Stories about Technology
African perspectives: the role of artificial intelligence in journalism
In an interview with Global Voices, African journalists shared their views on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in journalism on this continent.
Has digital media influenced environmentally sustainable practices in Nigeria?
Only three states in Nigeria, compared to seven in 2021, are environmentally clean. This underscores the need for a deeper sense of responsibility and awareness about sustainable practices among citizens.
Unfreedom Monitor: Civic Media Observatory findings report
The Unfreedom Monitor is a project to analyse, document, and report on the growing phenomenon of the use of digital communications technology to advance authoritarian practices.
Why do we keep hiding the history of technology?
The machines that transformed our tech are now lying in dust
How companies collect private data about reproductive health
Data about reproduction is tracked and gathered by many companies worldwide without people’s awareness, which has profound consequences for people’s reproductive rights.
How India's Ho- and Santali-language content creators are holding space for Indigenous linguistic assertion
A 2022 study conducted in Ho and Santali, Indigenous languages from India, found that 70.4 percent of creators use their smartphones to create and upload content, though monetizing remains a major challenge.
Turkmenistan unveils its first ‘smart’ city, named after the former president
Arkadag’s future remains unclear given the government’s authoritarian and bizarre rules for its potential residents.
A forensic investigation finds a site that doxxes Hong Kong activists and journalists is likely backed by Beijing
Toronto-based Citizen Lab finds circumstantial evidence that suggests the campaign operators held links to mainland China.
Anti-refugee rhetoric and the new far-right on Turkish social media
From openly racist statements from far-right political leaders to claims that news agencies are circulating disinformation to incite violence, social media is not making life safer for refugees in Turkey.
How digital media shapes public opinion about environmental sustainability in Nigeria
In a report on media coverage, it was found that fewer than 0.1 percent of articles published by two Nigerian newspapers over two three-month periods addressed climate change.
Kenya draws inspiration from Estonia in its journey toward e-governance
Kenya is a thriving democracy, but its internet penetration rate stands at only 33 percent, posing a crucial question: Is the country prepared to embrace the wave of e-governance?
A brief overview of AI use in West Asia and North Africa
In general, using Artificial Intelligence technologies almost always allows for greater surveillance of individuals, and therefore, is especially concerning in authoritarian regimes.
Undertones: If on welfare, better learn Dutch and be a man
Low education about AI tech leads to ill-informed narratives about algorithmic bias
Ukrainian businesses from destroyed cities are fighting for survival — and winning
Some entrepreneurs have lost everything twice, in 2014 and in 2022, but managed to restore their businesses again.
Unfreedom Monitor Report: Access
Advox research into internet access, shutdowns and interruptions is now in a report. Read an excerpt and download the full pdf.
Punjabi Wikipedia for 21 years: Celebrating 50,000 articles and looking ahead
The entire volunteer community came together for Mission 50,000, a call-for-action to reach 50k articles, in order to celebrate the 21st birthday of Punjabi Wikipedia.
Zimbabwe’s uneven electoral field: Data protection laws used to deny digital voter roll inspection
In April this year, a number of eligible voters received accurately targeted campaign SMS messages from the ruling party, with details such as voters’ full names and where message recipients had registered to vote.
Unfreedom Monitor Report: Kyrgyzstan
Advox research into digital authoritarianism in Kyrgyzstan is now in a report. Read an excerpt and download the full pdf.
Unfreedom Monitor Report: Kenya
Advox research into digital authoritarianism in Kenya is now in a report. Read an excerpt and download the full pdf.
How technology has entrenched the authoritarian electoral practice of controlling political choice in Kenya's democracy
Kenya is representative of a nation where elections do not equate to democracy, and technological advancements have only provided the government with leverage over its citizens’ political choice.
Unfreedom Monitor Report: Speech
Advox research into freedom of speech is now in a report. Read an excerpt and download the full pdf.