WACC is partnering with the Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) to spur economic empowerment among people living in the slums of Nairobi’s Mathare Valley through dependable and cost-effective community-run internet. Founded in 2005, KICTANet is a multi-stakeholder forum for individuals and organizations working on ICT policy...
A WACC-supported project run by the Woman of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) is strengthening community-based connectivity in the rural North of the country, with a particular focus on bridging the digital gender gap. WOUGNET, which brings together women-led Ugandan civil society organizations, was established in 2000 to...
The event “Digital Communication Rights: Empowering women for the digital age” on 12 March at the NGO CSW Forum 68 offered civil society advocates, academics, and media professionals tools to advance a gender-just digital world. The Forum is a civil society gathering held annually in parallel...
Apple has been fined €1.8bn by the European Commission for breaking competition laws over music streaming. The EU Competition Commissioner said that Apple had restricted “developers from informing consumers about alternative, cheaper music services available outside of the Apple ecosystem.” Although Apple says it will appeal,...
WACC and partner organizations are aiming to equip gender justice advocates to advance women’s digital communication rights with an event during the NGO CSW Forum 68 in New York on 11–24 March. The Forum is a civil society gathering held in parallel to the annual session...
Civil society advocates are concerned that governments, security services, and Big Tech may misuse digital technologies to suppress, control, and profit from ordinary people, says Philip Lee, Media Development editor, in the 1/2024 issue of WACC’s quarterly journal.The authors in “Towards Democratic Governance of Digital...
Videos of Elon Musk promoting dubious investments. Popular news anchors advertising all manner of products. Seemingly plausible news articles bearing bylines of known journalists. Welcome to the world of AI-enabled misinformation and disinformation that has rapidly spiraled into the new normal. Over 11,000 business leaders in 113...
In Britain over 20 years ago a large group of local postmasters were prosecuted for fraud. Many were convicted, some jailed, most lost jobs and incomes. Why? Because the Horizon computer system, used to manage their financial accounts was thought incapable of error. Only later,...
An entrenched digital colonialism is shrinking public space and violating communication rights. The global ecumenical movement is called to respond with digital justice, WACC General Secretary Philip Lee told communicators from the Council for World Mission (CWM) gathered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 16–18 January. Our...
Substack is the latest digital communication platform to set off a freedom of expression debate after the co-founder Hamish McKenzie stated that the platform would not demonetize those posting extremist content on the newsletter platform — namely Nazi and white supremacists. The comments sparked both condemnation...