After adapting RightsCon 2020 to a virtual format out of necessity, AccessNow has continued to provide virtual and hybrid annual events on the TechChange platform to nearly 10,000 participants annually from 164 countries.
Access Now is a global organization working to defend and extend the digital rights of users at risk around the world. Access Now organizes an annual event, RightsCon, for the global community of digital rights experts and practitioners to connect and coordinate.
Access Now wanted its annual conference to be as accessible and inclusive as possible: where participants who traditionally face barriers – those with connectivity challenges or hearing or visual impairments, for example, could engage fully. They also wanted the highest level of security to protect their convening space, and a fully branded event experience featuring over 500 content sessions. TechChange provided a custom platform, added security features, multilingual translation, and full-scale event management to realize their objectives.
More than just a platform provider, TechChange managed production, provided presenter briefings and technical moderation during sessions to ensure flawless execution of workshops, lightning talks, and TV-style sessions. Since security was priority to the client, we conducted a security audit and ensured resolution of any potential issues. No matter how much planning goes into an event, the unexpected can still occur. During RightsCon 2021, Vimeo and Youtube experienced a worldwide outage. However, TechChange’s on-call support team ensured that rapid response was enabled to make all content accessible via other means on the platform, and programming continued virtually uninterrupted.
TechChange helped Access Now achieve their objectives for the last four years of RightsCon, successfully hosting 500+ sessions each year on time, for 9000+ participants from 164 countries, with no major security incidents, in an accessible, inclusive manner. The platform integrated Frameable for live organic group video chat, text-based Chat for in-session interaction, and asynchronous Discussion Forums for user-generated conversation threads. TechChange’s platform allowed for maximum inclusivity through key accessibility features like screen reader adaptability, closed captioning, and navigation/ interpretation into 7 languages. RightsCon’s logo, colors, and graphics were integrated throughout the TechChange platform. Everywhere participants went, visual cues signaled “You belong.”
The next edition of RightsCon will be held in South Korea in February 2025. TechChange will keep pushing the envelope for accessibility and inclusivity as Access Now shapes the global dialogue on some of the most critical issues of our time.
RightsCon has built a reputation as an inclusive, accessible global conference, as well as virtual safe space for hot-button issues. Annually, with TechChange’s support, RightsCon has reached nearly 10,000 attendees from 164 countries.
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