Afghanistan forces digital-ethics reckoning Analysis The Taliban takeover in Kabul, the frantic evacuation efforts of foreign nationals and vulnerable Afghans, and the fear among those left behind of being targeted by the new regime are shining a spotlight on the double-edged nature of government data collection as well as digital communication tools in times of crisis. By Angela Chen
Global Feminist Pitch 2021: Feminist Resilience and Resistance on Social Media Project The circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic have disrupted the striving of women and LGBTIQ+ activists worldwide. The Global Feminist Pitch 2021 introduces eleven feminists who will pursue nine projects on feminist resistance and resilience on social media, within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pandemic Politics: Targetted Influence in the Age of Covid-19 Background What happens in an election when national or global crises prevent rallies, in-person meet-and-greets, door-knocking, fundraisers, and handshakes? Political parties and candidates must reach people where they are: online, at home, on their phones and in their inboxes. By Christy Lange
Time for a Pushback in Media Spaces Digital, online and social-media avenues undoubtedly offer an alternative or complementary channel for news, because of the inherent difficulty in censoring these spaces. Their wide reach and levels of engagement have saved lives during disasters or emergencies.
IT giants in China: a tough business China suffers from draconian internet regulations, but enjoys a prosperous marketplace; it attracts IT giants from the United States and Europe, but it has also expelled some of them. By Sophie Ping Sun
Re-thinking media reform in Southeast Asia: promoting a participatory approach Instead of top-down reforms for the media, the countries in Southeast Asia need policies that prioritize the public’s interests. By Gayathry Venkiteswaran
The curious case of vox populi 2.0: ASEAN’s complicated romance with social media Social media in ASEAN has quickly evolved from being a passive tool for knowledge consumption and entertainment to an active mechanism for change. By Joel Mark Baysa Barredo and Jose Santos P. Ardivilla
How social media is changing Afghan society Social media has played a critical role in influencing change in Afghanistan. The potential anonymity of the internet offers great opportunities for women. By Sayed Asef Hossaini
Who Cleans Up the Internet? Commercial Content Moderation and the Invisible CCM Workers of the World Background By Sarah T. Roberts
Digital Media Stimulates Prominence of Local Perspectives in Favela Narratives In an interview with Heinrich Böll Foundation Brasil, journalist Thamyra Thâmara, from Complexo do Alemão, speaks about the importance of digital media for popular communicators in the favelas–spaces which are stigmatized by the mainstream media and portrayed as impoverished and violent. By Bruna de Lara and Thamyra Thâmara
