Stories about Technology
‘Let’s talk about something else’: China’s AI chatbot DeepSeek censors sensitive topics
When asked about the 2019 HK protests, DeepSeek said: “under the strong leadership of the central government, HK will surely overcome any difficulties and maintain its prosperity and stability.”
ToTok, Baz and others: The UAE and KSA promote unsafe communication apps
Forensic analysis by SMEX reveals Gulf-promoted apps pose high privacy risks, prioritizing data collection over security.
Women's rights under threat in Uganda as conservative groups push disinformation campaign
The rise of the anti-rights conservative groups in Uganda and around the world has led to gendered disinformation that is threatening democracy and freedoms in the East African nation.
At what cost are we bridging Africa’s digital divide?
Beneath the promises of enhanced connectivity in Africa lies a complex narrative—a 21st-century iteration of colonial dynamics cloaked in the rhetoric of "connecting the unconnected"...
Can US TikTok refugees find a home in Chinese social media Xiaohongshu?
For US TikTokers, flocking to Xiaohongshu is an act of resistance. However, some Chinese overseas dissidents find the action belittles the suffering of the oppressed.
From Russia to the EU: The high stakes of Meta’s content moderation shift
As Mark Zuckerberg rolls out an “anti-censorship” policy for all Meta subsidiaries, we must be careful to not repeat Vladimir Putin’s playbook.
Netflix struggles to adapt to Africa’s cinema market
African cinema generates approximately USD 5 billion annually but has the potential to grow to USD 20 billion and create 20 million jobs per year.
Australia is the first nation to ban social media for under-16s
On Wednesday, the lower house of the Australian parliament voted to pass legislation to ban social media for children under 16 years, and the Senate passed the bill on Friday.
Waves of change: Can ocean renewables solve rising electricity costs in Jamaica?
Apart from lowering electricity costs, ocean-based renewables like offshore wind farms and ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) could offer a stable homegrown solution for consumers while contributing to environmental sustainability.
2025: The year we decide the internet's future
In 2024, critical discussions began that could reshape internet governance, with debates extending into 2025. At stake is the shift from a multi stakeholder model ... to a government-dominated approach.
India's internet shutdown crisis: A growing threat to digital rights
India’s approach to internet governance presents a paradox. Despite positioning itself as a leader of digital innovation, government-imposed shutdowns threaten the country’s digital infrastructure and risks violating citizens' fundamental rights.
A year of elections and digital repression in South Asia: 2024 in focus
This summary of Global Voices' 2024 South Asia coverage highlights how governments introduced measures to tighten control over online spaces amid elections and political unrest.
Reclaiming the future of technology through art, imagining, and lived experiences
How can marginalised voices reframe their own stories and reclaim power through imaginative future-making? This interview explores the intersections of technology, colonialism, and art as tools for political participation and liberation.
Data Narratives Civic Media Observatory: Country Reports
The reports examined the complexities of the data governance landscape across the five countries through the lens of the data narratives and counter-narratives that shape conversations in each country.
How the UN Cybercrime Convention 2023 can pose a threat to human rights defenders and exiled journalists
The convention must include mandatory dual criminality clauses, respect human rights safeguards, establishing that no cooperation will be provided in cases that could result in violations of fundamental rights.
How to stop battery-operated rickshaws from causing new problems on Dhaka's roads
The rapid rise of makeshift battery-powered rickshaws and government bans has sparked controversy, highlighting challenges in regulation and raising concerns about employment issues in Bangladesh.
The future of truth: Carlos Hernández-Echevarría on fact-checking and AI
Fact-checkers create communities of engaged individuals who actively work to prevent disinformation, becoming more aware and critical of the information they encounter both online and offline.
Surprising developments from Ghana’s 2024 elections and other elections in Africa
Increasingly, citizens are prioritizing accountability and performance over party loyalty, using their votes and voices to demand change from governments that fail to address corruption, inefficiency, and unmet promises.
Artificial Intelligence Narratives: A Global Voices Report
Our Data Narratives research delves into discourse about data and artificial intelligence in five countries: Sudan, El Salvador, India, Brazil, and Turkey.
Global Voices Summit 2024: Where have all the bloggers gone?
Blogging has changed over time, making the online space in which people are expressing themselves more valuable than ever.
Kenyan money lending apps invade borrowers’ privacy to recover debts
A report by the Centre for Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law (CIPIT) at Strathmore University revealed that most lending apps collect far more data than necessary.