In September 2023, the Mozilla Foundation hosted MozFest House: Kenya, a groundbreaking event that united various stakeholders to delve into the vital topics of a healthy internet and trustworthy AI. Among the thought-provoking discussions that took place was the call for a feminist perspective on tech governance. Rutendo Chabikwa and Nancy Salem, doctoral researchers from the Oxford Internet Institute, passionately presented the case for adopting this feminist approach, shedding light on why it is essential for ensuring a healthy internet and trustworthy AI.
MozFest 2023: A confluence of voices
MozFest House: Kenya was a two-day regional gathering organized by Mozilla Foundation. It brought together an array of individuals, including builders, researchers, policymakers, activists, civil society organizations, and philanthropists. The event aimed to explore critical issues related to a healthy internet and trustworthy AI while centering African perspectives on responsible technology. One of the significant highlights was a discussion panel on structural interventions in AI, which set the stage for Rutendo Chabikwa and Nancy Salem to facilitate a compelling session titled “The Case for Feminist Tech Governance.”
(Re)Defining feminist tech governance & trust and safety
The session commenced with the acknowledgment that technology is inherently socio-political. In the words of Dr. Kim Crayton, “Tech is Not Neutral, Nor is it Apolitical.” This recognition is paramount as it emphasizes that the existing systems of oppression, such as racism, sexism, ableism, neoliberal capitalism, and heteronormativity, profoundly impact technology’s function, use, and societal effects. The crux of the matter is that tech governance as a feminist issue transcends merely adding women and gender minorities to the current exclusionary and inequitable tech development systems. Instead, it requires addressing the systemic inequities inherent in technology.
The discussion highlighted that access to technology alone cannot eliminate the harms that digital technologies may inflict on women and gender minorities. While efforts to bridge the digital divide are crucial, they must be complemented by a deeper understanding of how digital technologies can exacerbate existing inequalities.
Rights: A complex landscape
The understanding of digital rights in the contemporary age needs to be nuanced to protect against technology-specific harms. Examples like the “right to be forgotten” and the “right to privacy” underscore this complexity. Moreover, it is imperative to contextualize rights. In many African contexts, access to technology is communal, with some women and gender minorities having access through shared devices or spaces. Crafting policies that safeguard these rights in such complex settings poses a challenge.
A significant discussion also revolved around recognizing power dynamics in the discourse on rights. Participants noted that the human rights discourse often grants power to protect the powerless to certain groups, potentially perpetuating inequality. Empowering individuals to seek recourse was identified as a central aspect of protecting rights.
Resources beyond access to devices
While equitable access to technological devices is important, the feminist approach to tech governance broadens the concept of resources in the tech sector. It includes the resources required for technology development. The physical infrastructure of digital technologies often involves exploitative extraction practices, with many minerals used in tech hardware extracted in conflict-ridden areas through human rights abuses. A feminist lens demands scrutiny of the sourcing of these materials.
Additionally, participants emphasized the need to view human labor, particularly gig labor, as a resource for tech companies rather than merely customers or users. This shift in perspective could lead to stronger protections for women and gender minorities, aligning with feminist principles in trust and safety policies.
The discussion on representation stressed the importance of going beyond merely including women in the coding and development of technologies. Acknowledging the socio-political nature of technology, participants suggested that communities of interest must be actively involved in technology deployment. This transitioned into a discussion on how User Experience Research (UXR) approaches can inform tech governance and trust and safety policies effectively.
Socio-technical research and feminist tech governance
The session delved into the socio-technical nature of technology, emphasizing that it emerges at the intersection of social structures and technical capabilities. This interdisciplinary approach highlighted the potential for collaboration among academics, builders, and civil society in identifying tech governance priorities. Different methodologies, such as ethnography and UXR, center users of technology and offer insights that can inform governance decisions.
Two research projects were presented, examining the experiences of women and gender minorities in the Gig Economy. These projects demonstrated the complexity of assessing safety mechanisms in technology. For instance, mechanisms intended to enhance driver safety in ride-sharing apps often inadvertently expose drivers to additional risks. The need for institutional memory and learning from successful safety mechanisms became evident, emphasizing the importance of governance beyond individual platform regulations.
The way forward in empowering users
The discussion underscored that governance structures are only effective when individuals feel empowered to seek redress when their rights are violated. Socio-technical research plays a crucial role in identifying how technologies are designed and how they impact users’ daily lives. Understanding the lived experiences of technology users provides evidence to shape effective, equitable governance principles.
Embracing a feminist approach to tech governance is pivotal for cultivating a healthier internet and ensuring trustworthy AI. This approach transcends token representation and extends to the very foundations of technology, encompassing rights, resources, and representation. MozFest House: Kenya provided a platform for meaningful discussions and collaboration, emphasizing that a feminist perspective is essential for shaping a more inclusive and equitable tech landscape.
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