Digital Fallout #1: Facebook moderation during Russia invasion, YouTube rewriting the past in the Philippines, and more
Welcome to the first issue of the Digital Fallout newsletter! In this issue we cover content moderation and propaganda during the Russian invasion of Ukraine; how YouTube may have helped Ferdinand Marcos Jr. win the recent election in the Philippines; how Telegram is used in Belarus to evade a media crackdown, and more. Let’s dive in!
Cool reporting
Ukraine/Russia: How Facebook fumbled propaganda moderation during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Meet the sneakiest defenders of Putin’s invasion. How Russia makes laws to support networked authoritarianism.
Spotlight on corporations: How YouTube rewrote the past and shaped the election in the Philippines. Facebook faces new lawsuit alleging human trafficking and union-busting in Kenya. Uber suspends services in Tanzania over new fare rules.
Government repression: The most chaotic social network in China has survived Beijing’s censors, until now. New cybercrime policy in Vietnam harms free expression. Zimbabwe’s new frontier in digital rights repression. Nobody’s talking about what is happening in Tigray, Ethiopia, partly because of the internet shutdown. Citizens use Telegram in Belarus to deliver the news.
IDs, biometrics and aid: Criminal Procedure Bill in India jeopardizes privacy. The role that international aid plays in the techno-political arrangement around welfare in Ghana. Biometric data systems imperil people in Afghanistan.
Thoughtful opinion & analysis
War is a mediated catastrophe [Ethan Zuckerman]
Tech companies must wake up to their role in Ukraine war disinformation [Emily Bell]
Outside the US, Elon Musk’s vision of Twitter will unlock civil strife [Ellery Biddle]
Content takedowns on social media facilitate censorship in Asia [Dhevy Sivaprakasam and Raman Jit Singh Chima]
Deep dives
In the Dark: How authoritarian regimes found an off switch for dissent [Rest of World]
2022 Big Tech Scorecard [Ranking Digital Rights]
Internet shutdowns in 2021: resistance in the face of blackouts in Africa [Access Now]
The Unfreedom Monitor [Global Voices Advox]
On a high note
Dangerous SIM Card Bill in the Philippines is struck down. Mexico: top court strikes down a controversial biometric cell phone registry. European Union AI Act can better protect migrants and refugees. And third party moderation and safety tools can limit online harassment—here’s how.
Interesting opportunities
Digital Rights Job Fair on June 16
Ford Foundation: Program Officer, U.S. Technology and Society [NY; D/L June 27]
Open Observatory of Network Interference: Community Coordinator [remote; D/L June 12]
Amnesty: Media and Communications Manager, Algorithmic Accountability Lab [London; D/L June 6]
Omidyar Network: Principal, Responsible Technology [Redwood City/DC/NY; rolling]
Center for Democracy & Technology: Deputy Director, Privacy & Data Project [DC/remote; rolling]
Lawfare: Fellowship, Emerging Tech Policy Leaders Program [D/L May 27]