RightsCon, the annual flagship event for digital rights advocacy organized by Access Now, was abruptly postponed in Zambia under pressure from the Chinese government, which objected to the participation of Taiwanese civil society representatives.
- Chinese government pressured Zambia to exclude Taiwanese participants
- RightsCon panels addressed Chinese digital authoritarianism and cyberattacks
- Zambian government cited security clearances and diplomatic protocols
What happened
RightsCon 2026, the largest global gathering focused on digital rights, was scheduled to take place in Lusaka, Zambia. However, roughly a week before the event, the Zambian government postponed it indefinitely. The postponement came after Access Now was informed of pressure exerted by Chinese diplomats concerned about the participation of activists from Taiwan.
Access Now revealed that Chinese officials were negotiating with Zambian counterparts to exclude Taiwanese participants both in-person and online. Additionally, Zambian authorities cited pending administrative and security clearances and diplomatic protocols as official reasons for suspending the conference, effectively halting discussions on sensitive topics.
Why it matters
The cancellation highlights the expanding reach of China’s digital authoritarian influence beyond its borders, affecting international forums addressing critical issues such as censorship, surveillance, and disinformation propagated by Beijing. The pressure to exclude Taiwanese voices from a digital rights conference underscores ongoing geopolitical tensions playing out in global civil society spaces.
This disruption not only curtails open debate on the export of Chinese digital repression methods but also raises alarm about state interference undermining the autonomy of international human rights advocacy. It sends a chilling signal to organizers and participants of global events regarding the limits imposed by authoritarian governments on inclusive dialogue.
What to watch next
Monitoring Access Now’s and other human rights organizations’ responses to this event will be key to understanding how global digital rights advocates adapt to geopolitical coercion. It remains to be seen if RightsCon can reschedule the conference in a location neutral to Chinese influence or reconsider its participant policies to ensure broader inclusion.
Observers should also track if other countries hosting international digital policy events face similar diplomatic pressures, as well as the evolving tactics used by authoritarian states to control narratives around technology, privacy, and freedom of expression on the world stage.