Stories about Technology
How are India’s new-age influencers shaping the electoral game?
Ahead of the Indian general elections, political parties are leveraging the power of the internet and social media to to maximise their outreach and engagement in the election process.
How the Maduro government pays to promote propaganda and disinformation in Venezuela
The official propaganda of the government of Nicolás Maduro spreads thanks to the work of citizens who receive payments from the government to promote trends on social media
Kenyan rural business owners embrace solar power to overcome decades of electricity shortages
For rural communities in Kenya’s off-grid areas, solar power has shown to be a very reliable and promising source of energy.
Silenced voices: The X and VPN ban after Pakistan’s elections
During the political uncertainty following the elections, the voices of Pakistani citizens have been stifled through Twitter and VPN bans.
Digital surveillance and the specter of AI in Mexico
As the first recorded government client and most prolific user of the Pegasus spyware, Mexico has accumulated over USD 80 million in the technology since 2011.
Pakistan’s general elections: AI, internet shutdowns and disillusionment
On top of disruptions to the internet, Pakistani political parties have also been using emerging technologies, particularly generative AI and deep fake videos, to influence voter narratives and perceptions.
The perils of extracting limestone in Nepal's Indigenous Chepang communities
The escalating mining for energy transition minerals poses a direct threat to Indigenous rights and territories in Nepal, especially for the indigenous communities like Chepang, whose plights remain often unheard.
The true cost of Japan’s Linear bullet train
Rising environmental and human costs for Japan's planned "maglev," a super-fast, super-conducted bullet train set to link Tokyo to Osaka by 2045, are drawing the ire of many residents.
A Brazilian municipality has approved a bill written by ChatGPT
Councilor Ramiro Rosário revealed that he sent ChatGPT a 289-character directive to write a bill. He decided to reveal the use of AI after the law was sanctioned by the mayor.
First Turkish astronaut travels into space
At a time when the country is battling the cost of living crisis, high inflation, and depreciating national currency some questioned the government's decision to send Gezeravci into space.
The Socotri language straddling survival amidst the absence of technology
Socotra has long weathered the tides of isolation amid Yemen's shifting regimes. Marginalization has obscured its cultural identity and hindered linguistic progress. Today, Socotris grapple with sudden technological openness.
In the shadows of self-censorship: The impact of the Cyber Security Act on Bangladesh’s LGBTQ+ movement
Several sections of the newly enacted Cyber Security Act (CSA) restrict the advocacy and movement for LGBTQ+ rights, criminalising published contents highlighting injustices faced by the LGBTQ+ community in Bangladesh.
Mozambique: Digital landscape and internet disruption in the context of elections
This is a new situation and could be indicative of a violation of the right to information enshrined in Mozambican law.
Digital frontiers: Leveraging cutting-edge technologies for social behavior change across continents
Ethical considerations, including privacy, data security, and transparency, are paramount to ensure that technological interventions lead to positive societal changes without unintended consequences.
Private firms profiting from your vote: The role of the influence industry around the world
Digital campaigning tactics remain a key topic in 2024 elections around the world. These tools, mainly managed by private companies, are used by political actors to influence election outcomes worldwide.
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, shadow banning them and their supporters, violating their rights to free speech, assembly, information access, political participation, and protection from discrimination.
How India’s increasing online scams are threatening the digital landscape
The proliferation of mobile phones and widespread adoption of digital transactions have created a large pool of people to be exploited by unemployed Indian scammers as a means of livelihood.
Digital Blackout: Systematic censorship of Palestinian voices
During the continuous Gaza bombardment and worsening humanitarian crisis, Palestinians face a communication blackout and tech censorship, hindering access to crucial information and the documentation of human rights violations.
Trinidad & Tobago's state telecommunications provider is hacked, raising questions about data protection laws
Social media users were getting panicky about their personal data being released onto the dark web, even as cybersecurity experts were saying there was nothing to be done about it.
Fraudsters impersonate African Union chair using AI
Deepfakes, the technology exploited by cybercriminals, are increasingly gaining popularity in Africa and are sometimes utilized to disseminate misinformation and propaganda on the continent.