<![CDATA[This is absolutely wild: The #Zambia government has just cancelled the world's most important digital rights conference #RightsCon 2026 which was supposed to start next week in #Lusaka.]]>This is absolutely wild: The government has just cancelled the world's most important digital rights conference 2026 which was supposed to start next week in . 3,000+ participants are now hanging in limbo (myself included), some already traveled to the country.

I feel for the folks at who have been working so hard on this for months.

Link Preview Image
Ministry of Information and Media - Zambia

THE POSTPONEMENT OF THE RIGHTSCON 2026 SUMMIT

favicon

(www.facebook.com)

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/topic/9b9ec5c2-e090-4d02-a5db-47da614c6b9b/this-is-absolutely-wild-the-zambia-government-has-just-cancelled-the-world-s-most-important-digital-rights-conference-rightscon-2026-which-was-supposed-to-start-next-week-in-lusaka.RSS for NodeFri, 15 May 2026 06:15:55 GMTWed, 29 Apr 2026 15:55:25 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to This is absolutely wild: The #Zambia government has just cancelled the world's most important digital rights conference #RightsCon 2026 which was supposed to start next week in #Lusaka. on Sat, 02 May 2026 08:15:08 GMT]]> has now publicly confirmed that they also believe the Chinese government pressured into censoring 2026 because of participants from .

The statement of what happened is a testament of how strong the influence of authoritarians has become and how the global community is a target.

Link Preview Image
A statement to our community about why RightsCon 2026 will not take place in Zambia

Our official statement to the digital rights community about why RightsCon 2026 will not take place in Zambia

favicon

RightsCon Summit Series (www.rightscon.org)

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://eupolicy.social/users/ilumium/statuses/116503983448608758https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://eupolicy.social/users/ilumium/statuses/116503983448608758Sat, 02 May 2026 08:15:08 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to This is absolutely wild: The #Zambia government has just cancelled the world's most important digital rights conference #RightsCon 2026 which was supposed to start next week in #Lusaka. on Thu, 30 Apr 2026 17:19:39 GMT]]>@ilumium truly devastating!

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mstdn.social/users/quite/statuses/116494799946941331https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mstdn.social/users/quite/statuses/116494799946941331Thu, 30 Apr 2026 17:19:39 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to This is absolutely wild: The #Zambia government has just cancelled the world's most important digital rights conference #RightsCon 2026 which was supposed to start next week in #Lusaka. on Thu, 30 Apr 2026 09:36:33 GMT]]>@ilumium @hwebb @guenther China and US with each their crazy colonial agenda&damage on Zambia.

Supposing that it was China's will/pressure to have the conference cancelled, we'd have to ask if the free conference venue is even worth the loss of such a big and prestigious event with a 5-days notice.

Seems fair if the push-back is against China and not Zambia in this case?

On that note, thought about this documentary about China in Zambia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_China_Met_Africa

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.data.coop/users/benjaoming/statuses/116492978988504345https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.data.coop/users/benjaoming/statuses/116492978988504345Thu, 30 Apr 2026 09:36:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to This is absolutely wild: The #Zambia government has just cancelled the world's most important digital rights conference #RightsCon 2026 which was supposed to start next week in #Lusaka. on Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:20:19 GMT]]>@nelfan Maybe this is the reason:

Just a moment...

favicon

(diggers.news)

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://eupolicy.social/users/ilumium/statuses/116492679243909475https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://eupolicy.social/users/ilumium/statuses/116492679243909475Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:20:19 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to This is absolutely wild: The #Zambia government has just cancelled the world's most important digital rights conference #RightsCon 2026 which was supposed to start next week in #Lusaka. on Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:19:26 GMT]]>@hwebb @guenther @benjaoming Looks like exceptionally this time it wasn't a Trump fuck-up:

Just a moment...

favicon

(diggers.news)

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://eupolicy.social/users/ilumium/statuses/116492675756855085https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://eupolicy.social/users/ilumium/statuses/116492675756855085Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:19:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to This is absolutely wild: The #Zambia government has just cancelled the world's most important digital rights conference #RightsCon 2026 which was supposed to start next week in #Lusaka. on Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:18:31 GMT]]>TIL check the strings attached to the "donations" you receive:

"...However, well-placed sources have told News Diggers! that has actually been cancelled because the programme involves Taiwanese delegates who would potentially speak against at a venue donated by the Chinese government."

