcher about the various ways in which internet shutdowns and human rights violations intersect.
This episode features interviews with Fisseha Tekle from Amnesty International, Yvonne Ng from Witness, and Tom Gardner from The Economist.
Hosted by Felicia Anthonia. Produced by Access Now, the #KeepItOn coalition, and Volume. Funding support from Internews. Production assistance by internet teapot. Music by Oman Morí.