Roster - Consultant for Senior ICT/Digital Policy, Regulatory, Economic and Market for Africa

Roster - Consultant for Senior ICT/Digital Policy, Regulatory, Economic and Market for Africa

Medienmitteilungen - Regierung.li

200 000 Satelliten: China fordert SpaceX im All heraus

Für den Bau der grössten Satellitenkonstellation aller Zeiten fehlen dem Land die Raketen. Die Beweggründe für den Schachzug sind vermutlich andere.

Iran: When the internet is shut down, gunfire begins

To the International Telecommunication Union and the international Internet community, When the internet is shut down, gunfire begins. People of Iran are once again on the streets, risking their lives for dignity, freedom, and prosperity. Over the past several days, Iran has been subjected to a near-total communications blackout. Internet access has been cut, mobile networks and even landlines have been disabled, and Starlink connectivity is being actively jammed using military-grade equipment. As the people of Iran are severed from international communication networks, the Iranian regime is killing unarmed protesters with impunity. We know that many have been shot, but we do not know how many have been killed. Journalists, activists, and even families are unreachable. Silence is being used as a weapon. Internet access is a human right. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), as the United Nations’ specialized agency for digital technologies, is mandated to facilitate and safeguard international connectivity. We—academics, activists, engineers, and experts—are deeply concerned that the ITU has become increasingly reluctant to fulfill its responsibilities toward those who depend on the internet most for their safety, visibility, and survival. Just as certain rights cannot be suspended even during emergencies, crises, and war, basic connectivity necessary for safety, expression, and accountability must not be subject to discretionary shutdowns. We observe with grave concern that the once-liberatory concept of digital sovereignty—advanced by Indigenous and oppressed communities to protect autonomy and self-determination—is being co-opted to legitimize nationalist and authoritarian visions of the internet. A network designed to be global, open, and resilient is being reframed as something states can fragment, weaponize, and shut down at will. In the context of internet shutdowns, the debate over digital sovereignty has reached its limits: when states sever connectivity and kill with impunity, the priority can no longer be sovereignty but ensuring that people can remain connected and in control of their communications. We are alarmed by the misuse of digital sovereignty rhetoric by authoritarian regimes that are building centralized, highly controlled infrastructures capable of disconnecting entire populations from the global internet—instantly, selectively, and repeatedly. Iran represents one of the most advanced and dangerous examples of this trend. The regime’s growing technical expertise and infrastructural capacity to enforce blanket and targeted shutdowns pose an urgent threat not only to Iranians but to global norms of connectivity and human rights. We therefore demand that the International Internet community, the ITU and the United Nations: Publicly and unequivocally condemn Iran’s communications shutdowns as violations of human rights. Take immediate, concrete steps to prevent the weaponization of telecommunications infrastructure against civilian populations. Refuse to legitimize authoritarian interpretations of digital sovereignty that enable censorship, repression, and state violence. Actively support resilient, open, and people-centered communication infrastructures that cannot be silenced at the convenience of repressive regimes. Commit to treating core Internet and telecommunications infrastructure as protected civilian infrastructure, immune from intentional shutdowns, jamming, or coercive interference. When communication is cut, accountability