In The Loop, May 2024
12 minutes read | First published: May 28, 2024
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OUR LATEST NEWS 🚀
🏠 TACTICAL TECH HAS A NEW SPACE AT PUBLIX, THE HOME OF MEDIA AND NON-PROFIT ORGANISATIONS DEDICATED TO DEMOCRACY
We are so excited and can't hide it! This month, we moved to our new home, our new creative space in Neukölln, Berlin, from where we will continue working to build the capacity of communities to understand and mitigate the impacts of technology on society. Discover more about Publix, the home to journalists, media professionals, and non-profit organisations dedicated to democracy and the public interest.
🔍 NEW GUIDE ALERT! CROWDSOURCING EVIDENCE FOR INVESTIGATIONS
Want to know how to use the crowdsourcing method in your investigation? This guide provides you with essential techniques, tools, examples, and considerations to be aware of when planning and managing a crowdsourcing effort. It also demonstrates the role of crowdsourcing as a method increasingly used by journalists, activists, and researchers who engage with communities to collect information, verify it, and build evidence that can help expose issues affecting societies everywhere. Discover this new Exposing the Invisible guide.
Screenshot of the Crowdsourcing for Investigations guide
🎯 NEW REPORT ON POLITICAL MICROTARGETING AND ITS IMPACT ON DEMOCRACY
We are proud to have contributed to the new report, Mitigating the Risks of Political Microtargeting - Guidance for Policymakers, Civil Society, and Development Cooperation, produced by GIZ. The report delves into the rising use of political microtargeting (PMT), its potential to spread disinformation, and its impact on democracy. Discover case studies and protective measures aimed at policymakers and civil society to address these growing challenges. Read the full report.
Cover of the Mitigating the Risks of Political Microtargeting Report
💡 A research on Brazilian democracy, anti-democratic riots, and Meta’s platforms
Researcher Pedro Maia as he unveils the pivotal role of Meta platforms during the 2018 and 2022 presidential elections in Brazil. The intertwining narratives of Brazilian democracy, anti-democratic riots, and Meta’s platforms tell a cautionary tale of the digital age’s impact on governance and civic life. Read full research in English and Portuguese.
🌍 10 CASE STUDIES ABOUT YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN EUROPE
How do young people feel about democracy? Do they feel they can make a difference in their community? To answer these questions related to the perspectives, obstacles, and opportunities for young people to participate in activities that foster democratic competences, ten case studies were conducted in ten European countries. Stay tuned to learn more about the findings of this research conducted in the framework of the Critical Change Lab project. More info.
🤖 DISCOVER OUR LATEST CREATIVE DIGITAL LITERACY INTERVENTION TO ENGAGE TEENS IN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT AI
Educators and anyone working with youth, discover Everywhere, All the Time, our digital literacy intervention that provides resources and methods to foster critical conversations among teens about the impacts of technology and AI. It includes provocative exhibition posters, engaging activity cards, and a detailed educator's guidebook that explore topics such as AI chatbots, attention-grabbing designs behind games, and the physical infrastructures that power the internet. Interested? Contact us at youth@tacticaltech.org. More information.
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🗳️ New report on the use of data-driven tech in elections, manipulation and campaign financing in Paraguay
Concerns about election manipulation through social media, opacity in campaign financing, and the lack of adequate regulations for managing personal data for political purposes are the main highlights of TEDIC's research. Using electoral finance records and social media transparency tools, TEDIC uncovered private firms collaborating with political actors in Paraguayan elections. Discover their findings in EN and SP
OPEN CALLS 📢
[GRANT OPPORTUNITY 💰] GRANTS FOR STRATEGIC LITIGATION ON DIGITAL RIGHTS. DEADLINE: JULY 23, 2024
The Digital Freedom Fund supports strategic litigation on digital rights in Europe that contributes to advancing human rights in the digital context. They accept grant applications for two types of activities: litigation track support and pre-litigation research support. Apply
[CALL FOR PITCHES 📝] SPHERES OF INFLUENCE UNCOVERED. DEADLINE: MAY 31, 2024
N-OST is looking for stories about economic issues that lie at the intersection between local impact and global relevance. They are especially interested in data-driven, cross-border articles that make complex economic issues accessible to a general audience. More information.
[FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY 🎓] APPLICATIONS FOR THE CLIMATE ARENA FELLOWSHIP 2024 ARE NOW OPEN! DEADLINE: JUNE 25, 2024
Are you working on a cross-border, investigative climate story? If your project is selected, you'll be invited to the Climate Arena conference in Bologna and receive tailor-made mentorship and training right up to publication. Grant Amount: Up to €2,000. Application.
[CALL FOR PROPOSALS ✍️] REST OF WORLD IS LOOKING FOR A NEW FEATURES EDITOR. DEADLINE: MAY 31, 2024
Rest of World is seeking a new Features Editor to oversee our longform stories. The Features Editor will work with in-house and freelance reporters worldwide to find, assign, and edit Rest of World’s work. More information.
