ThaiNGO

Job Type: Internship (Full-time)

Duration of Contract: 6 months

Location: Remote

Deadline of Application: October 23, 2024

1. Background:

DigitalReach is a digital rights organization that looks at impact of technology on human rights in Southeast Asia from a perspective of civil and political rights. Our work covers 8 countries in Southeast Asia which are Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The organization was founded in 2019 and registered as a foundation in 2022 in Bangkok, Thailand. The work of the organization revolves around three core areas which are research and monitoring, advocacy, and community building and empowerment. Three main themes that the organization is working on is freedom of expression, the right to privacy, and digital security.

Our core work includes the Annual Report on Digital Rights in Southeast Asia and Social Media Accountability in Southeast Asia which we are also the secretariat of the Southeast Asian Coalition on Tech Accountability (SEACT). In 2022, we have worked with our partner organizations, the Internet Law Reform Dialogue (iLaw) and the Citizen Lab at Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto, to discover the use of Pegasus spyware against Thai dissidents and political opposition.

DigitalReach is looking for an intern to join the organization to assist with the ongoing work on digital rights. The intern is expected to cover issues such as development of laws and state policies that are related to digital rights, state censorship, state-sponsored disinformation campaigns, and development of social media platforms’ efforts to handle problematic content and its impact on human rights and democracy.  The intern is expected to monitor development of the situations and critically analyzed how the situation defines digital authoritarianism in Southeast Asia.

2. Scope of Work:

• Media monitoring for situations related to digital rights in Southeast Asia and outside of the region that may have impact on Southeast Asia.
• Blog writing on digital rights situations in Southeast Asia at least once a month. The blog is to offer audience information or new perspective based on human rights framework.
• Assist in gathering information and review digital rights situations for the 2024 Annual Report on Digital Rights in Southeast Asia.
• Assist in coordinating between SEACT members to strengthen the work on social media accountability in Southeast Asia.
• Assist in the organization’s monthly newsletter, social media posts, as well as other publication materials.
• Assist DigitalReach or partner organizations (in a collaborative project) in organizing meetings and events (e.g. press conference, report launch, or campaign).

3. What to Expect from the Internship:

• The intern can expect to know more about digital rights in Southeast Asia from the organization’s work aspects. This includes how technology can have impact on human rights situations as well as democracy of a country in Southeast Asia, human rights mechanisms and its challenges at the regional and international level, and situations at a country level that are a factor
• The intern can expect their monitoring, analytical, and writing skills on digital rights-related situations to be sharpened following their day-to-day work.
• The intern will be able to learn DigitalReach’s approach on advocacy which will offer knowledge on how advocacy is conducted from a perspective of a regional organization.

4. Qualifications:

• At least a bachelor’s degree in political science, law, or other related degrees.
• Demonstrate background knowledge on digital rights-related issues in Southeast Asia including development of law and legislations related to digital rights, efforts on information controls from the non-technical aspects including the regime or government forcing social media platforms to restrict content or internet restrictions or efforts of big tech in handling problematic content in events related to democracy (e.g. elections, protests, or referendum), and development of disinformation and misinformation that are related to digital authoritarianism in Southeast Asia (e.g. state-sponsored cyber army and using artificial intelligence in election campaigns).
• Demonstrate background knowledge on human rights mechanisms and instruments at national, regional, and international levels. The candidate must be able to understand what they are and gaps in those existing mechanisms and instruments.
• Fluency in English and at least one of the languages spoken in Southeast Asian countries.
• Passionate and curious about how technology can have impact on democracy and human rights in Southeast Asia.
• Demonstrate interests in politics of countries in Southeast Asia, or at least in the country where s/he is from -- as digital rights situations are often associated with political situations in the country.
• Demonstrate interests on digital rights issues with good writing and analytical skills. The intern is expected to demonstrate critical thinking on digital rights issues which will significantly contribute to the success of her/his internship.

5. Compensation, Duration, and Working Conditions:

The work is completely remote, but the intern is expected to be based in countries in Southeast Asia. The duration of the intern is 6 months with a monthly compensation of 750 USD. The working hours is 40 hours a week from Monday to Friday. The deadline of application is October 23, 2024. Please fill in the application form in the link below to apply and submit the following documents:

https://digitalreach.asia/careers/research-and-advocacy-internship-policy/

1. Curriculum Vitae/Resume
2. Cover Letter of why you are interested in this internship and how your skills or interests will contribute to this internship
3. Two unedited writing samples