#TechJustice

[capodieci-blog]

Just learned how OpenDNS (now part of Cisco Umbrella) can wipe out a bootstrapped startup with one wrong flag. See what happened, why it can happen to you, and why it matters for every indie builder: https://rcx.it/opendns

[thebigfivenews]

African Workers Are Taking on Meta – And the World Should Pay Attention

A landmark legal battle unfolding in Kenya could set a global precedent, holding Meta – the world’s largest social media company – accountable for workers’ rights violations not only in Africa, but around the world.

In 2025, Meta has adopted an increasingly defiant tone on whether it should be held responsible for the real-world harm its platforms contribute to. This shift, widely seen as an effort to align with the returning Trump administration, was underscored by CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement in January that Meta would end third-party fact-checking.

“We are going to work with President Trump to push back on governments around the world going after American companies and pushing to censor more,” Zuckerberg said in a video message, giving Meta’s product decisions a distinctly geopolitical twist.

To justify its rollback of content moderation, Meta invokes the U.S. Constitution and its protection of free speech. But in countries like Kenya, where I represent a group of former Meta content moderators in a class-action lawsuit, constitutional frameworks tell a different story. Many post-colonial nations, including Kenya, have constitutions that place a clear emphasis on protecting fundamental human rights—precisely because of past experiences with exploitation and abuse under colonial rule.

These constitutions are now being used to confront the global tech industry’s long-standing impunity.

In a groundbreaking ruling in September 2024, the Kenyan Court of Appeal affirmed that content moderators could sue Meta in the country’s labour courts. Though underreported in the West, this ruling marked a significant turning point. Meta clearly recognized its implications, fighting the decision in court and mobilizing diplomatic pressure in its aftermath. The company has since signaled its intention to appeal to Kenya’s Supreme Court.

Like many U.S. tech giants, Meta relies on a tangled web of subsidiaries and outsourcing arrangements to shield itself from local regulations, taxes, and accountability—despite operating at scale in countries around the world. In Kenya, for example, Meta claims it never directly employed the workers who moderated content on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger from 2019 to 2023. Instead, it points to Sama, a business process outsourcing (BPO) company based in Nairobi, as the sole employer.

The case now before Kenyan courts argues otherwise. Former content moderators were hired by Sama but worked exclusively on Meta platforms. They describe being misled about the nature of the work, expecting call centre or translation jobs. Instead, they were immersed in a brutal content moderation hub, forced to view violent and traumatic content daily—often from their own regions and communities.

These workers acted as the first and last line of defense against harmful content on Meta’s platforms. Many viewed their work as meaningful, even noble. But the psychological toll was devastating. Over 140 former moderators have since been diagnosed with PTSD, depression, or anxiety linked to their experiences. When some tried to unionize and demand better mental health support, they were met with mass layoffs. Meta quietly shifted its moderation operations elsewhere, leaving behind hundreds of traumatised workers and a trail of unresolved human rights abuses.

Throughout the ongoing litigation, Meta has repeatedly insisted it holds no responsibility for these workers. Meanwhile, it continues efforts to influence policy behind the scenes. In March 2024, Meta’s then-president of global affairs, Nick Clegg, led a delegation to meet Kenyan President William Ruto, reportedly to discuss future tech partnerships—including the promise of an AI-powered future for Africa.

Just months earlier, at a December townhall, Ruto told Sama representatives: “Now we have changed the law, so no one can ever take you to court again on any matter.” He was referring to a bill passed by parliament that effectively shields Big Tech companies from lawsuits like the one brought by the moderators.

These moves reflect a broader attempt to dodge accountability for the consequences of Meta’s products and labour practices. But despite these obstacles, the Kenyan court’s decision to allow the case to go to trial is a major victory—and a beacon of hope for tech workers globally.

This legal breakthrough is thanks in large part to the progressive nature of post-independence constitutions, especially in post-colonial countries where human dignity and protections from exploitation are enshrined as paramount values.

As our case moves forward in Kenya, we hope it sparks similar efforts in other nations where tech workers continue to be exploited and silenced. Free speech may be a cornerstone of democratic life, but so too are the rights to fair labour, dignity, and protection from harm. It’s time Big Tech was reminded of that.

[hindusforhumanrights]

Democracy Undermined: How Meta Enabled BJP's Shadow Advertising

In an era where digital platforms have become the new battlegrounds for political influence, transparency and adherence to ethical standards are more critical than ever. Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR), in collaboration with the Tech Justice Law Project, Dalit Solidarity Forum, India Civil Watch Intl and the Indian American Muslim Council are proud to announce the release of our joint report: Jharkhand’s Shadow Politics: How Meta Permits, Profits From, and Promotes Shadow Political Advertisements.

[osintelligence]