disappears. When the internet goes dark, violence thrives. The world must not allow silence to become a tool of murder. Initiated and signed by: Azadeh Akbari, Professor of Critical Data & Surveillance Studies, Goethe University Frankfurt Felicia Anthonio, #KeepItOn Global Campaign Manager at Access Now Pooyesh Azizeddin, Researcher in Technology and Human Rights & Podcast Producer at Miaan Organization Mahsa Alimardani, Associate Director for Technology Threats and Opportunities at WITNESS Farzaneh Badiei, Internet Freedom Researcher and Founder of Digital Medusa Sabhanaz Rashid Diya, Executive Director, Tech Global Institute Marwa Fatafta, MENA Policy and Advocacy Director at Access Now Mo Hoseini, Head of Security and Resilience, ARTICLE19 Azam Jangravi, Security Lead at OpenText Jadi Mirmirani, Freedom of Expression & Digital Rights Advocate Roya Pakzad, Founder of Taraaz, Senior Fellow at the Mozilla Foundation Amir Rashidi, Director of Internet Security and Digital Rights at Miaan Group Niloufar Vadiati, Research Fellow of Digital Geography at the Institute of Liberal Arts and Science, University of Hamburg Supported and signed by: David Murakami Wood, Canada Research Chair in Critical Surveillance and Security Studies, University of Ottawa Timnit Gebru Katy Vaughan, Senior Lecturer in Law, Cyber Threats Research Centre (CYTREC), Swansea University Osiris Parikh, Council on Tech and Social Cohesion Peter Micek, Lecture, Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs Dawood Sajjadi, Internet and Cybersecurity Strategist Rosamunde Van Brakel, Assistant Professor Digital Criminology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel Rashid Gabdulhakov, Assistant Professor, University of Groningen Haleh Asgarinia, Privacy Lawyer at Radboudumc/ Nijmegen/ Netherlands Claudia Aradau, Professor, King's College London Casey Ryan Lynch, Ramón y Cajal Fellow, Universitat de Girona Thomas Dekeyser, Lecturer in Human Geography, University of Southampton Payal Arora, Professor of Inclusive AI Cultures, Utrecht University Nico Wunderling , Professor, Center for Critical Computational Studies Pedro Sanches, Senior Lecturer, Umeå University Fabiola Schwarz, Research Associate at the Munich School of Politics and Public Policy, Technical University of Munich Lizzie Richardson, Professor of Digital Geography, Goethe University Tony Roberts, Research Fellow, Institute of Development Studies Charles Ikem, Executive Director, PolicyLab Africa Pete Fussey, Professor of Criminology, University of Southampton, UK Hemmat, Ph.d. Student, Mid Sweden University Jef Huysmans, Professor of International Politics, Queen Mary University of London Dr. Michael Nagenborg, Associate Professor Philosophy of Technology, University of Twente Dr. Pouya Sepehr, Senior Scientist, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL Tiago Peixoto, Professor of Complex Systems and Network Science, IT:U Austria Somaie Abolhasani, Postdoctoral researcher, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL Michalis Lianos, Professor, University of Rouen Kiss Abraham, Director, Newzambian Innovations Anita Gohdes, Professor, Hertie School Linnea Kjellsson, Lecturer, Dalarna University Georg Glasze, Chair of Cultural & Political Geography, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg nanna bonde thylstrup, Associate Professor, University of Copenhagen Karen Louise Grova Søilen, Associate Senior Lecturer in Information Studies, Lund University Bilge Yesil, Professor, College of Staten Island, City University of New York Amir H. Payberah, Associate Professor of Computer Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology Thobekile Matimbe, Senior Manager Partnerships and Engagements, Paradigm Initiative Dima Samaro, Executive Director, Skyline International for Human Rights (SIHR) Tatiana Lysova, PostDoc Researcher, University of Milan-Bicocca Friedemann Brennecke, Professor, University of Music Würzburg Jane Duncan, Professor of Digital Society, University