With 187 Internet shutdowns in 35 countries in 2022, the relationship between democracy and technology is top of mind for many humanitarians. A prime forum to thrash out some of the nuances of this partnership will be the second U.S. Summit for Democracy, which takes place in Washington from March 29-30. Access Now is co-leading the Technology for Democracy Cohort in partnership with the U.K. and Estonian governments. It’s  an impressive coalition of over 150 civil society, government, and private sector organisations across 40 countries. And Brett Solomon will be there.

1.20 - In Bed with Democracy and Technology

Bruce Pascoe has been on the frontline, defending his book Dark Emu. On the eve of the broadcast of the documentary about the book, he took time out to talk about the phenomenon that is 'The Dark Emu Story'

Bruce Pascoe on The Dark Emu Story

Author and adventurer Robyn Davidson reflects on all that was before and after her famous journey across the Australian desert with four camels and a dog, in her memoir An Unfinished Woman. This incredible evocation of time and place follows tendrils of memory back to moments of meaning that somehow resonate with universal truths of the human experience.

Robyn Davidson

2023 has been BIG! We’ve covered the Open AI soap opera, the Internet Governance Forum, the Digital Occupation of Gaza and so much more. So where does all this leave us sensitive receptors as we head into the New Year? We wrap the year in wrapping paper and wish it well as we venture forth into unchartered territory.

3.8 - That's A Techno Wrap 2023

The ex KGB lieutenant colonel has a Presidential election in just under a month, and aside from silencing dissenters, he’s making sure that any information Russian citizens might find on the internet is singing his praises. With the seriously suspicious death of opposition leader Alexi Navalny four days ago and the arrest of around 400 people who came out to mourn him, Putin is going for gold as a digital dictator.

4.1 - Going For Gold as a Digital Dictator

How can we tell if fake news is real when, despite the facts, some people swear by it? And how do we judge the veracity of a artificially generated videos when we see them on Facebook?
Two First Amendment cases started in the US Supreme Court yesterday concerning social media laws in Texas and Florida. The State's claim the platforms are exercising “freewheeling censorship”, while they say they just want to stop conservatives posting lies like they did about the last US Federal election being stolen.
Meanwhile the new text to video AI model SORA is causing waves with its ability to create visuals that can replicate one minute of fiction that looks uncannily like the real thing.
Both of these developments have the potential to transform the internet in ways we can't even imagine. But will it be good for humanity?

4.2 - Two Transformative Moments for the Internet

5 days ago, a strict new anti-LGBTQ+ bill called the Human Sexual rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill was introduced, which threatens to incite a witch hunt against lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and intersex people fighting for their rights to express themselves and have privacy in Ghana, both online and off. It's part of a disturbing worldwide trend to vilify and control 'the other', and while it might appease the largely conservative Christian majority, it also threatens $5.8 million in foreign investments in the country. Right now, it's all in the hands of President Nana Akufo-Addo.

4.3 - Ghana's Backward Move on LGBT+ Rights

Did Kate Middleton actually doctor her own family photograph? Or has she actually been abducted by aliens? How fake images can ignite a bonfire of wild conspiracy theories. 
And turncoat Donald Trump once wanted TikTok banished from the USA. Now that he's banned from Facebook for telling lies and inciting his followers to storm the Capitol, he wants the legislation he introduced to be reversed. But with Biden poised to sign off on it, is it all too late for him and TikTok's 150 million American users?

4.4 - Manipulating Princesses and Former Presidents

Putin is locked in for a 5th term, largely through the control of information on the internet, while Elon Musk’s quest for world domination also continues apace with the release of the raw computer code behind his new xAI Chatbot.
On top of all that, the Chinese owned company behind TikTok is being forced to sell up in the US, and over in the EU, the AI Act has come into law essentially enabling developers to go for broke. 
It's been a busy week in cyberspace!

4.5 - Putin in the Kremlin and Gremlins in Grok

It's the biggest year of voting in global history. Seventy countries will decide their governance including citizens of no less than twenty-one African nations. But with many of those already on the Election Watchlist for internet interference, how many will claim to be bastions of democracy? 
With a humanitarian crisis of apocalyptic proportions underway in the African heartland of Sudan, what role do tech-cos have in navigating a way through this?

Africa Calling All Voters

5 days at the 35th Byron Bay Bluesfest was a lot. The annual music festival hosted 70,000 people and delivered with acts like Meshelle Ndeogocello, Tom Jones, Ricky Lee Jones, Dirty Honey, Velvet Trip, Clayton Dooley and Roshani. 
But according to guests on the associated Glamping Experience, it was a massive fail with overflowing toilets and sewerage in the camp. 
Big Nelly takes you back on site for interviews with punters like Senator Janet Price,  and performers including Roshani and Velvet Trip.

Originally broadcast on BayFM's Roadtrip (2.4.24)

Bluesfest Debrief

This Week In Cyberspace we take a look at hate speech online in the context of conflict. With the UN calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and the horrific human toll of Palestinian civilian lives still rising, certain words are coming under intense scrutiny. 
META is reviewing the use of the word 'Zionist' on its platforms, while the Arabic term 'Saheed' - the word for martyr - is responsible for the most content takedowns across all of its platforms.
But what are the implications for free speech and rational debate online?

4.7 - META's Take On Hate Speech

Lavender. Sounds pretty vanilla right? But it’s actually the name of the Artificial Intelligence machine allegedly targeting Israel’s bombs at Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad operatives in Gaza. The system has generated  “mass target creation and lethality”, especially in the first six weeks of the conflict. But with a 10% error rating,  the fallout for Gazan civilians has been horrific. 
On the back of a report by +972 Magazine, we probe into the interplay between technology and conflict.

4.8 - Lavander AI And Its Lethality

Interviews and podcasts including This Week In Cyberspace with Brett Solomon focusing on the latest global cyber issues, Hardcore data with a dash of downloadable humour.

Nell Schofield

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