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Privacy, anonymity, visibility: dilemmas in tech use by marginalised communities

Date added:July 26, 2016

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How do marginalised communities use tech for transparency and accountability (T4T&A) work?

This research report, by the Tactical Technology Collective (Tactical Tech), presents reflections and learnings from two studies of about how marginalised communities – lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer (LGBTQ) people in Nairobi, and economically marginalised housing and urban development rights activists in Johannesburg – use technology to demand their rights and hold their governments accountable.

The report looks at the limitations, risks and barriers that marginalised communities face. The key findings were that:

  • marginalised users have different needs for privacy and security online, and T4T&A activities need to integrate these concerns
  • collaborations across and within technology and activist movements and communities must recognise their different histories of engagement with politics, technology and the state
  • without the full enjoyment of human rights, marginalised people’s participation in T4T&A activities is bound to be limited.

There is a summary of findings and reflections available here.

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About this publication

Authors Maya Indira Ganesh,  Jeff Deutch,  Jennifer Schulte, 

Publication type Research report 

Publication year2016

Page length40 pages

Keywordsanonymity, data privacy, Housing activists, LGBTQ, Marginalised communities, social media, transparency and accountability initiatives

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Theme Activism  Citizen engagement and voice  Marginalisation  Technologies for transparency and accountability 

Country Kenya  South Africa 

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