Mona Elswah

The super flu is no joke! I had Covid four times before but this virus is a whole new level. My oxygen levels even dropped this time and it is taking forever to feel any better.

Speaker Benedetta Brevini presenting in front of a slide titled "Eco Political Economy of AI"

Speaker Hanan Badr presenting in front of a slide titled "Imaginaries, folk theories, and algorithmic resistance"

Speaker Gabriel Pereira presenting in front of a slide titled "Antagonists: algorithmic resistance". The slide features a graphic of a computer mesh hand with a raised middle finger.

Fascinating talks in our first panel, Critical AI Issues in the Majority World, on the environment, conflict, resistance, and regulation. Led by @andreamedrado.bsky.social with work from Benedetta Brevini, Hanan Badr, @gabrielopereira.bsky.social, @monaelswah.bsky.social, and @digigirlz.bsky.social

Can't wait :)

Resharing this.

Tried a new migraine drug, and my life is way happier now (until my body gets used to it).

🚨Call for Submissions: "Digital Intersectionality and Marginalization in the Majority World"

Submit your abstract by October 31st to publish in our upcoming GMRC's special issue of the Journal of Online Trust and Safety

Learn more and submit your abstract here: lnkd.in/dZBxFG_n

No one ever prepares you enough for hearing your baby crying when you drop them off at daycare :(

Additionally, I am forever grateful for the invaluable knowledge I gained from the CDT research team, guided by the exceptional leadership of @thakurdhanaraj.bsky.social . CDT's profound expertise in tech policy is truly unmatched!

There are so many incredible people behind this journey. I am very thankful to the support and mentorship I got from my PhD supervisor, Phil Howard, whom I can't find on Bluesky :) Phil patiently guided me through every step, ensuring I was always on the right track.

The news is out!
I am thrilled to announce that I have joined the exceptional team at the Department of Communications, Drama, and Film at the University of Exeter as a Lecturer in Digital Media Governance.

For people interested in content moderation in global languages, and in automation: Data from platforms' responses to a "Notice" from Australian authorities.

Lighter grey = languages with human moderators
Darker grey = languages with only automated moderation

www.esafety.gov.au/sites/defaul...

Tech Talk: Talking Tech with Mona Elswah & Emna Mizouni on Moderating Maghrebi Arabic Content on Social Media In today’s episode, we dive into an often overlooked but incredibly important issue: content moderation in non-dominant languages, specifically Maghrebi Arabic dialects. Recently, CDT released a groundbreaking report titled “Moderating Maghrebi Arabic Content on Social Media,” which explores the challenges, gaps, and opportunities in ensuring fair and effective moderation of Arabic content on social platforms. […]

Experts @monaelswah.bsky.social, a CDT Fellow on Global South content moderation, & Emna Mizouni, a Tunisian digital rights advocate, discuss the hurdles Maghrebi Arabic speakers face online and how platforms can make moderation more inclusive. cdt.org/insights/tec...

Apple removing end to end encryption in the UK is a disaster to people’s privacy and more governments will make similar requests soon to Appel

Can Kiswahili online content be moderated? Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast · Episode

MUST LISTEN: CDT’s @monaelswah.bsky.social recently joined the Somewhere on Earth podcast [@soeptech.bsky.social] for an interview discussing the current challenges of moderating Kiswahili content. open.spotify.com/epi...

The growing integration of AI into critical sectors of society, from healthcare to education, has the potential to support widespread social transformation and progress. However, AI systems also have the power to perpetuate biases, deepen inequalities, and cause environmental harm. Accurately evaluating the risks and benefits of an AI system requires a careful audit. Current approaches to auditing, however, rarely involve independent auditors, provide sufficient evidence, or account for global impacts. The culmination of 12 months of work by the IPIE’s Scientific Panel on Global Standards for AI Audits, this report explains why a global framework for AI audits must provide: 🔹common standards and procedures 🔹auditor independence and qualifications 🔹auditor access to evidence 🔹 transparent audit results 🔹evaluation of AI’s disparate global impacts

The International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE) has released its latest Synthesis Report: 𝘛𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘈 𝘎𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘈𝘐 𝘈𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘍𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬: 𝘈𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴.
www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...

