While there is ongoing debate in media and academic circles about the role of new technologies in fighting corruption and impunity, this session looks at the actual track record – grass-roots strategies, experiences and insights. Together, we can identify the benefits, limitations and dynamics of digital resistance to disrupt corruption and behavior that leads to impunity, and magnify peoples’ voices to achieve positive change.
The resource people in this session have first-hand experience in digital resistance – which is nonviolent action conducted in the digital realm using digital tactics. They have played key roles in movements and campaigns mobilizing citizens either in their own countries or transnationally to curb corruption, as well as to expose and undermine impunity through innovative applications of information and communication technologies often combined with on-the-ground action. They also have experience in using digital tactics to garner media attention to corruption and impunity.
This fishbowl interactive session will highlight the phenomenon of digital resistance through innovative grass-roots campaigns targeting corruption, impunity and unaccountability, and tap the experiences of all the participants in the session. We will examine the potential of digital resistance to mobilize society against impunity, applications to disrupt behavior that results from impunity, the need for digital and on-the-ground synergies, economies of scale, the roles of strategy and tactical selection, and the difference between an online tool and a digital people power tactic. The session will also feature game-changing approaches from digital resistance campaigns - through an interactive fishbowl format and group cross-fertilization of experiences, strategies, and lessons learned. Digital resistance is not a panacea; we will jointly consider its strategic benefits, as well as caveats and limitations.
Participants in this session will:Gain insights into the need for digital and on-the-ground synergies, and the role of context in effective digital resistance
- Be able to identify the roles of strategy and tactical selection, and the difference between an online tool and a digital people power tactic.
- Learn about digital resistance advantages, such as economies of scale, and also its caveats and limitations.
- Understand how people power is wielded in the digital realm to curb corruption and impunity.
