In one month, the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) will be heading to Austin, Texas, to host two panels at South by Southwest (SXSW).
Each year, SXSW brings together creatives and industry leaders for 10 days of discovery across various events, including sessions, music and comedy showcases, film screenings, exhibitions, and networking opportunities. HRF is thrilled to bring human rights to the forefront of discussions at this year’s event. Register today to join us.
Increasingly sophisticated technology has provided new avenues for authoritarian regimes to target activists, stifle dissent, and encroach on civil liberties. From shutting off the Internet to installing spyware on activists’ phones to spreading disinformation on social media, dictators are becoming bolder in their manipulation of technology. Yet activists continue to harness the power of innovation to overcome barriers put up by dictatorships.
HRF’s panel, “Dictatorship in the Digital Space,” will explore strategies to uphold human rights and democracy in the digital age. Panelists will discuss how regimes abuse technology and share insight into how the tech industry can unite to protect human rights globally.
March 14, 2023
4:00 – 5:00 PM CT
Hilton Austin Downtown, Salon K
Much of France’s African empire fell away during decolonization, but 15 nations — including Senegal, Mali, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, and Chad — still use the CFA Franc and thus remain under its control. France has historically devalued the CFA Franc to buy cheaper goods at the expense of the 183 million Africans in the CFA zone. As a result of this monetary colonialism, CFA nations rank among the poorest African nations.
In this panel, “Fighting Back Against Monetary Colonialism,” participants will discuss their battle against monetary colonialism and how Bitcoin may play a role in helping change the tide.
March 15, 2023
4:00 – 5:00 PM CT
Hilton Austin Downtown, Salon DE