Tonu Basu

Director-Policy & Intl Programs @AccessNow. Prev led Policy & Partnership @opengovpart. Tech, democracy & #opengov. Views personal.

[Tonu Basu @TonuBasu]

@Uber_Support I’ve been trying to reach your team in S.Korea. We had a fantastic driver, who I rated highly in your system, but your AI miscategorized it as a complaint against the driver! I do not want any action taken against the driver - I hope that your team will review this!

[Anjali Bhardwaj @AnjaliB_]

The amendment made to the Conduct of Election Rules by the BJP government, in consultation with the Election Commission, will restrict public access to election-related records. Deals a blow to people’s right to information & has no place in a democracy. Our piece in @the_hindu today.
#SaveRTI

[Ishier Raote @ishier_raote]

The Collagen Craze: Supplements Aren't the Miracle They're Marketed to Be
🧵(0/12)

[Tonu Basu @TonuBasu]

Helen was a fantastic mentor, friend, ever-reliable for her fantastic coffee/ wine/ book recommendations - a seasoned, tireless civil society & access to info advocate at heart. All of us in the open gov community, & OGP, have a lot to thank her for. You will be missed, Helen.

[Open Government Partnership @opengovpart]

It is with profound sadness that we mourn the passing of Helen Darbishire, a tireless advocate for access to information and open government.

[Tonu Basu @TonuBasu]

At #UNGA79, there were more events on AI than one could keep up with, with plenty of platitudes about a rights-based approach to ensure safe, trustworthy AI, but little substance. So what is the current AI governance debate missing at the moment?

[Access Now @accessnow]

As AI governance dominates global conversations, human rights are being sidelined due to loophole-ridden laws, industry lobbying + far-fetched sci-fi risks.

We need AI governance rooted in human rights — not double standards. #UNGA79 ��

https://t.co/J3ZZaMXCxA

[Aroon Deep @AroonDeep]

JUST IN: Wikimedia Foundation's official response to the Delhi High Court's threat to ban it in India. 👇

[Tonu Basu @TonuBasu]

The arrest of Telegram CEO Durov has raised much speculation alongside some key policy questions. Here’s our statement on the important issues to consider.

[Access Now @accessnow]

Pavel Durov’s detention by French authorities is concerning –– here’s why.

While we need more info on the charges, encryption must be protected! Criminal enforcement measures must only be used when necessary + proportionate. Read our statement for more:

https://t.co/6bCnhiRM29

[EDRi @edri]

1/3 🚨Today, the #AIAct will officially become EU law.

Did it deliver on centering people and #HumanRights like civil society advocated for during the legislative process?

Not really. But there's still some silver linings 🌥️

Read our statement ➡️
https://t.co/HsUuV23B5I

[Tonu Basu @TonuBasu]

And more detail on the Rappler case here: https://t.co/EzKsgyDot7

[Maria Ressa @mariaressa]

Here’s what happened to us last year: https://t.co/IaDI3xZTfE

[Tonu Basu @TonuBasu]

Good report by @pressfreedom on distributed denial of service attacks (DDoS) that are targeting independent journalism platforms - from Philippines based Rappler to exiled Russian news site Meduza, to undermine press freedom. https://t.co/Pz1IcOnhws

[Tonu Basu @TonuBasu]

If you haven't paid attention to this so far, this would be a good time. The @hrw & @EFF teams doing great work on this - along with @accessnow's @tame_wildcard. Follow them for the latest on this!

[Deborah Brown @deblebrown]

The UN is poised to adopt a #UNCybercrime treaty that would create an unprecedented multilateral tool for cross-border surveillance by law enforcement without adequate human rights safeguards.

🧵below w/ @hrw & @eff 's take on the draft treaty, which is up for adoption next week

[Access Now @accessnow]

Here’s what’s happening in #Venezuela!

Multiple websites are reported to be blocked, including the opposition portal to compare the voting results. While @vesinfiltro closely monitors the ongoing developments, their website is also experiencing blockages.
https://t.co/tmRrSQqiJh

[Silvana Fumega @SilvanavF]

"Official data is still the backbone of much of AI. And we don’t have enough of it" Read more about our conversations with @naticarfi and @joseph_in_md on this important topic in this post👇

@databarometer
@opengovpart
@opendatacharter

[Deborah Brown @deblebrown]

Time is running out. The flawed UN Cybercrime treaty is on the brink of adoption. Hear from civil society leaders and experts, incl @hrw's @TiranaHassan @txitua @khadijapatel @palomalacastro @tame_wildcard on what's at stake for human rights.

Details👇
https://t.co/TDLEQgsTNI

[Access Now @accessnow]

We have big news!🎉

Join us in welcoming Alejandro Mayoral Baños as our new Executive Director! @alexmayoralb will take the reins from @solomonbrett, co-founder + Executive Director who served us for 15 years. Alejandro begins on October 1.

Learn more:
https://t.co/SSNEK157Bf

[Iltija Mufti @IltijaMufti_]

Got an Apple alert that my phone’s been hacked by Pegasus which GOI has admittedly procured & weaponised to harass critics & political opponents. BJP shamelessly snoops on women only because we refuse to toe their line. How low will you stoop? @PMOIndia @HMOIndia

[involve @involveUK]

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Simon Burall.

Simon was Involve's Director between 2009 and 2016, and a Senior Associate from 2017 to 2024.

We’ve written more about his life and inspiring work on our website below 👇
https://t.co/5ZJNlHX7Hv

🧵👇

[Tonu Basu @TonuBasu]

Delhi, go go go! Not many have lived a life where they can truly say "the personal is political," - Aruna is one of the very few.

[MKSS - Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan @mkssindia]

Join us tmrw Delhi for the launch of The Personal is Political by Aruna Roy.
🕕Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
📍Venue: Seminar Hall IIC New Delhi. The book reflects on a life of collective action, we hope you will join and share the evening with all of us. RSVP https://t.co/X2pYdGsdGt

[Joni Lovenduski @jonilo.bsky.social @JoniLovenduski]

Something to celebrate. Looks like 41 % of UK MPs are women. When I first started researching women’s representation the proportion was about 3 %. It was less that 5 % throughout the 1980s, fewer than 10 % until 1997. Next stop 60%.