South Asia

Is technology neutral or is coding political? In this article Smarika Kumar explores how algorithms work in the real world, and how they are a reflection of existing biases and forms of exclusion and discrimination in society.

The rise of dating apps allows women to take control of their social life and their choices. In this article Hija Kamran speaks to many women in Pakistan about their experience of online dating, both good and bad, whether it allows for challenging of conservative social norms or it leaves women vulnerable to abuse and other risks.

Governments and corporations have collected people's data for decades to dictate the kind of services each person would have access to. This data is more often than not rooted in colonialist practices and attitudes towards collection and processing of this information. Seerat Khan discusses the implications and way forward in this article.

Sex workers in Pakistan moved to the internet to seek clientele as the famous red light district in Pakistan faced government crackdown and cultural oppression. But how has their experience been working through online platforms? Hira Nadeem speaks to sex workers who made the shift.

Women gamers in Pakistan struggle to play safely amidst increasing online harassment they face in online gaming communities in the country. Momina Mindeel speaks to some women gamers to understand the extent of this violence and the strategies they employ to remain safe.

Since its passage, the Rural Employment Act of India guaranteed employment for millions of women in the country. But to promote digitisation in the country, the introduction of two recent changes in the Act have led to creating challenges for the workers in marking attendance and getting fair wage.

Privacy in India has always been regarded as unnecessary for women and young girls - more for those from religious minority groups. But women and gender and sexual minorities have found ways to exercise their right to privacy within and outside their homes. Digital privacy is an extension of them carving their way to demand this constitutionally protected right.

The internet has given a space for self-expression to Pakistani LGBTQIA+ people. Where there are risks of being targeted as a result of this visibility, many young queer folks are finding a sense of community through the expression of those around them.

The overregulation of women and gender diverse folks' bodies in South Asian culture has found its way in online spaces and heavily polices how bodily autonomy is expressed and regarded. Seerat Khan discusses barriers to this autonomy and its impacts on self-expression.

The transgender community in Pakistan has constantly been subjected to persecution and violence hindering their participation in 'normal' life. This violence has increasingly been mirrored into digital world leading to plethora of hashtag campaigns initiated to damage the struggles of the community.