of Glasgow Andrew Graham, Lecturer in Humanities and Social Sciences, University of the Highlands and Islands Dan Verständig, Professor of Educational Theory and Practices of Critical Computational Literacy Silvia Masiero, Associate Professor, University of Oslo Catherine Vandermeulen, Researcher, HafenCity University Stéfy McKnight, Associate Professor, Carleton University Alina Utrata, Politics and Technology Researcher Maryam Karimi, Assistant Professor in Urban Planning, Politecnico di Milano Giada Casarin, Postdoctoral researcher, Politecnico di Milano Ababacar Diop, Prsident, Jonction Kehinde Adegboyega, Executive Director, Human Rights Journalists Network Nigeria Luis Lozano Paredes, Lecturer (Assistant Professor), Transdisciplinary School, University of Technology Sydney Garfield Benjamin, Assistant Professor in AI Ethics and Society, University of Cambridge Francesca Berni, Postdoc Research Fellow, Politecnico di Milano Maja-Lee Voigt, Researcher, HafenCity University Hamburg Paula Helm, Professor for Empirical Computational Ethics, University of Amsterdam Vojtech Drápal, Post-Doc Researcher, University of Hamburg - Institute of Liberal Arts and Sciences Kristene Unsworth, Director Center for Science, Technology, and Society, Associate Professor Criminology and Justice Studies, Drexel University Letizia Chiappini, Assistant Professor, University of Twente Fernanda Bruno, Full Professor, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Elnaz Sarkheyli, Senior lecturer at Malmö university Carolyn Prouse, Associate Professor, Queen’s University Ariel Salzmann, Associate Professor of Islamic and World History, Queen’s University, CANADA Catherine Meredith, PhD Candidate, Birkbeck, University of London Martin French, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Concordia University Samantha King, Professor, Queen’s University Julie Terebkov, Graduate Teaching Fellow, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Kian Kamali, Content and Outreach Team Lead, ASL19 Julia Chan, Assistant Professor, University of Calgary Delfina Martinez Pandiani, Assistant Professor, University of Amsterdam Natalie Welfens, Postdoctoral Reseaecher, Goethe University Frankfurt Hinako Sugiyama, Senior counsel/ digital rights fellow, International Justice Clinic at the University of California, Irvine School of Law Jelke Bloem, Assistant Professor, University of Amsterdam Mahtab Laghaei, Policy Analyst, The Dais Nada Mousa, Fellow, Mozilla Foundation Anand Sheombar, Assoiate professor, HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht Susanne Krasmann, Professor of Sociology, University of Hamburg Rebekah Bowling, Lecturer in Criminology, Victoria University of Wellington, NZ Raha Farazmand, Architect, Artist and Associate Lecturer Giulio Coppi, Senior Humanitarian Officer, Access Now Oskar Hagen, Professor Ghoncheh Ghavami, Editor-in-chief, Harasswatch Maya Indira Ganesh, Assistant research professor, LCFI, University of Cambridge Benoit Dupont, Canada Research Chair in Cyber-resilience, Université de Montréal Olivier Jutel, Senior Lecturer, University of Otago Zoha Zokaei, Assistant Professor, University of Sussex sava saheli singh, Assistant Professor, York University Haleh Mir Miri, PhD Student- Women and Gender Studies, University of Toronto Dwayne Winseck, Professor, and Director of the Global Media and Internet Concentration Project, Carleton University Erminia Colucci, Professor of Visual Psychology & Cultural and Global Mental Health, Middlesex University London, UK Rowland Atkinson, Chair in Inclusive Societies, University of Sheffield Lonneke van der Velden, Assistant Professor, University of Amsterdam Dr Qemal Affagnon, Head/ west Africa division, Internet Sans Frontières Rudraksh Lakra, Advocate and public policy analyst Atiyeh Zarifi, Optoelectronics Engineer Suzan Karimi, Feminist Writer and PhD student Ghazaal Vojdani, Independent Graphic Deisgner, Art Director and lecturer Dia Kayyali, Independent Tech and Human Rights