[ONLINE TRAINING 💻] TRAINING FOR EDUCATORS ON MEDIA LITERACY. ONGOING
Educators, are you wondering how to teach media literacy? TeaMLit developed a free online training course with five modules—45 minutes each—that guides you through the landscape of media literacy and helps you implement it in your classroom and school. Enroll now.
EVENTS THAT EMPOWER YOU 💡
Tactical Tech at Re:publica
- INFLUENCE HAPPENS, PRIVACY MATTERS: YOUR DATA'S JOURNEY. MAY 29TH AT 10:00 CEST. Explore the journey of data in politics with insights from Cassiane Cladis and Helderyse Rendall. Learn how data influences voter decisions and ways to protect privacy. More information
- THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE WORLD'S BIGGEST PRIVATE DATA SET ON THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT: AI AND SYNTHETIC LANDSCAPES. MAY 28TH AT 11:15. Tactical Tech’s co-founder Stephanie Hankey will talk about the use of data in the context of predicting and managing climate change. More information
- THE INFLUENCING MACHINE AND ITS MASTERS. MAY 29TH AT 16:45. Tactical Tech’s co-founder and Executive director Marek Tuszynski will share insights into how influence and opinion are shaped during elections and digital technologies' role in the process. More information
Tactical Tech talks at Re:Publica
[WORKSHOP 🛠️] FROM ZERO TO SECURITY HERO IN ONE HOUR AND FIFTEEN MINUTES AT DATAHARVEST, THE EUROPEAN INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM CONFERENCE. MECHELEN, BELGIUM. JUNE 1, 11:15 CEST
Join us at Dataharvest 2024! In a world where technology and digital safety can feel overwhelming, it's crucial to protect ourselves and our data. This session by Wael Eskandar from Tactical Tech will simplify digital security, empowering you to take steps to safeguard your digital presence. Learn about risk assessment and essential measures for digital safety. Don't miss out! Visit the Collaborative and Investigative Journalism Initiative - CIJI stand at the Journalism fair for more resources and opportunities. More information.
[CONFERENCE 🎪] AI AND CONFRONTING OUR DATA TRACES AT THE PALESTINE DIGITAL ACTIVISM FORUM. REGISTRATIONS ARE OPEN UNTIL MAY 28. ONLINE. JUNE 5 AT 18:00 JERUSALEM TIME
How do we promote ethical standards for AI development? What policies, regulations, and other mechanisms are needed? These questions will be explored at the Palestine Digital Activism Forum where Tactical Tech's Safa Ghnaim will host a session for participants interested in learning how AI functions, how data is collected to feed AI systems, and how AI influences our lives. Book your seat today.
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[TRAVELING EXHIBITION ✈️] FABRICATED. THE HAGUE, BRUSSELS, BERLIN, AND AMSTERDAM FROM MAY 13 TO JUNE 7, 2024
Fabricated is a traveling exhibition that helps citizens improve their digital literacy and prepare for the 2024 EU Parliamentary elections. In this interactive experience, which includes a piece inspired by Tactical Tech's work on the intersection of data and elections, visitors will learn about AI-generated news, misinformation, targeted advertising, and more. This experience will be showcased in The Hague, Brussels, Berlin, and Amsterdam from May 13 to June 7, 2024. More information.
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[ONLINE EVENT 💻] LAUNCH EVENT OF WEAVING LIBERATION. JUNE 4, 2024 AT 16:00 CEST
Weaving Liberation coordinates the implementation of "A Vision for Digital Justice Organising in Europe," a program born out of a collective effort to build a digital justice ecosystem that will organize towards anti-colonial and liberatory digital futures. Join the online launch to learn more about their work. Register here.
OUR THE GLASSROOM: MISINFORMATION EXHIBITION EXHIBITION AROUND THE WORLD 🖼️
- THE GLASSROOM IS COMING TO ANKARA ON JUNE 1ST! The exhibition, which explores how misinformation works and spreads, will be hosted at the Türk Amerikan Derneği in Ankara, Turkey, by our partners Teyit between June 1-5. Register for the opening event.
- THE GLASSROOM IN KASSEL, GERMANY. The Evangelische Kirche von Kurhessen-Waldeck in Kassel will host the Glass Room Misinformation Edition, along with Data Detox Workshops in German from June 7 to July 7.
- ATHENS DIGITAL ARTS FESTIVAL FEATURED THE GLASS ROOM. Between May 16th-26th, Tactical Tech's exhibition "The Glass Room Misinformation Edition" was featured at this festival focused on the transformative power of Technoscience—a realm where science and tech converge to amplify human imagination through art beyond traditional confines. Did you miss this interactive experience? More information.