Just a moment...

favicon

(diggers.news)

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://eupolicy.social/users/ilumium/statuses/116492672137989525https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://eupolicy.social/users/ilumium/statuses/116492672137989525Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:18:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to This is absolutely wild: The #Zambia government has just cancelled the world's most important digital rights conference #RightsCon 2026 which was supposed to start next week in #Lusaka. on Thu, 30 Apr 2026 02:35:59 GMT]]>@guenther @benjaoming @ilumium "Key to those demands is the U.S. receiving more access to Zambia’s natural minerals, according to The New York Times." Keeping up the US tradition of big, vulgar resource grabs.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mas.to/users/hwebb/statuses/116491325270521270https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mas.to/users/hwebb/statuses/116491325270521270Thu, 30 Apr 2026 02:35:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to This is absolutely wild: The #Zambia government has just cancelled the world's most important digital rights conference #RightsCon 2026 which was supposed to start next week in #Lusaka. on Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:27:13 GMT]]>@ilumium I think the saddest part in all of this is that Trump has refused to subsidized AIDS meds for Zambia UNLESS the county gives the USA total access to Zambia's minerals.... so I get that a very special global digital community loses... but, fuck, BLACKMAIL??

Link Preview Image
Trump admin threatens to withhold HIV medication to Zambia unless demands are met

Zambia has received more than $6 billion in HIV/AIDS over the last two decades, according to the US Embassy in Zambia

favicon

The Independent (www.independent.co.uk)

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://thecanadian.social/ap/users/116268575697070703/statuses/116490818942085317https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://thecanadian.social/ap/users/116268575697070703/statuses/116490818942085317Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:27:13 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to This is absolutely wild: The #Zambia government has just cancelled the world's most important digital rights conference #RightsCon 2026 which was supposed to start next week in #Lusaka. on Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:53:36 GMT]]>@benjaoming I'm sorry, have you seen what's happening in the US?

Link Preview Image
FCC orders early review of ABC’s broadcast licenses

The Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday said it was calling for early renewal of ABC's licenses that allow its eight owned television stations to broadcast. 

favicon

ABC News (abcnews.com)

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.online/users/Axomamma/statuses/116490686707077634https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.online/users/Axomamma/statuses/116490686707077634Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:53:36 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to This is absolutely wild: The #Zambia government has just cancelled the world's most important digital rights conference #RightsCon 2026 which was supposed to start next week in #Lusaka. on Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:53:02 GMT]]>@ilumium If Trump can do it ...

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.online/users/Axomamma/statuses/116490684485217820https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.online/users/Axomamma/statuses/116490684485217820Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:53:02 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to This is absolutely wild: The #Zambia government has just cancelled the world's most important digital rights conference #RightsCon 2026 which was supposed to start next week in #Lusaka. on Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:51:57 GMT]]>@benjaoming @ilumium

context:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-zambia-hiv-aids-marco-rubio-b2940365.html

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://chaos.social/users/guenther/statuses/116490680225498164https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://chaos.social/users/guenther/statuses/116490680225498164Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:51:57 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to This is absolutely wild: The #Zambia government has just cancelled the world's most important digital rights conference #RightsCon 2026 which was supposed to start next week in #Lusaka. on Wed, 29 Apr 2026 22:00:22 GMT]]>@ilumium just saw the news! It is quite a loss indeed 😔

I feel so sorry for the access now team and the civil rights defenders.

And of course, I was so excited to talk about information integrity with the community 😢 but that's a drop in the ocean of disappointment.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/CMFrancoise/statuses/116490241477307370https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/CMFrancoise/statuses/116490241477307370Wed, 29 Apr 2026 22:00:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to This is absolutely wild: The #Zambia government has just cancelled the world's most important digital rights conference #RightsCon 2026 which was supposed to start next week in #Lusaka. on Wed, 29 Apr 2026 21:29:12 GMT]]>@ilumium what kind of a government rejects 3,000 travelers to their capital... a complete disaster, wow.... https://www.lusakatimes.com/2026/04/29/government-postpones-rightscon-2026-lusaka-summit/

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.data.coop/users/benjaoming/statuses/116490118915373321https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.data.coop/users/benjaoming/statuses/116490118915373321Wed, 29 Apr 2026 21:29:12 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to This is absolutely wild: The #Zambia government has just cancelled the world's most important digital rights conference #RightsCon 2026 which was supposed to start next week in #Lusaka. on Wed, 29 Apr 2026 20:45:05 GMT]]>Now it's official: 2026 has been censored and cancelled by the government of .

