Yearbook 2021
2021 was a year of growth for ADC. Despite the limitations imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, we continued to raise our voice advocating for civil and human rights, the enhancement of democracy, and the expansion of the scope of rights for all people. This development led us to increase our professional and research staff, adding value to our daily work, and we deepened our ties with other organizations at the domestic, regional, and international levels.
One of the main issues that we tackled was surveillance technology, including facial recognition, cyber-patrolling, and personal data protection. This gave rise to publications and activities that served as contributions to the Argentinian and Latin American governments, as well as an information bank for all citizens.
As an organization based in Argentina, we demanded a response from the authorities on the advance of cyber-patrolling systems throughout the country and the massive data leak in the RENAPER (National Registry of Persons) that occurred at the end of the year. In addition, we were one of the first organizations to express concern about the use of personal information in pandemic management applications, both at national and provincial levels. Our lookout for the proper use of digital technology and the respect for users’ rights was one of the guiding principles we strived for throughout the year.
These actions were not done in isolation, but as part of joint initiatives involving public, private, and non-profit actors, aiming to attain a fairer and more equitable society. Our contribution to the struggle for
preventing and eradicating discrimination and hate speech in social media and gender-based digital violence was key in the draft of official documents at government level.
In the international scene, ADC continues to position itself as a key organization in the defense of civil and human rights and their impact on the digital agenda. During 2021, we participated in the Digital Trade Alliance (DTA), a global coalition promoting a pro-user/consumer agenda in digital trade discussions; the Digital Economy Committee of the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), as members of the CSISAC (Civil Society Information Society Advisory Council); and the digitalization working group of the C-20, a G-20 affinity group made up of non-governmental organizations. In addition, we conducted the Civil Society Forum of the RIPD (Ibero-American Data Protection Network) and were appointed as members of the Reference Panel of the GPA (Global Privacy Assembly), representing the Al Sur consortium.
This brief overview of the most significant milestones of 2021 is only part of the long road ADC has traveled since its creation in 1995. From the defense of human rights to its extension into a realm concerning us all, the digital sphere, we have placed ourselves at the forefront of the debates and controversies that are beginning to take place around the globe. Looking ahead to a new year, the growth of our organization and its national, regional, and international scope is what drives us to continue our pursuit in the defense of the most fundamental rights.