"Organisations ranging from violent extremist groups to the US Army have used online gaming, a popular form of entertainment among the world’s youth, for recruiting purposes. To date, efforts to curtail online recruiting have been siloed to reduce recruitment of certain groups, such as violent ext
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remist groups, or aimed at specific platforms, such as certain online games geared for children. Efforts to address online recruitment in gaming have engaged with governments, NGOs, and the gaming industry, leaving out gamers themselves. This Policy Brief describes why recruiting in online gaming should be understood as a more general problem, involving any armed group recruiting online, which has simple solutions. It then presents several concepts from peacebuilding that can be applied to counter recruiting efforts in online gaming." (Abstract)
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"This country report provides an overview of the extent to which gender is addressed in Ethiopia’s digital policies, strategies, and regulations, divided into categories such as international development instruments, national digital policies and strategies, and digital sector-related laws and reg
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ulations. The report includes a non-exhaustive list of specific programmes supporting digital inclusion in Ethiopia. The five pillars considered for analysis of gender in ICT strategies, policies and regulations are access to digital technology, digital skills, financial inclusion, entrepreneurship and leadership and digital infrastructure. There are explicit references to digital gender equality in Ethiopia’s digital policies and strategies. Based on the findings from the study, the report has a set of recommendations to enhance policies, laws, and regulations. There is a comprehensive checklist of preliminary policy actions that will help narrow the gender gap in Ethiopia. These range from ensuring women’s enrolment and completion of secondary and tertiary education to involving the private sector when making digital policies to facilitating women’s access to international networks." (Foreword)
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"Whether you are a policy-maker, business leader or tech enthusiast, this report provides valuable insights into the current state of the national digital landscape and its potential to shape the future. It provides constructive recommendations, roadmaps and comprehensive opportunities to strengthen
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capacities and accelerate digital transformation. With the ever-evolving digital landscape, it will be an essential tool for all key stakeholders of North Macedonia who are looking to stay ahead of the curve and be at the forefront of the national digital revolution." (Foreword by Azir Aliu, Minister of Information Society and Administration, Republic of North Macedonia)
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"This digital innovation profile, developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development and the Georgia Innovation and Technology Agency, aims to accurately assess the country's digital ecosystem capacity and maturity to help Georgia and its stakeholders navigate the di
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gital innovation landscape. The objective is to help Georgia to continue building new capabilities for a competitive, sustainable, and ICT-enabled economy that accelerates the development of the digital economy toward achieving Georgia’s vision. The creation of this profile entailed an exhaustive process, involving comprehensive research, one-on-one interviews with experts, and collaborative workshops with stakeholders from the public sector, private sector, finance, academia, entrepreneurs, and support networks. I extend my heartfelt appreciation to all the national stakeholders who actively participated in this endeavour. Their contributions and insights have been instrumental in shaping the profile and ensuring its relevance and applicability. This digital innovation profile will serve as a valuable resource for policymakers, innovators, the private sector, and other stakeholders in Georgia. It offers critical insights into Georgia’s digital innovation landscape, identifies areas for improvement, and presents strategic recommendations for collective decision-making processes towards accelerating the country’s AI-driven competitive advantage." (Foreword)
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"This digital innovation profile, developed in collaboration with the Office of the Prime Minister Republic of Serbia, aims to accurately assess the country's digital ecosystem capacity and maturity to help Serbia and its stakeholders navigate the digital innovation landscape. The objective is to he
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lp Serbia to continue building new capabilities for a competitive, sustainable, and ICT-enabled economy that accelerates the development of the digital economy toward achieving Serbia’s vision. The creation of this profile entailed an exhaustive process, involving comprehensive research, one-on-one interviews with experts, and collaborative workshops with stakeholders from the public sector, private sector, finance, academia, entrepreneurs, and support networks. I extend my heartfelt appreciation to all the national stakeholders who actively participated in this endeavour. Their contributions and insights have been instrumental in shaping the profile and ensuring its relevance and applicability. This digital innovation profile will serve as a valuable resource for policymakers, innovators, the private sector, and other stakeholders in Serbia. It offers critical insights into Serbia’s digital innovation landscape, identifies areas for improvement, and presents strategic recommendations for collective decision-making processes." (Foreword)
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"Oman has made tremendous strides with various ICT investments and its Digital Economy Program and continues to address opportunities toward the Oman Vision 2040. This Digital Innovation Profile, conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCI
