Human Rights Watch has expressed significant concern over the Zambian government’s decision to postpone RightsCon 2026, the global summit aimed at fostering collaboration between civil society activists on the impact of digital technologies on human rights. The event’s suspension has drawn criticism from various quarters, highlighting potential geopolitical interference and raising alarms over state influence on human rights platforms.
The comments by Deborah Brown of Human Rights Watch underscore the severity of the situation. She noted the cancellation as stifling “discussions and opportunities to strategize and connect on crucial human rights issues” and described the act as “a terrible blow to the digital rights movement in Zambia and globally”. This perspective is echoed by many observers who see such postponements as indicative of deeper issues affecting the digital rights landscape.
The summit was slated to take place in May 2026 in Lusaka, sparking debates about the possible interference from the Chinese government. Reports suggest that local authorities were pressured to bar Taiwanese participants and suppress discussions critical of China’s digital policies. This has been perceived as a broader strategy employed by authoritarian-leaning governments to export censorship beyond their borders, as seen in previous editions of the summit.
For example, the Mulungushi International Conference Centre, where the 2026 event was set to be hosted, was constructed with financial backing of approximately $30 million from China. This connection provided a physical point of leverage, illustrating how infrastructure investment can be utilized to influence international discourse. Additionally, pressure on Access Now, the summit’s organizing body, resulted in the event’s cancellation after it refused to exclude discussions on China’s digital influence or bar Taiwanese participants.
Such interference isn’t unprecedented. In 2023, more than 300 delegates from the Global South were denied visas to attend RightsCon, while the 2024 Saudi Arabia-hosted forum saw diminished participation amid surveillance concerns. This pattern raises questions about the increasing tendency of states to influence or thwart platforms essential for human rights progress and digital freedom.
On a national level, the Zambian government’s motivations have been questioned, with academic Sishuwa Sishuwa arguing that a key factor was avoiding scrutiny of the country’s own human rights record. The timing, ahead of Zambia’s 2026 general elections, further fuels suspicion of the government using state power to suppress dissent and limit international dialogue.
The situation reflects ongoing challenges in ensuring the independence of human rights forums from state pressure. Observers continue to monitor developments, as similar patterns may have far-reaching implications for global discussions on digital rights. For additional context on this issue see Jurist’s detailed coverage.