COMMENT BLOG
A remark, a critique, an opinion…
Speaking up against enforced public amnesia
“History is not mute. However much they burn it, however much they break it, however much they lie about it, human history refuses to shut its mouth. Time past continues pulsating, alive, within time present, although time present doesn’t wish it or doesn’t know it.”...
Artificial Intelligence and the Master’s House
“For the master's tools will never dismantle the master's house. They may allow us temporarily to beat him at his own game, but they will never enable us to bring about genuine change”– Audre Lorde Audre Lorde’s admonition that the tools of oppression cannot be...
“Getting our skates on” as communication rights advocates
“Get your skates on!” I sometimes hear, especially from harassed parents trying to speed up apathetic children. I can’t call communication rights advocates apathetic, but we should feel pushed to move faster and harder in...
Communication rights on World Day of Social Justice
The lives of many people today have improved immeasurably compared to the past. On average, income and life expectancy have increased, and extreme poverty has declined. Yet, progress has been extremely uneven. In principle, genuine social progress is high on the...
#SaferInternetDay: Here’s to a misogyny-free Internet
The message to end misogyny, sexual harassment and gender-based violence in the digital realm has been iterated and reiterated countless times in as many spaces and languages the world over. Yet, there still lacks global consensus on what constitutes such behaviour....
Climate change and global economics: Whose voices are heard at Davos?
Each year, political and economic leaders gather in Davos, Switzerland, in meetings organized by the World Economic Forum (WEF). Issues discussed at Davos are typically at the top of national and international agendas, and many see the gathering as one of the key...
Internet Connectivity through Community Resolve
My family decided to move to a rural location in northern England. Knowing that my job depends on excellent internet connections, friends expressed concern that by moving away from towns and their services, I wouldn’t be able to access the internet at the same speeds...
Qatar: Digital surveillance and human rights abuse
For many, digital surveillance is a big “So what?”, the unavoidable risk of using the technology. For others, it can mean obstruction, harassment, detention, unfair trial, and imprisonment. Over 1.2 million international visitors were expected to visit Qatar to watch...
Media gender equality in the era of diversity
Seems like you can’t fight for recognition of women in discussions about diversity without being drawn into TERF wars. The TERF—trans-exclusionary radical feminist—label is increasingly being applied to disparage voices urging protection of the modest gains for women...
Communicating climate justice: A vital part of COP27’s outcomes
The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s 2021 report unequivocally linked climate change to human activity and predicted more frequent and more severe natural disasters over the coming years. Given the current trajectory of emissions and...
Rethinking our role as social media “users”
Mozilla, the organization/community that built the Firefox browser and now has a Foundation working to ensure the internet remains an open and accessible public resource, has released a 12-minute documentary, “Unknown Influence” The documentary interviews independent...
Calling out government censorship of the Internet
The world’s law enforcement services are in cahoots, sharing detailed data about individuals as well as corporations “in the interest of national security”. In 2021, the Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the United States of America...
PHOTO CREDIT: Paul Jeffrey/ACT Alliance