This is a loss for the global community, a bigger one for , and maybe the biggest for and the entire region, as future human rights events will think twice before setting foot there. 😪

What a needless waste.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://eupolicy.social/users/ilumium/statuses/116489945451812601https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://eupolicy.social/users/ilumium/statuses/116489945451812601Wed, 29 Apr 2026 20:45:05 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to This is absolutely wild: The #Zambia government has just cancelled the world's most important digital rights conference #RightsCon 2026 which was supposed to start next week in #Lusaka. on Wed, 29 Apr 2026 19:28:32 GMT]]>@nemobis Recent @404mediaco reporting sounded as if someone in the gov got cold feet and/or didn't like a speaker or two. What a mess.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://eupolicy.social/users/ilumium/statuses/116489644433260764https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://eupolicy.social/users/ilumium/statuses/116489644433260764Wed, 29 Apr 2026 19:28:32 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to This is absolutely wild: The #Zambia government has just cancelled the world's most important digital rights conference #RightsCon 2026 which was supposed to start next week in #Lusaka. on Wed, 29 Apr 2026 19:27:00 GMT]]>@janet So true, would also have been a moment for the Zambian government to shine internationally. Now it's a PR disaster.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://eupolicy.social/users/ilumium/statuses/116489638418061944https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://eupolicy.social/users/ilumium/statuses/116489638418061944Wed, 29 Apr 2026 19:27:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to This is absolutely wild: The #Zambia government has just cancelled the world's most important digital rights conference #RightsCon 2026 which was supposed to start next week in #Lusaka. on Wed, 29 Apr 2026 19:18:49 GMT]]>@ilumium

Gosh, I thought all the important conferences were held in Zambia.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/AinsleyLowbeer/statuses/116489606225361895https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/AinsleyLowbeer/statuses/116489606225361895Wed, 29 Apr 2026 19:18:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to This is absolutely wild: The #Zambia government has just cancelled the world's most important digital rights conference #RightsCon 2026 which was supposed to start next week in #Lusaka. on Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:51:55 GMT]]>@ilumium Same here 😕 Just got the news in between flights on the way to Lusaka

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://chaos.social/users/cityroler/statuses/116489500487029661https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://chaos.social/users/cityroler/statuses/116489500487029661Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:51:55 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to This is absolutely wild: The #Zambia government has just cancelled the world's most important digital rights conference #RightsCon 2026 which was supposed to start next week in #Lusaka. on Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:17:51 GMT]]>@ilumium

This communication doesn't give  proper explanations about the reasons for this cancellation. It brings real grounds of suspicion seeing that the event was certainly prepared months ago.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://gotosocial.social/users/nelfan/statuses/01KQD0GMAVWKWQYSEQRT24XENDhttps://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://gotosocial.social/users/nelfan/statuses/01KQD0GMAVWKWQYSEQRT24XENDWed, 29 Apr 2026 16:17:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to This is absolutely wild: The #Zambia government has just cancelled the world's most important digital rights conference #RightsCon 2026 which was supposed to start next week in #Lusaka. on Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:17:40 GMT]]>@ilumium That is wild. Such an own goal. I feel worse for Zambian (and southern African) delegates, especially young people, who could have benefitted from the opportunity.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://weirder.earth/users/janet/statuses/116488893904874341https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://weirder.earth/users/janet/statuses/116488893904874341Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:17:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to This is absolutely wild: The #Zambia government has just cancelled the world's most important digital rights conference #RightsCon 2026 which was supposed to start next week in #Lusaka. on Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:59:38 GMT]]>@ilumium What "key thematic issues proposed for discussion" in a civil society conference can possibly cause trouble to "broader public interest considerations"?? Did some lobbyist blackmail them?

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mamot.fr/users/nemobis/statuses/116488823022053424https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mamot.fr/users/nemobis/statuses/116488823022053424Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:59:38 GMT