rightscon / access now / zambia

RightsCon 2026, organized by Access Now, has been canceled in Zambia and halted online after the group cited credible concerns of foreign interference affecting safety and the integrity of the conference. The event—expected to host ~2,600 in-person and 1,100 online participants from 150+ countries—was selected after a multi-year host vetting process emphasizing infrastructure, visas, security, and cooperative local stakeholders. Access Now says growing risks tied to outside actors undermined those assurances, forcing a last-minute decision that deeply disappointed regional partners and participants. The cancellation underscores rising geopolitical threats to global tech and digital-rights convenings, complicating civil-society engagement, secure collaboration, and event planning in contested environments.

RightsCon and organizer Access Now canceled the 2026 in-person summit planned for Zambia after Zambian authorities, reportedly under pressure tied to China-Taiwan sensitivities, proposed conditions that would limit participation and require moderating specific topics. Access Now said officials demanded excluding Taiwanese attendees and restricting communities at risk — terms they called unacceptable and contrary to the conference’s mission to protect digital rights. The decision highlights geopolitical influence over global tech and human-rights events, risks to open participation in international forums, and the challenge of hosting sensitive convenings in jurisdictions where state actors can impose censorship or exclusion. The incident underscores governance and venue-selection considerations for tech policy conferences.

Access Now cancelled RightsCon after Zambia abruptly postponed the world’s largest digital human rights conference under reported pressure from the Chinese government, which objected to Taiwanese civil society participants. Early arrivals were turned away by Zambian immigration and a vague official letter cited the need for “comprehensive disclosure” of topics; behind the scenes, organizers say Beijing demanded moderating sessions and excluding Taiwanese attendees. Access Now rejected those conditions as a breach of the event’s principles and deemed it impossible to postpone a multiyear-planned summit of thousands on short notice. The cancellation highlights geopolitical influence over global tech and internet freedom forums and raises concerns about state pressure shaping digital rights discourse.

RightsCon 2026, the globe’s largest digital rights conference organized by Access Now, was abruptly postponed after Zambian authorities — reportedly under pressure from the Chinese government — demanded that Taiwanese participants be excluded and certain topics moderated. Access Now says diplomats from the People’s Republic of China pressured Zambia over Taiwanese civil society attendance, prompting Zambian ministers to cite pending administrative and security clearances as reasons to delay the event. Panels on China’s export of censorship, surveillance tech, disinformation and cyberattacks were among sessions at risk. Organizers and affected Taiwanese groups were warned about travel and entry issues. The cancellation highlights how state actors can influence international tech and digital-rights forums, with implications for free discourse and cross-border civil-society engagement.

RightsCon, one of the world’s largest digital human rights conferences, was abruptly canceled by Zambia days before thousands of attendees were due to convene in Lusaka and online. Zambia’s Minister of Technology and Science, Felix Mutati, said the postponement was needed to align the event with national procedures, diplomatic protocols and to complete security and administrative clearances for certain speakers. The sudden announcement left participants — including researchers, academics, civil society and government representatives — in confusion, with some already traveling. Access Now, the organizer, warned registered attendees not to travel and acknowledged widespread community support and concern while promising further communication. The disruption raises questions about event planning, government oversight and space for digital rights dialogue.

RightsCon, one of the world’s largest digital human-rights conferences, was abruptly canceled by Zambia’s government days before thousands of attendees—researchers, academics, and human-rights experts—were due to convene in Lusaka and online. Zambia’s Minister of Technology and Science, Felix Mutati, said the postponement was to ensure the event aligns with national procedures, diplomatic protocols, and pending security and administrative clearances for certain speakers. Access Now, RightsCon’s organizer, confirmed the cancellation and warned registered participants not to travel; the organization said it had received an outpouring of support and would provide more information soon. The disruption has generated confusion, travel disruption, and uncertainty for civil-society stakeholders and sponsors.

Days before RightsCon — a major global digital human rights conference — was due to open in Lusaka, Zambia (May 5-8), the Zambian government announced a sudden postponement citing unresolved administrative, security clearances and the need to align the agenda with national procedures. Minister Felix Mutati and Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana framed the move as requiring disclosure and alignment with Zambia’s values and policy priorities; RightsCon organizer Access Now says it has not received formal communication and is urgently seeking clarification. The abrupt notice left participants en route and revives broader tensions over researcher access, visas and state scrutiny of digital rights events, undermining collaboration among academics, advocates and policymakers.