Advisor Adriana de la Peña, PhD Candidate, Malmö University Madeleine Donnelly, PhD Candidate Philosophy, CEThicS, Lille Atty Mashatan, Canada Research Chair and Associate Professor of Information Technology Management, Toronto Metropolitan University Parastoo Sadeghi, Head of Operations, Publishing Industry (UK) Hadi Ghanbari, Assistant Professor, Aalto University Ayca Tomac, Assistant Professor, Queen's University Aleš Završnik Professor, Institute of Criminology at the Faculty of Law Ljubljana, Slovenia Nguyen Phong Hoang, Assistant Professor, University of British Columbia Dionysia Peppa, Senior Legal and EU Policy Lead, SMEX Katrin Paula, Assistant Professor for Global Security and Technology, TU Munich Winfred Poster, Director and Founder, Labor Tech Research Network Tabea Bork-Hüffer, Heidelberg University Dane Vanderkooi, PhD Candidate, TMU Jonathan Böcker, Policy Advisor, Alliance 90/The Greens (Germany) Viktoriia Boiko, Politics and Technology Researcher Alina Wernick, Research Group Lead Amin Dayekh, CEO, MegaMore Wireless Broadband Limited Pablo Nunes, Director, Center of Studies on Public Security and Citzenship Kaveh Ranjbar, CEO Whisper, Former CIO/CTO, RIPE NCC; Former Board Member, ICANN, whisper.security Sara Biazar, C.O.O., CBAG Nastaran Ghadimi, Doctor Mendel Peladeau-Houle, Assistant Professor Jose Arraiza, Digital Inclusion Advocate, Independent Meg Kitamura, University of Amsterdam Gwendal Le Bec, Artist Melinda Cohoon, Researcher Konstantinos Komaitis, Internet governance expert Dean Wilson, Emertius Professor Leila Moeeni, Human Rights lawyer & consultant Parisa Nia, Feminist STS Researcher Elham Beygi, Lawyer Tommaso Amico di Meane, Assistant Professor Claudia Medeiros, Artist Bita Kahe, Film Student Imogen Coulson, University of Amsterdam Nima Khalkhali, Consultant Engineer Hossein omrani, Structural Engineer Andras Nagy-Sandor, Artist, teacher Rebecca White, Researcher on digital surveillance Suzi Ragheb, Researcher Nassim Mehran, Senior Researcher Isabel von Holt, University of Hamburg Afshin Chizari, Artist Neda Koochakian, Artist Armin Salmasi, Doctor eng. Mina Mahmoudian, femenist Urbanist Rima Sghaier, Digital rights advocate Alexander Hohlfeld, Digital Policy Researcher & Consultant Jakub Szymik Founder, CEE Digital Democracy Watch Maniya Maleki, UNI Amirpasha Mozaffari, Barcelona Superconducting Center Dr. Sara Jabbari, Associate Professor Linnet Taylor, Professor of International Data Governance Gijs van Maanen, assistant professor, Tilburg university Halleh Ghorashi, professor of diversity Irina Shklovski, Professor, University of Copenhagen Veronica Liga, Interpreter Kaitlyn Martin, Student Saba Emami, Doctor Isabelle Simpson Wole Oladapo Mehdi Oloomi Edward Wigley Hamid shefaat A Malek Manju Chen Shahrzad Enderle Danny O'Brien Vahid Lalipour Christoffer Horlitz Elin Chapman Behshad Tajammol Nazanin Eagder Orlando Méndez Rachel Fagen Bob Hale Farnoosh Bag Melika Moazeni Marcus Krause Mahtab Barghi Christian Olieslagers Amir Mir Leila Hosseinzadeh David Sullivan Farzaneh moradi Said Say Dr Abbas Kharabi Hengameh Fallah Rebecca Molloy Parnian Sayadi Paul Bailey rebiere sarah Eteri Iremashvili Yeganeh Khoie Sanam Ebrahim Rashin Didandeh, Artist Dina Dorari Atty Mashatan Laura Csocsán Sanaz Shokrae Ali Karbalaei Mahdi Ariane Leblanc Dunstan Allison-Hope Hammad Hassan Khan Nastaran Saremy Behraam Baqai Samira Rahbari Maryam Shakeri Carolina Vallejo Azade Shahmiri Isabel Abedi Sheyda Sadri Yasaman Fattahi Martin Bangratz Zita Seichter Siavash Eshghi Yenwei Liu Nazanin Kargosha Nastaran Rafieian Chali POTIE Holly Gardner Halifa-Legrand Jeremy Boulard Le Fur Harchies Lisa Mana Sadeghipour Fran Maffia Erica Theis Amir Ghasemi Mael Fournier-Comte Mehrdad Rosenkilde Vithu Logan Michelle Kelly Melanie Forster Maja Momić Grace Lee Francesca Fanucci Mona Jafarzade, PhD Student Marcus Droß Tanaz Farmani Sareh arzpeima Parisa Ebadi Mary Rokni Jess Read Mahsa Rouhanizadeh Maryam Ansari Mohammadreza Saberironaghi Desirée Dao Lindsey Sitz Dr. Maryam Beig