- DATOS PROTEGIDOS FOUNDATION RAN SEVERAL TACTICAL TECH'S GLASS ROOM EVENTS IN CHILE! Using the exhibition, Datos Protegidos invited people to learn how false information is shared and spread in the digital age. More information
TACTICAL TECH: TRAINING AND ADVANCING THE SKILLS OF COMMUNITIES WORLDWIDE 💡
Tactical Tech's team led conversations, hosted workshops and sessions, and participated in different spaces to advance knowledge and build the capacities of individuals and communities to understand and tackle the challenges brought by technology. These were the events where Tactical Tech was present last month:
- 📊 At the 'Election Situation Rooms: Adventures in Observing the Digital Influence Industry' event at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin on May 14th, Tactical Tech's co-founders Marek Tuszynski and Stephanie Hankey discussed our work on how digital technologies influence society's understanding and response to crises, particularly focusing on how data-driven tech is used in campaigns to influence voters' opinions and impact democracy.
- 📝 At the Collaborative and Investigative Journalism Initiative Networking Event in Bucharest from May 22nd to 25th, Tactical Tech's team joined our partners Free Press Unlimited in convening over 50 journalists and media organizations. The event focused on discussing the needs and challenges of investigators and journalists involved in collaborative cross-border investigations.
- 🎮 At the Computers, Privacy and Data Protection Conference, Tactical Tech's Amber Macintyre and Andy Sanchez from Sustainable Media Lab hosted a workshop titled "Playing with Politics: Building Digital, Media, and Political Games." We introduced Inform, our new voter literacy playful workshop activities.
- 💼 Digital Accountability (Digital Ansvar) visited Tactical Tech! On May 23rd, the Digital Ansvar team participated in our Tactical Tech Lunch & Learn spaces to share insights into their work and projects focused on the impact of tech companies on society and democracy, digital violence and harassment, regulation and enforcement, and communication about tech. Find out more about their work.
- 🎓 The Philosophy, Science & Technology MA program students at Twente University visited our space in Berlin and participated in a conversation with our team about our projects, methodologies, and initiatives.
Tactical Tech's Amber Macintyre and Andy Sanchez from Sustainable Media Lab At the Computers, Privacy and Data Protection Conference
Tactical Techs team in a conversation with the Philosophy, Science & Technology MA program students of Twente University
OUR MONTHLY POLL 📊
On May 3rd, Press Freedom Day highlighted the vital role of the press and journalism in society. Journalists face numerous digital threats that compromise their work. We asked our audience, "Which is the most urgent threat that needs to be addressed?" These were the answers:
- 🛡 Hacking & cyber attacks: 7%
- 🔍 Surveillance: 11%
- 👥 Harassment & trolling: 18%
- 🚫 Dis & Misinformation: 64%
MEET OUR PARTNERS WORLDWIDE 💫
Teyit: Educational Activities to Improve Digital Literacy and Critical Thinking Skills and Tackle Misinformation
Teyit is a fact-checking organization aiming to make critical thinking a shared value for the agents of the information ecosystem. With the goal of improving this ecosystem, Teyit carries out collaborative fact-checking and empowerment activities. Teyit is partnering with Tactical Tech's Glass Room project to bring the Glass Room Misinformation Edition and the Data Detox Kit to Turkish audiences. Since 2016, they have developed educational activities to enhance digital literacy and critical thinking skills, contributing to sustainable solutions to the misinformation problem. Find out more.
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WHAT WE ARE READING 🔍
- [📰 ARTICLE] Reclaiming the internet - A run through the history of the internet, its potentials and downfalls, with an eye on the new paths to be carved out. By Marta G. Franco, CCCBLAB. Find out more
- [📰 ARTICLE] The Three-Faced Interface. The evolution of corporate personhood in the age of AI. By Brett Scott for Altered States of Monetary Consciousness. Go to source
- [📝 NEWSLETTER] We can have a different web. By Molly White. Go to source
- [📰 ARTICLE] Three ways to tackle digital rights in Africa. By Zita Zage for Global Voices. Go to source
- [📰 ARTICLE] AI Art and Rejecting Power. By Wesley Goatley. Go to source
- [📰 ARTICLE] Indian Voters Are Being Bombarded With Millions of Deepfakes. Political Candidates Approve. By Nilesh Christopher and Varsha Bansal. Go to source
- [📰 ARTICLE] Audio deepfakes and AI tricks threaten elections around the world. By Dren Gërguri. Go to source
- [📰 ARTICLE] Labor and Artificial Intelligence: Emergent Frontiers of Struggle. Exploring the impact of artificial intelligence on the political landscape of work. Bot Populi. Go to source.
- [📢 ANNOUNCEMENT] Mozilla Foundation Welcomes Nabiha Syed as Executive Director. Public interest tech advocate will harness collective power to deepen Mozilla’s focus on trustworthy AI. Go to source.
- [📖 BOOK] Infocracy: Digitization and the Crisis of Democracy. Book by Byung-Chul Han. Go to source.
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