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 technical aspects of our ongoing work on digital rights in Southeast Asia. The work is particularly on digital security which is particularly on cyber surveillance in Southeast Asia. In particular, it is to monitor the development of cyber surveillance and be able to explain how things are working for audiences who do not have technical background, especially for human rights defenders and civil society organizations who are at frontline. The intern is expected to assist the organization’s work on spyware issues in Southeast Asia and other surveillance technology from both Western side and China.

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 related to cyber surveillance, information controls, and digital security 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 mapping spyware and Chinese surveillance technology in Southeast Asia.
• Assist in conducting a manual/handbook on spyware for at-risk communities 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 computer science, computer engineering, or other related degrees.
• Demonstrate background knowledge on IT infrastructures, information security, and cybersecurity.
• Demonstrate background knowledge on digital rights-related issues in Southeast Asia, in particular issues related to surveillance and information control in Southeast Asia (e.g. the abuses of spyware against pro-democracy activists, Cambodia’s initiative on National Internet Gateway, the use of cyber surveillance technology from China by the Myanmar military junta as well as the banning on Virtual Private Network (VPN)).
• 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 good writing skills with an ability to explain complex technical topics to non-technical audiences, particularly on how a certain technology works, risks that it may bring, and what can possibly be done to mitigate the risks. 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. Please fill in the application form in the link below in order to apply and submit the following documents:

https://digitalreach.asia/careers/research-and-advocacy-internship-cyber-surveillance-and-information-controls/

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