Podcast Summary
Expansion of Internet access raises complex issues around sovereignty and human rights: The expansion of Internet access through infrastructure projects requires community involvement and respect for human rights and sovereignty to prevent digital colonialism.
The expansion of Internet access through infrastructure projects like Facebook's new subsea cable in Africa raises complex issues around sovereignty and human rights. The cable, which will be one of the longest in the world, encircling nearly the entire continent, is being built by a consortium of Western commercial interests in partnership with local governments, with little input from the people on the ground. This lack of community involvement and potential infringement on sovereignty could lead to digital colonialism, where technology companies colonize the physical infrastructure. It's crucial that communities have a seat at the table to ensure that human rights and democratic values are respected. Julie O'Wano, executive director of Internet Without Borders and newly appointed member of Facebook's Oversight Board, sees this as an opportunity to bring attention to these issues and push for change. The first meeting of the Oversight Board is in the fall of 2020. The Internet has become a vital piece of infrastructure, shaping societies and identities, and it's important that its expansion is done in a way that respects the rights and sovereignty of all people.
Internet shutdowns in the Global South: Amplifying voices or enabling censorship?: Internet shutdowns in the Global South can limit access to information and hinder freedom of expression, but efforts to mitigate hate speech and disinformation should prioritize solutions that don't involve censorship.
Access to the internet and digital platforms is a powerful tool for individuals in the Global South, particularly in Africa, to amplify their voices and bring attention to important issues. However, governments, especially those with repressive tendencies, are increasingly using internet shutdowns as a means to suppress freedom of expression, often justifying these actions by criticizing the lack of action from tech companies regarding hate speech and disinformation. This creates a complex issue, as internet shutdowns can be seen as an attempt to mitigate the "Huxley dystopia" of information overload, but in reality, they often enable the "Orwellian dystopia" of censorship and human rights abuses. It's crucial to recognize the importance of access to digital platforms for individuals in the Global South and work towards finding solutions that address the root causes of hate speech and disinformation, rather than resorting to censorship.
Tech companies' ethical responsibilities grow with global reach: As tech companies expand globally, they must navigate political and ethical implications, work with local organizations and governments, and avoid complicity in human rights abuses.
As the world becomes more interconnected through technology, the responsibility of tech companies to ensure the ethical use of their platforms and infrastructure grows exponentially. The example of governments justifying internet shutdowns due to hate speech and the potential for violence highlights this need. Tech companies like Facebook and Google, as they expand their reach into new markets, cannot ignore the political and ethical implications of their actions. They must work closely with local organizations and governments to ensure human rights are respected and that their infrastructure is not contributing to harm. The potential for alternative platforms from countries like China and Russia adds an additional layer of complexity. Companies must navigate this carefully to avoid being complicit in human rights abuses while also protecting their infrastructure.
Promoting Transparency and Inclusion for Equitable Access: Transparency and inclusion of civil society organizations in infrastructure and technology development is crucial for equitable access and preventing harm. Overcoming challenges related to transparency and data access is necessary to ensure their involvement in decision-making processes.
Ensuring transparency and inclusion of civil society organizations in decision-making processes, particularly when it comes to infrastructure and technology development, is crucial for promoting equitable access and preventing potential harm. This includes having a seat at the table in infrastructure consortiums and direct access to product teams for grassroots organizations. However, achieving this requires overcoming challenges related to transparency and data access. The example given of consortia managing access to infrastructure in West and Central Africa illustrates how lack of transparency can result in unequal access and pricing. Similarly, in the context of technology platforms, civil society organizations often lack the same data and measurement capabilities as companies, making it difficult to assess the impact of their efforts to address issues like hate speech. Privacy concerns should not be a barrier to transparency and collaboration, especially when potential consequences include the prevention of genocides and other serious harms.
Social Media as a Platform for Psychological Experiments: Russia exploits social media to spread misinformation, targeting historical resentments in Western democracies. Understanding interconnected issues and being aware of potential developments in other regions is crucial.
