10 tech issues that will impact social justice in 2017

Wilneida Negrón, Technology Fellow, Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Justice

In our increasingly complex and interconnected world, innovations in technology and data
are inching us closer to a reality driven by automation, prediction, personalization,
surveillance, and the merging of our physical and digital lives. This is taking place at the same
time that the world is experiencing transformative cultural, demographic, economic, and
political shifts. In the face of so much uncertainty and change, the independent watchdog
group Freedom Housereports that globally, Internet freedom has declined for the sixth
consecutive year, “with more governments than ever before targeting social media and
communication apps as a means of halting the rapid dissemination of information,
particularly during anti-government protests.” At the same time, Civicus has highlighted the
many threats facing democracies, representative institutions, and civil society as a whole.

As we begin a new year and a new political administration takes office in the US, let’s take
some time to consider some pressing issues that exist at the nexus of technology and social
justice—and think about how we as social justice advocates can address them most
effectively. Even amid so many unknowns, we can be certain that these issues are among
those that will shape 2017 and the years and decades beyond it. And they will be central to
the work of building a free, open, and transparent future.

1. Online hate crimes, harassment, and discrimination are increasing

In 2016, we saw an increase in the number of reported online hate crimes and harassment
targeting Muslims, immigrants, and LGBTQ people, as well as groups working to protect
reproductive rights and strengthen racial justice. At the same time, Internet and other
communication technologies are being used to promote the online radicalization and
organization of hate groups.

2. Fake news, campaigns of misinformation, bias, and propaganda are proliferating

During the 2016 election, the use of intelligent Twitter bots, targeted advertising, and search
engine manipulation affected what Internet users saw on specific platforms and search
engines. “Filter bubbles” and algorithms have been blamed for failing to separate real news
from fiction, and researchers have noted an escalation in bias, propaganda, and
misinformation online. Together, these factors contribute to increased polarization and
hamper the free flow of accurate information that is essential for civil discourse, policy
making, and ultimately democracy.

3. Trolling threatens democracy and free expression

During the 2016 US presidential election, online trolls were credited with influencing political
discourse. This kind of trolling is also a global epidemic. Freedom House has reported that
across the world, state-sponsored trolling operations (aka “troll farms”) attack government
critics and independent media often by posting thousands of comments at a time, polluting
online dialogue through hate speech and disinformation. Hampering free speech, trolling is
frequently aimed at journalists and activists, along with those engaging in political protest and
other forms of expression.

4. Reduced regulation creates risks for consumers

2017 may see the deregulation of the largest cable and phone companies, and the weakening
of consumer protection laws. These reduced federal regulations could undermine a free,
open, and secure Internet and undercut a variety of hard-won initiatives, protections, and
services that benefit low-income individuals and households. These include net neutrality

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wins, federal guidance and regulation of the Internet of Things, Lifeline and broadband
subsidies for low-income households, and efforts to regulate prison phone costs.

5. Governmental databases put pressure on minority groups

As technology and data processing power gets more sophisticated, government databases
such as the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System, deferred action, or gang
databases could be used to discriminate against or target vulnerable groups. At the same time,
the expansion of biometric technologies in the immigration system and other areas may raise
concerns about government monitoring and data sharing.

6. Increased surveillance puts vulnerable groups under a microscope

The expansion of legislation such as the Patriot Act, along with the use of high-tech
surveillance tools, including drones, facial recognition software, automated license plate
readers, stingray tracking devices, and the NSA’s PRISM program, can lead to increased
surveillance of citizens. This raises particular concerns for vulnerable groups, among them
Muslims, immigrants, and LGBTQ communities.

7. Less attention to issues of algorithmic bias and online discrimination creates opportunities
for abuse

The White House’s Big Data initiative has studied big data’s potential to discriminate,
especially when it comes to housing, employment, credit, and consumer issues. Legislation
such as the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights Act of 2015 and an amendment to the Electronic
Communications Privacy Act was intended to govern the collection, use, and distribution of
consumer data and extend the standard of protection for online and digital content. But
under a new administration, the fate of such rules and regulatory attention is unclear.

8. Advocacy groups need digital security protections

In 2017, advocacy groups and social movements may be subject to a greater degree of
surveillance, harassment, or both. As a result, they will need a strong digital security
infrastructure to help protect them against potential threats, as well to support them in
developing strategies for responding to attacks as they arise.

9. Technology and data initiatives provide important support for social justice work

Increasingly, technology will play a central role in strengthening a progressive agenda. To

achieve this, organizations might focus more on developing strategies for organizing and base-
building across different sectors, building strong progressive narratives, and supporting open
data initiatives at the state and local level to increase transparency and accountability.

10. Developments in open government and transparency affect advocacy work

Since the 2000s, open government initiatives have sought to identify ways to promote
transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption, and harness new technologies to enhance
governance. In support of these efforts, the Obama administration developed Data.gov, a
central online location for all US government data. This year, we will see whether the new
administration will continue to maintain this useful resource, as well as whether the US will
remain in the multilateral Open Government Partnership, and how the government will
handle the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), including reforms that Congress passed in
2016.