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T) of the Sultanate of Oman, aims to accurately assess the country's digital ecosystem capacity and maturity to help Oman and its stakeholders navigate the digital innovation landscape. The aim is to help Oman to continue building new capabilities for a competitive, sustainable, and ICT-enabled economy that accelerates the development of the digital economy toward achieving Oman's vision. This work required an assessment of the current state of the digital innovation ecosystem in Oman, identification of areas of improvement, and presentation of recommendations through a process of research, one-on-one interviews with experts, and co-creation workshops with local stakeholders, including members from the public sector, private sector, finance, academia, entrepreneurs and support networks. I want to thank all the national stakeholders who participated in the co-design of the assessment, particularly the MTCIT staff and the team of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) that facilitated the process. I hope this profile will serve as a valuable resource for policymakers, entrepreneurs, the private sector, and other stakeholders in Oman. I additionally hope it will guide decision-making and investment in areas critical for the country's growth and development." (Foreword)
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"[...] En Ecuador no existe una cultura de seguridad institucional para ejercer el trabajo periodístico. El Estado no se responsabiliza, una muestra de ello es la falta de creación del Comité de Protección de Periodistas, que fue una de las recomendaciones que hizo el Equipo de Seguimiento Espec
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ial de la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos que visitó el país en 2019 para realizar un informe sobre el secuestro y asesinato de los periodistas de diario El Comercio y entregar recomendaciones a los gobiernos de Ecuador y Colombia.
La impunidad en cuanto a las agresiones a periodistas en Ecuador es evidente. Después de 5 años, el asesinato del equipo de El Comercio en la frontera norte sigue impune. El caso sigue en investigación previa, sin detenidos y con el cambio de fiscales en cuatro ocasiones. Respecto a los asesinatos de los tres periodistas en 2022, hay una sentencia condenatoria para los autores materiales del crimen del periodista Gerardo Delgado; sin embargo, aún se desconocen a los autores intelectuales y el motivo de su asesinato.
Toda cobertura requiere una evaluación de riesgos para identificar vulnerabilidades y fortalezas antes de reportear un tema. No se debe olvidar realizar un mapeo de actores para evaluar a qué amenazas puede exponerse la prensa. Es importante que los periodistas y los medios identifiquen y mitiguen los riesgos asociados al oficio antes de realizar las coberturas en terreno. Los periodistas no son intocables y Ecuador ya es escenario de amenazas graves y asesinatos. Habrá momentos en los que los periodistas deban desistir de hacer ciertas coberturas porque no se den las condiciones de seguridad necesarias. No hay que olvidar que ninguna cobertura es más importante que la vida.
Es necesario crear protocolos de seguridad en las redacciones y pensar estrategias para seguir haciendo periodismo en zonas complejas, apoyándose en el periodismo colaborativo y las alianzas periodísticas.
La salud mental y el autocuidado son fundamentales para sobrellevar la presión y el estrés que suponen las coberturas de riesgo. Evaluar el estado emocional antes, durante y después del trabajo es fundamental para mantener el equilibrio." (Conclusiones y recomendaciones)
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"The unprecedented situation brought on by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has forced many sectors in Indonesia to transform and deliver their public services using ICTs. While the government has leveraged its school connectivity programme, started before the pandemic, in response to the tremend
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ous need for connectivity for home-based teaching and learning, the system was caught unprepared. As this proposal explains, digital learning fell short owing to limited connectivity, the shortage of devices, the lack of digital literacy and skills, unfamiliarity with edtech, and the scarcity of digitized education materials. These shortcomings, associated with the country’s geographical situation, urban–rural gaps and socio-economic as well as technological disparities, posed unique challenges in Indonesia. In the face of those challenges, a framework is proposed here to help assess needs and resources related to school connectivity holistically.
The proposal comprises a set of interconnected components (see Figure 7). The outer components are requirements that must be met to enable school connectivity, i.e. policy environment, infrastructure and devices, sustainable financing for connectivity and digital data governance. The inner components are multipliers that help optimize the use of school connectivity, i.e. digital literacy and skills, edtech and school–community partnership. The proposal ends with a summary of issues meriting further consideration and is expected to initiate further discussion of how to implement school connectivity in Indonesia." (Executive summary)
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"Indonesia is in the lowest category on the Global Connectivity Index 2020 in terms of ICT investment, ICT maturity and digital economic performance. It should close the Internet connectivity gap in every educational facility so as to ensure educational opportunities, a productive knowledge-based ec
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onomy and, ultimately, graduation to a higher category. Internet service affordability is another factor contributing to the urban–rural digital divide, which has widened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite national spending by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, 40 per cent of students and teachers remain unconnected for reasons related to affordability.
