police state

Podcast: Resist digital hegemony! II

Digital technology continues to colonize every sphere of human activity with terrifying rapidity, and Artificial Intelligence portends the actual abolition of humanity. Even the United Nations' belated and insufficient efforts to put a regulatory regime in place for AI acknowledge that humans face imminent "loss of control" over the technology. There are glimmers of hope, however: teachers engaged in practical resistance to the rollout of AI in school classrooms, and the nationwide protests against the proliferation of data centers. In New York City, the local Luddite Club just held a Summer of Ludd festival—aimed at getting people to disconnect from the digital pseudo-reality that recuperates our very alienation from itself, and to reclaim real life in the public parks and streets. In Episode 335 of the CounterVortex podcast, Bill Weinberg offers a report from Manhattan's Lower East Side. 

Extrajudicial killings continue in Philippines

Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported June 30 that authorities in the Philippines continue to conduct extrajudicial killings, with no accountability, as part of the government's anti-drug campaign. Ten years after then-President Rodrigo Duterte launched his brutal "war on drugs," serious human rights violations remain ongoing.

Hong Kong: six years after National Security Law

Human Rights Watch (HRW) stated on June 29 that over the past years Beijing has restructured Hong Kong's governance in a way that reduces accountability and tightens social control. A "draconian" national security regime is in place, which answers to the Chinese Communist Party leadership rather than Hong Kong's people.

Repression in Ankara ahead of NATO summit

Amnesty International raised concerns June 26 over an absolute blanket ban by the Turkish government on all protests in the capital Ankara ahead of the NATO summit that is to be held in the city next week. The statement also decried the pretrial detention of more than 100 people in the city, including lawyers, academics and activists.

UN rights chief: investigate deaths in ICE custody

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on June 26 called for independent investigations into dozens of deaths in US Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. He urged authorities to take immediate measures to prevent further fatalities as the number of deaths in detention continues to rise.

Tunisia: overturn convictions of anti-racism activists

Amnesty International on June 17 urged Tunisian authorities to "immediately and unconditionally release" anti-racism activist Saadia Mosbah and five of her colleagues, and called on the Tunis appellate court to overturn their convictions.

Peru: UN protests military 'impunity' bill

UN human rights chief Volker Türk urged the government of Peru on June 18 to refrain from adopting a draft law that grants military jurisdictions the authority to investigate and prosecute possible human rights violations, calling on authorities to comply with international human rights standards.

HRW: Minnesota ICE raids violated human rights

Human Rights Watch (HRW) on June 18 detailed abuses endured by communities in Minneapolis and St. Paul during the occupation of the Twin Cities area by immigration officers. According to HRW, officers terrorized residents, committed widespread human rights violations, and exposed "deeply abusive" tendencies within US immigration enforcement.

Syndicate content