Behind the headlines.​​

Privacy is always in play. From our smartphones to our classrooms, from our laptops to our lounge rooms: the ways we watch, shop, read, and relax are balancing on a tightrope between privacy and convenience.


Read all our latest opinion pieces, current affairs reports, and press releases.

The OPTF and Session

October 15, 2024

The OPTF is transferring its responsibilities as steward of the Session project to the newly established Swiss foundation, the Session Technology Foundation.

Cyber laws around the world: Privacy is not the policy

December 04, 2022

There is no doubt that the European Union’s GDPR has changed the cyber regulation landscape forever. As onlookers from non-EU countries urge their governments and regulators to adopt similar legislation, countries are rapidly adopting their

The long and winding road : Striving for data protection in Indonesia

November 17, 2022

Juliana Harsianti is an independent researcher and journalist working at the intersection of digital technology and social impact. The long awaited Indonesian Personal Data Protection Bill was approved by the parliament on 20 September 2022.

Kazakhstan needs tougher laws to address the impacts of spyware

November 15, 2022

In July 2021, the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, issued a statement exposing the widespread use of Pegasus spyware that targeted journalists, human rights activists, politicians, and other people across

A brief analysis of the Brazil’s data protection law

October 26, 2022

Data protection in Brazil; Impacts and backlashes in democracy and journalistic work. A local case study analysis and its relation to global privacy rights challenges.

The Next Chapter for Hong Kong’s digital repression: Total judicial cooperation

October 20, 2022

Charles Mok writes about the state of cyber laws, internet censorship, and that state of digital expression in Hong Kong.

Recognition and Protection: India’s Data Privacy Journey

October 17, 2022

Amber is a Senior Fellow-Trustworthy AI at Mozilla Foundation studying models for algorithmic transparency. He works at the intersection of law, technology and society. The Indian Government withdrew the Personal Data Protection Bill in August 2022, indicating it would work on a new bill soon. The legislative process towards data protection laws in India has …

Development in Digital Laws in Russia: State Control of the Internet

October 12, 2022

Baurzhan Rakhmetov analyses some of the restrictive laws that strictly regulate cyberspace activities which have been introduced in Russia.

Censorship, privacy, and social media in Peru

September 30, 2022

Lucía León Pacheco analyses the state of cyber-laws in Peru and how they are impacting people’s digital and human rights.

SIM card registration: The bill is dead, long live the bill!

September 21, 2022

Jamael Jacob is a lawyer and privacy practitioner wearing many hats including: data protection officer of a private university, policy and legal advisor of a non-profit, and data protection consultant. He is also the former (and first-ever) head of the policy unit of the country’s data protection authority.  The Philippines is yet again exploring legislation … SIM card registration: The bill is dead, long live the bill!

Signal, mobile numbers and the Twilio hack

August 23, 2022

The recent Twilio hack raises important questions about the vulnerability SMS-based verifications – where users receive an SMS with special code to verify or confirm that they have access to a mobile number used to register to a service. In OPTF’s latest Framed newsletter, we explore the Twilio hack and the vulnerability of using SMS … Signal, mobile numbers and the Twilio hack

Call for article submissions: Cyber policies and laws

August 04, 2022

The OPTF is calling journalists, researchers, and writers to propose articles and short essays about digital rights, digital privacy, and cyber security issues.

Report – Digital safety and internet freedom in South and Southeast Asia

June 09, 2022

In late 2021, OPTF and Engagemedia started collaborating on a research report that investigated digital safety and internet freedom in South and Southeast Asia. The final report is now available. Sadly, the findings paint a bleak picture when it comes to ensuring human rights defenders and at-risk communities are safe and secure in the digital … Report – Digital safety and internet freedom in South and Southeast Asia

Reflections on Nigeria’s Twitter ban

June 02, 2022

This article was commissioned by the OPTF to as part of a project to encourage more writing on digital rights issues. Adenike Fapohunda is a candidate attorney who did her final year thesis on the Nigerian Twitter ban. Her writing can be found at https://medium.com/@nikefapohunda On the 5th of June 2020, The Federal Republic of … Reflections on Nigeria’s Twitter ban

Technologies for Border Surveillance and Control in Italy

May 18, 2022

Diego analyses a recent study from the Hermes Center covering the use of facial recognition technology at the Italian border.

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