Iran: When the internet is shut down, gunfire begins

To the International Telecommunication Union and the international Internet community, When the internet is shut down, gunfire begins. People of Iran are once again on the streets, risking their lives for dignity, freedom, and prosperity. Over the past several days, Iran has been subjected to a near-total communications blackout. Internet access has been cut, mobile networks and even landlines have been disabled, and Starlink connectivity is being actively jammed using military-grade equipment. As the people of Iran are severed from international communication networks, the Iranian regime is killing unarmed protesters with impunity. We know that many have been shot, but we do not know how many have been killed. Journalists, activists, and even families are unreachable. Silence is being used as a weapon. Internet access is a human right. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), as the United Nations’ specialized agency for digital technologies, is mandated to facilitate and safeguard international connectivity. We—academics, activists, engineers, and experts—are deeply concerned that the ITU has become increasingly reluctant to fulfill its responsibilities toward those who depend on the internet most for their safety, visibility, and survival. Just as certain rights cannot be suspended even during emergencies, crises, and war, basic connectivity necessary for safety, expression, and accountability must not be subject to discretionary shutdowns. We observe with grave concern that the once-liberatory concept of digital sovereignty—advanced by Indigenous and oppressed communities to protect autonomy and self-determination—is being co-opted to legitimize nationalist and authoritarian visions of the internet. A network designed to be global, open, and resilient is being reframed as something states can fragment, weaponize, and shut down at will. In the context of internet shutdowns, the debate over digital sovereignty has reached its limits: when states sever connectivity and kill with impunity, the priority can no longer be sovereignty but ensuring that people can remain connected and in control of their communications. We are alarmed by the misuse of digital sovereignty rhetoric by authoritarian regimes that are building centralized, highly controlled infrastructures capable of disconnecting entire populations from the global internet—instantly, selectively, and repeatedly. Iran represents one of the most advanced and dangerous examples of this trend. The regime’s growing technical expertise and infrastructural capacity to enforce blanket and targeted shutdowns pose an urgent threat not only to Iranians but to global norms of connectivity and human rights. We therefore demand that the International Internet community, the ITU and the United Nations: Publicly and unequivocally condemn Iran’s communications shutdowns as violations of human rights. Take immediate, concrete steps to prevent the weaponization of telecommunications infrastructure against civilian populations. Refuse to legitimize authoritarian interpretations of digital sovereignty that enable censorship, repression, and state violence. Actively support resilient, open, and people-centered communication infrastructures that cannot be silenced at the convenience of repressive regimes. Commit to treating core Internet and telecommunications infrastructure as protected civilian infrastructure, immune from intentional shutdowns, jamming, or coercive interference. When communication is cut, accountability disappears. When the internet goes dark, violence thrives. The world must not allow silence to become a tool of murder. Initiated and signed by: Azadeh Akbari, Professor of Critical Data & Surveillance Studies, Goethe University Frankfurt Felicia Anthonio, #KeepItOn Global Campaign Manager at Access Now Pooyesh Azizeddin, Researcher in Technology and Human Rights & Podcast Producer at Miaan