Hahahah.. I know! I really can't believe someone will see the amount of memes my husband and I share on WhatsApp xD

I am writing this because I have to do this, but when we talk about our digital privacy, we rarely talk about how intrusive visa applications could be.
Digital privacy is a privilege that many people in the Majority of the World cannot enjoy.

In a visa application, I need to prove that my husband is actually my husband and that we have a real relationship.
A marriage certificate is not enough, and our two-year-old baby is not enough.
How do I do this? I was advised to share our WhatsApp conversations, phone logs, and photos of us.

The Loneliness Epidemic Is a Security Crisis Romance scams cost victims hundreds of millions of dollars a year. As people grow increasingly isolated, and generative AI helps scammers scale their crimes, the problem could get worse.

Romance scams cost victims hundreds of millions of dollars a year. As people grow increasingly isolated, and generative AI helps scammers scale their crimes, the problem could get worse.

Careers Do the possibilities presented by an innovative, open, and free internet inspire you? Do you find yourself engaged in passionate discussions about privacy policies? If so, you might be a great fit for our team.

🚨 Calling all future tech policy leaders! Applications for CDT’s Summer 2025 Internship Program close Friday, 2/14. If you are interested in diving into AI, privacy, and equity—or shaping our impact through communications and fundraising be sure to apply today! cdt.org/careers/

This is really sad!

PhD Studentship: Second-Order Effects of Disinformation: Perceptions of Disinformation and Trust in the Context of Russian Foreign Influence Operations at Midlands Graduate School Doctoral Training Pa... jobs.ac.uk now advertising a PhD Studentship: Second-Order Effects of Disinformation: Perceptions of Disinformation and Trust in the Context of Russian Foreign Influence Operations Visit jobs.ac.uk to...

Great PhD opportunity at Loughborough University for Arabic speakers with an interest in the field of misinformation
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DLN069/p...

Trump Signs Executive Order Saving TikTok for 75 Days ByteDance now has to show that it’s making significant progress on a deal to sell TikTok to a US-based company.

Among a flurry of executive orders yesterday, Donald Trump extended ByteDance's deadline to sell their US operations.

My lungs are no longer working properly and this virus has taken over my body with very weird symptoms all over. The 2020 covid version didn’t do this to me :(

This is the 5th time I am diagnosed with COVID.
This is the worst time. I can barely breathe at all and don’t know about the coming days.
This current variant is awful.

An unscientific observation while grading my 200-level class: I got much more original thinking out of my students from an assignment that asked them to make a 2 minute TikTok-style video "explainer" than I did out of the final research paper.

Today is my toddler's first day at daycare.
She did so well and didn't cry, but I did :( I'm the one having separation anxiety now.

Moderating Kiswahili Content on Social Media [ PDF version ] Introduction Africa, a continent with over 2,000 languages and home to more than one-third of the world’s linguistic diversity, has many languages that remain beyond the reach of both automated and human content moderation (Shiundu, 2023). Social media platforms have a limited physical presence in Africa, operating only a few offices […]

CDT’s latest report, “Content moderation in Kiswahili,” led by Mona Elswah explores how platforms like TikTok, Meta, and JamiiForums navigate the complexities of moderating Kiswahili content. cdt.org/insights/mod...

Call for Papers: Special Issue on “AI, Business, and Human Rights” 11 Nov 2024 to 10 Feb 2025 Call for Papers Special Issue on “AI, Business, and Human Rights” The Business and Human Rights Journal (BHRJ) is pleased to announce a call for papers (CFP) for a special issue about the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), business, and human rights. Unlike other dual-use technologies, AI is being promoted primarily by the private sector, giving businesses significant influence over the consequences of its implementation across different sectors. As AI technologies developed by private industry with little regulatory oversight become increasingly pervasive, it is crucial to advance our understanding of their possible negative or positive impacts on human rights and the role of concepts derived from the field of business and human rights, and how a human rights-based approach might address these consequences.

Interested in the BHRJ Special Issue on AI, Business, and Human Rights? Fill out the interest form here to get a calendar invite to our interest meeting on 19 December at 11:00!
forms.gle/taUApPrBuV...

Palestine is most dangerous country for journalists, Reporters Without Borders says Press freedom NGO describes Israeli killing of reporters working in Gaza as an ‘unprecedented bloodbath’

"Palestine is most dangerous country.." what an outrageous and shameful headline that obscures that it's Israel that is killing journalists en masse
www.theguardian.com/media/2024/d...