Saturday, March 25, 2023
Digital Rights Monitor
  • DRM Exclusive
    • News
    • Court Updates
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Campaigns
      • #PrivacyHumSabKe
    • Vodcasts
  • In Media
    • News
    • OP-EDs
  • Editorial
  • Gender & Tech
    • SheConnects
  • Trends Monitor
  • Infographics
  • Resources
    • Laws and Policies
    • Research
    • International Frameworks
  • DRM Advocacy
    • Exclusives
    • Featured
    • Publications
    • Statements
No Result
View All Result
Digital Rights Monitor
  • DRM Exclusive
    • News
    • Court Updates
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Campaigns
      • #PrivacyHumSabKe
    • Vodcasts
  • In Media
    • News
    • OP-EDs
  • Editorial
  • Gender & Tech
    • SheConnects
  • Trends Monitor
  • Infographics
  • Resources
    • Laws and Policies
    • Research
    • International Frameworks
  • DRM Advocacy
    • Exclusives
    • Featured
    • Publications
    • Statements
No Result
View All Result
Digital Rights Monitor
No Result
View All Result

in Research, Resources

Key Findings: Small-Scale Tech, Large-Scale Impact

DRMbyDRM
October 3, 2022

Small-Scale Tech, Large-Scale Impact by Media Matters for Democracy (MMfD) maps the incidents of hate on small-scale or alternative social media platforms and examines the link between online hate, misinformation and disinformation across Asia. Following are the key findings from the report.

1- Weaponising Tech for Political Gains

A significant increase has been observed in the incidents of hate on small-scale social media platforms with the rise of political extremism in the region, especially in India and Pakistan. NaMo, the official personalised application of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief Narendra Modi and several unofficial apps operating in support of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf are key examples of how political parties exploit their social media prowess to execute disinformation campaigns aimed at silencing and harassing opponents, critics and journalists.

2- Perpetuating Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

Women are routinely targeted with derogatory expressions on online platforms, which mirror the rampant culture of abuse and systemic oppression that is prevalent in the region. The bizarre mock auction of prominent Muslim women on the apps called Sulli Deals and Bulli Bai (hosted on GitHub) in 2021 and 2022, respectively, speak volumes about the level of harassment and humiliation women face based on their religious indentities and attacks on minorities in digital avenues of expression. Dating platforms also continue to be unsafe and hostile spaces for women due to the deep-rooted misogyny and lack of effective and timely moderation.

3- Stoking Communal Hatred

Communal violence is another reason hate is thriving unchecked on alternative online platforms. Clubhouse, for instance, suffers from lack of moderation due to its primary audio feature, allowing various forms of hate speech to flourish in the ‘rooms’ conducted on the platform. Regional apps like ShareChat and Helo, and Reddit have also failed to curb hate and incitement to violence against vulnerable minorities in the region.

Most of the cases highlighted in the report were from India. They have contributed significantly towards placing the challenges posed by small-scale tech across the region in global conversations that are largely focused on the Big Tech and their failure to control hate speech. The report reiterates that hate perpetuated on small-scale or lesser-known social media platforms can have equally profound consequences. It calls for hate speech to be acknowledged as a universal challenge in order to counter hate narratives with collective approaches.

Previous Post

Pakistan Govt’s Twitter Account Withheld In India

Next Post

Who Gets To Control The Voices Of People On The Internet?

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
TikTok CEO testifies before US lawmakers

TikTok CEO testifies before US lawmakers

March 24, 2023
TURKEY: Using the disinformation law as a weapon

TURKEY: Using the disinformation law as a weapon

March 22, 2023
Meta fined $275m over EU data breach

Facebook content moderators suing Meta in Kenya

March 21, 2023
No Content Available

Next Post
Who Gets To Control The Voices Of People On The Internet?

Who Gets To Control The Voices Of People On The Internet?

About Digital Rights Monitor

This website reports on digital rights and internet governance issues in Pakistan and collates related resources and publications. The site is a part of Media Matters for Democracy’s Report Digital Rights initiative that aims to improve reporting on digital rights issues through engagement with media outlets and journalists.

About Media Matters for Democracy

Media Matters for Democracy is a Pakistan based not-for-profit geared towards independent journalism and media and digital rights advocacy. Founded by a group of journalists, MMfD works for innovation in media and journalism through the use of technology, research, and advocacy on media and internet related issues. MMfD works to ensure that expression and information rights and freedoms are protected in Pakistan.

Follow Us on Twitter

No Result
View All Result
  • DRM Exclusive
    • News
    • Court Updates
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Campaigns
      • #PrivacyHumSabKe
    • Vodcasts
  • In Media
    • News
    • OP-EDs
  • Editorial
  • Gender & Tech
    • SheConnects
  • Trends Monitor
  • Infographics
  • Resources
    • Laws and Policies
    • Research
    • International Frameworks
  • DRM Advocacy
    • Exclusives
    • Featured
    • Publications
    • Statements

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist