The Uyghur Transitional Justice Database (UTJD) has been hosting an Information Controls Fellow through the Open Technology Fund (OTF) since mid-2024. OTF is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization that supports innovative projects, tools, and technologies designed to empower individuals in repressive environments to communicate securely, access information freely, and engage online without fear of censorship or surveillance.
The OTF fellow, Reyhan Topal, is a Ph.D. candidate in Political Science at the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy, University at Albany, State University of New York. Topal’s fellowship focuses on investigating China’s digital transnational repression of the Uyghur diaspora, specifically examining the collaboration between China, host states, and technology companies. The research explores how China cooperates with host states to implement digital repression and the role of technology companies in either mitigating or exacerbating these risks. By collecting evidence of the tools and methods used against Uyghur communities, Topal aims to develop practical solutions to help journalists, activists, and others safeguard their human rights online.
The fellowship has delved into the digital tools and tactics employed by the Chinese government to suppress dissent, monitor Uyghur diaspora communities, and silence cross-border activism. To mark the halfway point of this project, Topal has written their first piece, reflecting on the initial findings and insights gained after reaching halfway through their project.
