Digital rights, repression and the future of civic space
Civic space is the foundation of democratic participation and human development. It enables people and civil society actors to speak freely, organise safely, associate with others, and participate in public life. Yet this space is being restricted in many ways, some subtle and others more visible and direct. Across the world, civil society actors are facing growing pressure, both offline and online.
One increasingly urgent concern is transnational repression: when authoritarian governments seek to silence dissent beyond their own borders. This can include surveillance, intimidation, restrictions on movement, pressure on host governments, and attacks on the spaces where civil society gathers.
The cancellation of RightsCon 2026, just days before it was due to take place in Zambia, has raised serious concerns about its implications for global civic space. Access Now described the decision as evidence of “the far reach of transnational repression targeting civil society” and warned that it is shrinking the spaces in which civil society operates.
The implications go far beyond one conference. The cancellation signals a wider shift: from restricting organisations, to restricting networks, to targeting the very spaces where civil society comes together. This matters because convening is not just a meeting format. It is a tactic. It allows people to build trust, exchange strategies, strengthen solidarity, and respond collectively to shared threats. When these spaces are destabilised, civil society’s ability to organise and act is weakened.
As civic space closes offline, it is often closing online too. Internet shutdowns, surveillance, digital harassment, and the criminalisation of digital organising are increasingly used to restrict participation and silence dissent.
In this Digital Dialogue, we will explore how global political unrest, transnational repression, and digital rights are shaping the future of civic space.
Together, we will ask:
- How is the relationship between global political unrest and transnational repression shaping civic space?
- How can digital rights work strengthen democratic resilience?
- How should the changing landscape of repression inform our collective work online and offline?
- What role can multi-stakeholder and cross-border collaboration play in protecting civic space?
Join us for a timely conversation on how civil society can continue to connect, organise and act in an increasingly restrictive environment.
We partner with Civic Tech Innovation Network for all our Digital Dialogues.
By restricting the ability of people to organise, assemble, and create, governments weaken trust in public institutions and erode the very systems intended to bolster.