Although Indonesia has reached target prices for mobile Internet service of 1.17 (pre-paid) and 1.40 per cent (post-paid), the requirement to study and teach from home has led to a surge in demand at the same time as it has highlighted the high cost of Internet use in education. The way in which the Internet has been used to study during the pandemic makes it unaffordable for teachers and students [...]
Despite the best efforts of the digital/telecommunication and education sectors, the residual gaps are indicative of a critical policy issue, as revealed by further analyses. Without proper policy intervention, the education sector will continue to suffer the severe impact of connectivity affordability and accessibility gaps. The following policy interventions are recommended to address these gaps: • Option 1: Issue a new presidential decree expanding BAKTI’s programme for school connectivity beyond the current 3T areas; Option 2: Expand the current Internet access programme beyond the 3T areas to connect schools that are most in need, targeting schools in underserved areas. Option 3: To enhance affordability, have BAKTI focus on coverage programmes (e.g. subsidized base transceiver stations), not only in 3T areas, but also where students and teachers live, and the schools become the universal connectivity target. Option 4: If BAKTI has implemented all supply-side interventions, but affordability remains an issue, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology could consider providing demand-side subsidies for underprivileged groups of students and teachers." (Executive summary, pages 27-28)
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"This paper serves as a summary report for the Democracy and Internet Governance Initiative, a two-year joint initiative between Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy. It delves into the rationale a
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nd components of a new risk-centered approach to analyze and address the negative impacts of digital platforms. It also explores the key dimensions that should be considered when assessing platform risk, including mental and physical health, financial security, privacy, social and reputational wellbeing, professional security, sovereignty, and strength of public goods. The paper then underscores the necessity and value of comprehensive disclosure schemes in order to better understand the cause and effect of digital platforms and related products within the scope of a risk framework. Through the establishment of standards setting bodies dedicated to addressing itemized risks,we argue that this is the infrastructure necessary for sustainable regulation and self-governance that is dynamic and public purpose-oriented. Throughout each section, we aim to underline the significance of stakeholder engagement in the governance process. Platforms themselves, civil society organizations, policymakers, researchers, and users all have important perspectives, experiences, and jurisdiction needed to effectively mitigate harms of digital platforms. Engaging all stakeholders in a collaborative manner will enhance the framework's relevance, legitimacy, and practicality." (Executive summary)
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"Governments in the Asia-Pacific region have responded to human rights defenders' (HRD’s) new online advocacy strategies, affecting their online advocacy through the use of legal and non-legal measures to harass them and impede their work. Against this backdrop, National Human Rights Institutions
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(NHRIs) have a mandate to protect human rights, including those of HRDs. The Marrakech Declaration of 2018, outlined a framework for NHRIs to support HRDs, emphasising both offline and online civic space. However, there is a need for NHRIs to adapt these plans to address digital security threats to HRDs.
