Stories about Technology
Why do ‘Bart Simpson’ and ‘Monkey D. Luffy’ have registered SIM cards in the Philippines?
"The SIM registration law cannot be “fixed” without having serious implications on our right to privacy and communication."
The complex historical tapestry of media and music in Sudan
Sudan's media has faced political influence and censorship, from radio's promotion of music to state-controlled television and print media challenges. However, private radio stations offer alternative voices, signaling potential progress.
How Kurdish language divisions hinder access to information
The ongoing disputes among Kurdish languages and their lack of standardization create obstacles to accessing online information, impedes the flow of information, and curtails active participation in the digital realm.
In Russia, authorities filter information and algorithms help them
Social networks want their users to spend more time on their platforms, to leave a more extensive digital footprint that can be used for various purposes.
Morocco's Amazigh pursue civic presence through linguistic rights
Respecting the linguistic rights of the Amazigh people promotes social integration and allows speakers to freely express their culture and identity, which results in increased civic engagement.
Take a tour of Trinidad & Tobago's Virtual Steelpan Museum
The creators worked with designers and coders, building the virtual museum almost like a sculpture, in an iterative way, paying attention to everything from aesthetics to narrative.
The state of scientific development in Venezuela: Observations of a distinguished scientist
"Without human development, there is no scientific development," Professor Benjamin Scharifker says.
Serbian ruling party troll farm leak revealed identities of over 14,500 ‘bots’
Vidaković stated that he paid EUR 15,000 (approximately USD 16,540) for the list, with money collected from the Serbian diaspora.
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