Stories about Tech Industry
Bangladesh: Meta accuses ruling party and think tank of coordinated inauthentic behavior
Meta's Quarterly Adversarial Threat Report 2024 noted the removal of 50 Facebook accounts and 98 pages in Bangladesh for “coordinated inauthentic behavior” and spreading misleading information targeting the opposition leaders and activists.
Bitcoin mining's toll on El Salvador leaves communities without water
Communities in San Martín and Ilopango are left without access to drinking water as the Salvadoran government prioritizes Bitcoin mining projects
Lion or mosquito: The state of the AI debate in Turkey
While elsewhere around the world discussions around AI are widespread and accessible, in Turkey this has not been the case. Not yet anyway.
Nepal's TikTok ban is the first step towards more government control on social media
On November 13, 2023, the Nepali government imposed a blanket ban on Chinese social media platform TikTok, alleging that the platform was fostering social discord among Nepalis.
Digital apartheid and the use of social media algorithms in humanitarian crises
Big tech platforms extensively censor Palestinian voices, shadowbanning them and their supporters, violating their rights to free speech, assembly, information access, political participation, and protection from discrimination.
At a crucial time for global crises, X (formerly Twitter) dilutes its violent speech policy
X has softened its violent speech policy significantly, decreasing both the scope of its provision on violent speech as well as the consequences imposed when such speech is detected.
Google denies Hong Kong police request to remove ‘seditious’ film about media tycoon Jimmy Lai from YouTube
This is the second time Google denied taking down political content. Its earlier refusal to alter protest song, 'Glory to Hong Kong,' has ended up in an injunction trial.
Legislating technology and the internet: Interview with Internet Society's Callum Voge
There are four main principles that we, with our community, identified as key for the internet: it must be open, global, secure, and trustworthy.
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.
Navigating the boundaries of free speech: Nigeria’s Twitter ban
While governments have a legitimate interest in addressing the spread of misinformation and promoting online safety, there may be more effective solutions than outright bans on social media platforms.
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.
How companies collect private data about reproductive health
Data about reproduction is tracked and gathered by many companies worldwide without people’s awareness. This article explains why this data is valuable and the possible consequences for people’s reproductive rights.
Cambodian Prime Minister quits Facebook after Oversight Board review
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen deleted his official Facebook account after Meta's Oversight Board recommended his account be suspended for six months after he shared a video inciting violence.
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.
Unfreedom Monitor Report: Kazakhstan
Advox research into digital authoritarianism in Kazakhstan is now in a report. Read an excerpt and download the full pdf.
Unfreedom Monitor Report: Myanmar
Advox research into digital authoritarianism in Myanmar is now in a report. Read an excerpt and download the full pdf.
Why tech companies can no longer ignore their role in shaping politics and society
As the influence of tech companies continues to grow, it falls to civil society, journalists, tech users, and watchdog organisations to keep these firms accountable.
The Myanmar junta’s war against Facebook
Social media platforms have an oversized influence on political events such as elections, and they have a responsibility to advance democracy.
Meta's Oversight Board grapples with Facebook and Instagram's opaque content guidelines
If Meta is to continue to be a safe space for human rights defenders, it will have to engage seriously and in good faith with the Oversight Board.