This report contributes to this goal by outlining four specific ways through which HDRs are threatened online. First, it shows that, in the Asia-Pacific region, HRDs often face legal threats through laws related to defamation, insult, and "fake news”, as well as broader online regulations granting government authorities extensive powers to limit online freedoms. Second, governments have disrupted online communications by limiting or suspending internet connectivity. Some countries control internet gateways to regulate information flow, and during political instability, internet service providers (ISPs) and mobile carriers are ordered to restrict internet speed or access. Third, governments in the region use technology for legal and covert mass data collection and surveillance. They create national internet gateways for centralized control, consolidating information and data storage. Lastly, HRDs encounter digital threats from “cybertroops”, combining human operatives and bots on social media to influence public opinion in favour of the government. Governments are complicit by showing minimal commitment to addressing the problem. Identifying these threats is the basis for this report to recognise the efforts and limitations of NHRIs in ensuring HRDs’ rights online in three areas - monitoring and reporting; advocacy and awareness-rising; and capacity and network building - and provide a set of recommendations aimed at increasing NHRI’s institutional capacity." (Executive summary)
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"This report draws on the feedback of media development actors to present a set of recommendations for both donors and implementing agencies. These include proposed improvements to the development and roll-out of funding programmes as well as measures that can be taken by both parties to introduce m
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ore effective ways of working and enhance engagement and collaboration across the sector." (Page 1)
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"The Tanzania DECA report presents the findings and recommendations of the Tanzania DECA. It outlines the key aspects of Tanzania’s digital ecosystem and provides 13 recommendations for creating a more inclusive, safe, and enabling environment. Guided by USAID/Tanzania priorities: i) foundational
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skills of children below age 15; ii) increasing empowerment, productivity, and engagement of Tanzanians aged 15 to 35; and iii) strengthening capacity of state and non-state actors to benefit future generations, the DECA process included desk research, consultations with USAID/Tanzania technical offices, and 76 key informant interviews with stakeholders from civil society, academia, and the private and public sectors. Key findings include: while the Government of Tanzania prioritized increasing connectivity for all citizens over the last two decades, last-mile connectivity gaps persist; there is a large usage gap in Tanzania that is attributed to factors including lack of device and mobile broadband affordability, low levels of digital literacy, and a dearth of locally relevant content; while there has been greater openness over the past two years, nearly all of the restrictive laws remain in place and prospects for amending or repealing them remain uncertain; the government is committed to developing and promoting digital government services and systems and often relies on software solutions developed in-house; while the government has a National Cyber Security Strategy (NCSS) 2018-2022 that outlines a comprehensive framework for detecting, preventing, and combating cyber threats, the strategy is not shared widely or publicly; mobile financial services are at the forefront of digital financial services uptake; Tanzania’s startup ecosystem is growing, with startups in a variety of sectors, although it is in its infancy and not yet enabled by explicit policies or regulations; E-commerce is in early stage development in both supply and demand. Weak enabling factors such as logistics infrastructure, addressing systems, and consumer protections regulations prevent the sector from realizing its full potential." (https://www.usaid.gov/digital-development)
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"This publication considers the range of policy changes that have been tried or recommended by global regulators, assessing their impacts on press freedom and news media sustainability, with consideration for the risk of capture, and other potential tradeoffs of these interventions. It examines four
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categories of interventions: related to taxes and direct subsidies; copyright and licensing; competition and antitrust regulation; and transparency. Each piece discusses the driving concept behind each intervention, its advantages to publishers, how these benefits are distributed and how decisions are made regarding them, potential government involvement in each one, and their ability to address key underlying challenges related to news media sustainability. Our research also emphasizes the interrelationships between these policies and their broader effect on the platformatization of journalism. However, given that these interventions are in their early stages, or in some cases are still theoretical, a dearth of data makes it difficult to conclusively assess their impacts on media sustainability, media freedom and access to news. Where data asymmetries exist related to these questions, they are noted as areas for further research and potential regulatory attention." (Introduction, page 2-3)
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"This report explores the importance of a robust Flood Early Warning System (FEWS) in Nigeria and the need for effective communication to ameliorate the loss and damage caused by flooding. Following Nigeria’s Floods of 2022, which resulted in over 600 lives lost, 3000 injured, 300 thousand hectare
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s of farmlands wiped out and 200,000 houses damaged, and two million people displaced across 20 states in Nigeria, as reported by Premium Times, it is imperative that focus be given to strategies to adapt and prepare for future flood events which are expected to be worse in order to limit the damage caused. However, Nigeria has faced challenges in effectively communicating and preventing the impacts of floods due to poor FEWS communication. The article emphasizes that an early warning system is crucial for building resilience and reducing the impacts of climate-related disasters. By informing citizens about potential and imminent extreme events, governments and stakeholders can save lives, protect infrastructure, and support long-term sustainability. However, developing countries like Nigeria face difficulties in implementing and communicating FEWS due to technical limitations and insufficient infrastructure [...] To address these challenges, the article proposes framing FEWS communication as political communication in Nigeria. It suggests involving popular politicians as information bearers across states and local governments, who can act as climate champions and effectively disseminate early warning messages to the public. This approach leverages the popularity and influence of political figures to enhance FEWS communication and increase climate resilience among the population." (Forward, page 3)
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"This learning brief focuses on the issues of online gendered disinformation and sexist hate speech against women, girls and non-binary people who work or appear in the media and what media development organisations can do to address them." (Page 1)