freedom of expression
In depth
How Tiktok is a platform for performance and play for women in Sri Lanka
Tiktok is a wildly popular short video platform and has led to a myriad form of creative and playful expressions. This article explores the videos from Ceylon in relation to heteronormativity, gender, and how the boundaries between the personal and public are blurred.
Feminist talk
Turning from Tumblr: Where is sex positivity on the internet going?
The Tumblr porn ban reveals how laws in one country against sex trafficking can be used to police content online, and especially has an impact on queer, trans and other sexuality related content. Here Tiffany Mugo talks about what that does to the discourse around sex positivity online.
Publication
Offline and Out of Pocket: The Impact of the Social Media Tax in Uganda on Access, Usage, Income and Productivity
What is the impact of the social media tax in Uganda on the lives of ordinary people - including their productivity and income, access and usage of social media and the internet. Through interviews and discussions, the report explores how people are affected by the tax on the use of platforms such as Whatsapp, Facebook, Twitter.
Feminist talk
5 thoughts on online content moderation from an insider
What does content moderation on social media actually entail - how much artificial intelligence and human labour is being used, who is responsible for decisions around the removal of content or about what complaints to ignore? An insider from social media companies shares 5 concise insights on how social media giants actually work.
In depth
Review: No Roses From My Mouth
No Roses From My Mouth is a collection of poems written in jail by feminist poet and academic Dr. Stella Nyanzi. Wairimũ Mũrĩithi looks at the feminist solidarity movement that is organising offline and online actions for Nyanzi's release, and reflects on the interconnected struggles that Nyanzi represents.
Feminist talk
My Little Corner of The Internet: The Role of Finstas in The Lives of Queer, Black Africans
The internet is made up of many kinds of spaces knitted together - from the public to somewhat private to the many grey zones in between. Here is how queer black people find public corners for celebrating and self-care through Finstas.
We can be heroes: Towards public and legal recognition of online gender-based violence
Online violence, bullying, harassment, theft of identity, non-consensual circulation of intimate images - are now being recognised as offences in most countries, and acknowledged in public discourse as misogyny and attempts to silence women and gender-diverse people from participation in public life and denying them their rights to free expression and association, especially online. This...
Editorial
[EDITORIAL] Recognition of online GBV in international law: the highs and lows
Over a decade of consistent work around visibility of online GBV has led to finally a report by the Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women that specifically addresses this phenomenon. Jan Moolman sketches out a brief timeline of the milestones towards the recognition of online GBV, and this has included advocating for inclusion of sensitive language within international law and...
Feminist talk
Online GBV in Palestine means losing out on women's participation
In recent times there has been a dramatic increase in the use of internet and social media by Palestinians. In this context there is also a rising wave of online gender-based violence that leads to intimidation of women and self-censorship, which means that often women are withdrawing from social media platforms that are an arena of political and social confrontation against the Israeli...
In depth
Hidden figures - A look at technology-mediated violence against women in India
IT for Change held a consultation in 2017 on the various forms of gender based cyber violence that affects women in India. Here various researchers and speakers gathered to share their data, insight and questions on the kinds of online violence faced by women in different professions, strata and social locations - from vernacular journalists to students in colleges, rural and urban women. This...