Organization Mahsa Alimardani, Associate Director for Technology Threats and Opportunities at WITNESS Farzaneh Badiei, Internet Freedom Researcher and Founder of Digital Medusa Sabhanaz Rashid Diya, Executive Director, Tech Global Institute Marwa Fatafta, MENA Policy and Advocacy Director at Access Now Mo Hoseini, Head of Securiury and Resilience, ARTICLE19 Azam Jangravi, Security Lead at OpenText Jadi Mirmirani, Freedom of Expression & Digital Rights Advocate Roya Pakzad, Founder of Taraaz, Senior Fellow at the Mozilla Foundation Amir Rashidi, Director of Internet Security and Digital Rights at Miaan Group Niloufar Vadiati, Research Fellow of Digital Geography at the Institute of Liberal Arts and Science, University of Hamburg Supported and signed by: David Murakami Wood, Canada Research Chair in Critical Surveillance and Security Studies, University of Ottawa Katy Vaughan, Senior Lecturer in Law, Cyber Threats Research Centre (CYTREC), Swansea University Osiris Parikh, Council on Tech and Social Cohesion Peter Micek, Lecture, Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs Dawood Sajjadi, Internet and Cybersecurity Strategist Rosamunde Van Brakel, Assistant Professor Digital Criminology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel Rashid Gabdulhakov, Assistant Professor, University of Groningen Haleh Asgarinia, Privacy Lawyer at Radboudumc/ Nijmegen/ Netherlands Claudia Aradau, Professor, King's College London Casey Ryan Lynch, Ramón y Cajal Fellow, Universitat de Girona Thomas Dekeyser, Lecturer in Human Geography, University of Southampton Payal Arora, Professor of Inclusive AI Cultures, Utrecht University Nico Wunderling , Professor, Center for Critical Computational Studies Pedro Sanches, Senior Lecturer, Umeå University Fabiola Schwarz, Research Associate at the Munich School of Politics and Public Policy, Technical University of Munich Lizzie Richardson, Professor of Digital Geography, Goethe University Tony Roberts, Research Fellow, Institute of Development Studies Charles Ikem, Executive Director, PolicyLab Africa Pete Fussey, Professor of Criminology, University of Southampton, UK Hemmat, Ph.d. Student, Mid Sweden University Jef Huysmans, Professor of International Politics, Queen Mary University of London Dr. Michael Nagenborg, Associate Professor Philosophy of Technology, University of Twente Dr. Pouya Sepehr, Senior Scientist, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL Tiago Peixoto, Professor of Complex Systems and Network Science, IT:U Austria Somaie Abolhasani, Postdoctoral researcher, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL Michalis Lianos, Professor, University of Rouen Kiss Abraham, Director, Newzambian Innovations Anita Gohdes, Professor, Hertie School Linnea Kjellsson, Lecturer, Dalarna University Georg Glasze, Chair of Cultural & Political Geography, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg nanna bonde thylstrup, Associate Professor, University of Copenhagen Karen Louise Grova Søilen, Associate Senior Lecturer in Information Studies, Lund University Bilge Yesil, Professor, College of Staten Island, City University of New York Amir H. Payberah, Associate Professor of Computer Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology Thobekile Matimbe, Senior Manager Partnerships and Engagements, Paradigm Initiative Dima Samaro, Executive Director, Skyline International for Human Rights (SIHR) Tatiana Lysova, PostDoc Researcher, University of Milan-Bicocca Mina Mahmoudian, femenist Urbanist Rima Sghaier, Digital rights advocate Hamid shefaat A Malek Manju Chen Shahrzad Enderle Danny O'Brien Vahid Lalipour

China files ITU paperwork for megaconstellations totaling nearly 200,000 satellites

China files ITU paperwork for megaconstellations totaling nearly 200,000 satellites China has submitted two filings for huge non-geostationary satellite networks to the International Telecommunication Union, indicating moves to secure options for next-generation megaconstellations.