The digital world, particularly social media platforms, are being used as uncharted territories for large-scale psychological experiments, with potential dangerous consequences, especially in countries where resources for content moderation and fact-checking are limited. This creates opportunities for malicious actors to exploit blind spots and spread misinformation. For instance, Russia has been using this tactic to target voters in the US and Europe by exploiting historical resentments, particularly those related to colonialism and imperialism. This phenomenon is not only detrimental to the targeted populations but also contributes to the growing antagonism between Western and Eastern nations. It's crucial to understand the interconnectedness of these issues and be aware of potential developments in other parts of the world, such as Southeast Asia, which may serve as a testing ground for future trends in more developed regions. The example of Libya, where a French company sold deep packet inspection technology to both the Gaddafi regime and the French government, illustrates the potential risks of centralizing data and the long-term consequences of past actions. Overall, it's essential to pay close attention to these developments and be prepared for the potential implications.
Common themes of hate speech in Africa include politics and sexism: Building public databases of hate speech is essential for tech companies and local experts to address unique cultural contexts and promote fair representation in multilingual countries
Hate speech dynamics, though shaped by unique cultural and linguistic contexts, share common themes across different countries in Africa. These themes include political events and tensions, as well as sexist speech. Building public databases of hate speech is crucial to inform tech companies and enable collaboration with local experts, who possess valuable contextual knowledge. In countries with numerous languages and limited local media outlets, the dominance of social media platforms like Facebook creates an uneven playing field, limiting the competition and representation of organic local language competitors.
Facebook's Role in Language Representation and Amplification: Facebook's dominance in language representation requires accountability and oversight to balance connectivity benefits with responsible content management.
Facebook has become the primary platform for language representation and amplification in many parts of the world, displacing traditional media outlets. Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, has created a situation where he holds significant responsibility for managing the content on his platform, despite his reluctance to do so. The consequences of this are vast and complex, particularly in countries with linguistic and cultural diversity and civic conflicts. Shutting down the platform entirely is not a viable solution, but allowing false information and conflict to proliferate also has negative consequences. The need for accountability and oversight from external groups is crucial in navigating these challenges. The success of this approach can be seen in instances where public pressure has led to changes in Facebook's policies, such as the withdrawal of Free Basics in India. Building capacities and critical groups to scrutinize the platform's impact is essential to ensure that the benefits of connectivity are balanced with responsible content management.
An important step towards holding social media accountable: The Oversight Board provides guidance on specific cases and their interpretation of community standards, leading to policy updates and changes, bringing attention to the need for platforms to be held accountable and adding a layer of checks and balances.
The Oversight Board, while not a perfect solution, serves as an important step towards holding social media platforms accountable for upholding democratic principles, freedom of expression, and addressing disinformation and hate speech, particularly in regions like Africa and the global South. The Board's role is not to serve as a bulk moderator but rather to provide guidance on specific cases and their interpretation of community standards, leading to policy updates and changes. It's a complementary initiative that brings attention to the need for platforms to be held accountable and adds a layer of checks and balances to their arbitrary discretionary power. However, it's important to remember that the Board is not a panacea and that more efforts are needed to address these issues on a global scale.
Balancing free expression and preventing harmful content: Ongoing dialogue and collaboration between companies, governments, and civil society are crucial to address the root causes of harmful content online and protect human rights.
The current state of free expression online is a complex issue that requires ongoing checks and balances to prevent arbitrary decisions and protect human rights. With billions of users and posts on platforms like Facebook and TikTok, it's crucial to address the structural issues that reward hate speech and harmful content. The oversight board and content moderation efforts are important, but they are reactive and don't address the root cause of the problem. To truly make a difference, there needs to be more collaboration and dialogue between different groups and regions, including companies, governments, and civil society. The ongoing conversation and cross-border cooperation are essential to tackle this global challenge. I'm hopeful that more people, including those who have worked in tech companies, will continue to speak out and contribute to this important discussion.
Acknowledging the team behind the podcast: Creating impactful content involves collaboration and support from various individuals and organizations.
Creating impactful content requires a collaborative effort from various individuals and organizations. Noor Al Samurai played a crucial role in fact-checking, while Ryan and Hayes Holiday contributed original music and sound design. The Center For Humane Technology provided the platform for this podcast to come to life, and we're grateful for the support from our lead donors, including the Ominio Network, Gerald Schwartz and Heather Reisman Foundation, Patrick J McGovern Foundation, Evolve Foundation, and Craig Newmark Philanthropies. It takes a village to produce meaningful content, and we're thankful for each and every person who contributes to our mission.
