IGF 2024 Lightning Talk #18 The Gender Dimensions of Digital Repression

    University of Oxford
    Caitlyn McGeer; University of Oxford; Regional Group: Western European and Others Group; Onsite Luise Eder; University of Oxford; Regional Group: Western European and Others Group; Onsite Mbongeni Msimanga; University of Johannesburg; Regional Group: Africa; Onsite Mesfin Fikre Woldmariam; Addis Ababa University; Regional Group: Africa; Onsite

    Speakers

    Caitlyn McGeer; University of Oxford; Regional Group: Western European and Others Group; Onsite Mbongeni Msimanga; University of Johannesburg; Regional Group: Africa; Onsite Mesfin Fikre Woldmariam; Addis Ababa University; Regional Group: Africa; Onsite

    Onsite Moderator

    Luise Eder

    Rapporteur

    Mesfin Fikre Woldmariam

    SDGs

    5.1
    10. Reduced Inequalities
    16.10

    Targets: The research programme targets three SDGs: SGD5 (Gender Equality) by analysing how gender impacts the experience of digital repression; SDG10 (Reduce Inequalities) by exploring how government policy and practices related to digital repression create systems that compound inequality; and SGD16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) by assessing how what happens online creates offline impacts. Targeting these three SDGs through our research on the gendered dimensions of digital repression ensures our research promotes the economic development and welfare of Ethiopia and Zimbabwe. The UN SDGs have steered development initiatives since their adoption in 2015. Our research programme contributes to reducing the gendered inequalities amplified by digital technologies and foster strong North-South research partnerships. UNHRC have spoken up, condemning the digital gender divide and digital repression and promoting “the right to freedom of information online” that is based on a 2016 resolution that includes an explicit condemnation of “measures to intentionally prevent or disrupt access to or dissemination of information online in violation of international human rights law” (UNHCR, 2016). The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights passed a similar resolution the same year, guaranteeing the right to freedom of information online (African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, 2016). But, such solutions have had little impact in encouraging the African Network Information Centre – the body responsible for registering African IP addresses – to respond to governments that intentionally limit internet access (Mutung’u, 2017). We build the research picture on digital repression in Africa to motivate the African Network Information Centre and other stakeholders, such as the African Union, to take action.

    Format

    This will be a hybrid session.

    Duration (minutes)
    30
    Description

    The digital gender divide transcends all aspects of the online ecosystem, but there has been little exploration of how it manifests in contexts where digital rights are under threat more broadly. Digital repression tactics are becoming normalized, demanding an interrogation of strategies states use to suppress their populace and its consequences. In this lightning talk, we explore how gender impacts the experience of digital repression. We assess the impact on women and on what axes this impact is distinct from the experience of men. We also explore how other individual identities, such as age, race/ethnicity, nationality, disability, and religion compound the impact of this gendered experience of digital repression. We refer to these intersectionality identities as the gendered dimensions of digital repression.