https://bit.ly/46ZaTYc - 🌐 Microsoft, in collaboration with Arkose Labs, targets the primary seller of fraudulent Microsoft accounts, Storm-1152, sending a clear message against cybercrime. These accounts are used for phishing, identity theft, and DDoS attacks. Microsoft's efforts aim to protect customers and deter criminal activities by disrupting the cybercrime-as-a-service ecosystem. #Cybersecurity #MicrosoftSecurity #OnlineFraudPrevention 🔐 Storm-1152 is responsible for creating around 750 million fake Microsoft accounts, generating millions in illicit revenue. Their websites and social media pages offer tools to bypass identity verification, facilitating cybercriminal activities. Microsoft's action not only protects their own customers but also those of other technology platforms. #CyberCrime #DigitalSecurity #IdentityTheft 🕵️ Microsoft's Threat Intelligence has linked multiple ransomware and data theft groups to Storm-1152 accounts. These include Octo Tempest and other ransomware threat actors like Storm-0252 and Storm-0455, highlighting the widespread impact of Storm-1152's activities. #Ransomware #DataProtection #CyberThreatIntelligence ⚖️ Microsoft's recent legal action resulted in the seizure of U.S.-based infrastructure and the takedown of websites used by Storm-1152. This disrupts not only fraudulent Microsoft account operations but also services affecting other technology platforms. #LegalAction #CyberLaw #TechJustice 🛡️ Microsoft and Arkose Labs have implemented a next-generation CAPTCHA defense solution to ensure users opening Microsoft accounts are human. This initiative is part of Microsoft's commitment to providing a safe digital experience. #CAPTCHA #UserVerification #DigitalSafety 🧑‍💻 The individuals behind Storm-1152, identified as Duong Dinh Tu, Linh Van Nguyễn, and Tai Van Nguyen from Vietnam, are now known. Microsoft's comprehensive investigation included detection, telemetry, and undercover purchases. #CyberInvestigation #ThreatIdentification #CyberSecurityAwareness 🚔 Microsoft's submission of a criminal referral to U.S. law enforcement reflects their ongoing commitment to combating cybercrime. This action is part of a broader strategy targeting the tools used by cybercriminals, emphasizing the importance of industry collaboration in fighting cybercrime.

[tbrc34]

🕵️‍♂️🚀 Intercepting the Future: Unveiling the Lawful Interception Market Revolution! 🔍🌐

Hey Cyber Agents! 🌈✨

Gear up for a ride into the world of Lawful Interception Market 🌐🔒, where technology meets legality to keep our digital landscapes secure! 💼🔐

🌟 The Legal Tech Thriller Unfolds! Step into the shoes of the digital detectives - the Lawful Interception Market takes center stage in the quest for balance between privacy and security! 🕵️‍♀️🔗

🚀 Empowering the Digital Watchdogs! It's not just a market; it's a revolution! 🌐💻 From real-time monitoring to ensuring lawful compliance, witness the rise of tech-savvy guardians reshaping the cybersecurity narrative. 🌌📡

🔥 Key Trends Lighting Up the Cyber Watchtower:

AI-Enhanced Surveillance 🤖👀

Cloud-Based Interception Solutions ☁️💡

Advanced Data Filtering 📤����

Collaboration for Cyber Justice 🤝⚖️

💡 Why It's Crucial? Say goodbye to digital threats slipping through the cracks! 🚫🕵️‍♂️ The Lawful Interception Market is rewriting the rules, ensuring a safer and more accountable cyberspace. 🔗🌐

🌈 Join the Cyber Justice League! Let's unravel this legal tech thriller together! 🚁💬 Share your thoughts on digital privacy, lawful interception, and cyber justice in the comments below. 🌐⚔️ Together, we're securing a balanced digital future! 💻🤝 #DigitalDetectives #PrivacyProtectors #TechJustice 🚀🔒

[techbiases-blog]

SOLUTIONS

Creating solutions geared towards addressing implicit biases in technology does not have to be complicated. A plethora of organizations and institutions are actively contributing to dismantling the issues faced by consumers of color concerning software.

For example, researchers at IBM have created new algorithms that process bias ai training datasets to make the process fair for more people. The algorithm ensures to account for t. Kosh Varshney, who worked on the project, explains the project stating, “The objective is to minimize the difference in a statistical sense between the input training data and the output clean training data set that we’re creating”(IBM Research 0:56-1:02). By “minimizing the difference,” researchers are effectively removing and correcting the implicit bias in the original datasets in the software we use. 

In addition, Joy Buolawmi founded the Algorithmic Justice League, an organization working towards addressing the concerns of technological racism. The website for the organization includes different mediums such as bias checks for activists, consumers, and interested individuals to fight the problem and remain informed. Buolawmi speaks on her organization claiming, “We now have the opportunity to unlock even greater equality if we make social change a priority and not an afterthought” (Buolawmi 7:04-7:10). The more access people have to this information, will enable for a more considerable amount of people to get involved and dismantle all biases in technology.

Actionable steps consumers can take is to actively report all occurrences whereby Artificial intelligence is working improperly based on bias to the developers created the user interfaces.

WORK CITED 

YouTube, YouTube, 27 Mar. 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG_X_7g63rY&t=449s.

YouTube, YouTube, 7 Dec. 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTQ-JZZUIjU.

[wilneida]

Before I forget. Two Recent Jaunts in the Social Justice World

I've returned from a short trip - for some much needed Vitamin D at Tenerife, Canary Islands and then some exploring in Oxford, England.  Before I left, I had forgotten to share some information on two events which I had participated in prior to my trip:

I had conducted a webinar on how to conduct online disaster outreach and;

Was a panelist at the Bleak House to Geek House Panel: Access to Justice: Using Technology and the Crowd at Brooklyn Law School. 

Despite some Go-to-Webinar technical glitches during my webinar, I have to say both events were extremely rewarding.  I find the more I talk with others about my own research and personal ideas and pursuits, the more clarity I get about what it is that I am actually trying to achieve.  Its always a balance between talking and actually doing the doing (if that makes any sense!).

If you missed both events, refer to the write-up and video recording below to learn more:

1. My webinar was covered by the folks at Connecting Justice Communities.

You can read the article here: #DisasterLegalAid: LawHelpNY Webinar Outlines Best Practices in Post-Disaster Social Media

2. Recording of my Access to Justice panel at the Brooklyn Law School's Bleak House to Geek House Conference.