I Want To Do That Too!

Mozilla Festival Sessions
#1

This session is facilitated by Uffa Modey, Esther Mwema

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About this session

On a flip chart, projected screen OR white board, the facilitator writes the introductory and closing parts of the letter through contributed inputs from the participants. (Date:… To:… Dear:…, Subject:… We are:…, We desire to: …….)

The participants are split into 3 groups, each with a question card for one the questions below;
Give an example of a scenario where an end user may not be able to make use of modern technology due their age, gender, race, sex, physical disability
What are the effects of lacking inclusive technology within a society?
How can we encourage digital inclusion in the modern era?

In each group, the participants will discuss their individual responses and propose a group response ( 3 - 4 sentences).

Responses from each group shall be included to the letter as paragraphs.

The participants will discuss avenues for the letter to be shared with the Mozfest community and global Internet users.

Goals of this session

To write an open letter to all global citizens which will highlight at least 3 case scenarios where new and emerging technologies ( AI, IoT, Blockchain, VR and others) have failed to promote the inclusion of people from underrepresented groups.

This letter will be aimed at raising awareness on and contributing to addressing the challenges around inclusion in our digital future.

#2

Please see below our session outcome; a collectively written open letter for digital inclusion in modern age technology. Kindly repost or reuse for awareness as desired.

27 October 2019

Hello readers!

We are the attendees of the I Want To Do That Too! session in the Digital Inclusion space of 2019 annual Mozilla Festival. Our goal for inclusion in modern technology is yours as well and we invite you to join us in raising awareness on the challenges surrounding the use of new and emerging technology for people from minority groups.

A lack of inclusivity creates a digital divide which silences voices and prevents collective action on behalf of the under-represented group. A lack of access also contributes to limited opportunity in education or jobs. Without a collection of diverse voices, opportunities for innovation are stymied, which ultimately reduces the rate of socioeconomic development for all.

We want to be included; we don’t want our age, gender, sex, race, physical disability and social economic status to limit us from accessing digital services. This experience of inclusion in our present day can be limited in circumstances such as disability or social economic costs, any form of social discrimination online and services that are only available in certain regions and not others.

Technology must not be used to profile us, discriminate or spy on us. We want to have autonomy of technology so that we are not just consumers but also owners, inventors and creators. We want to be able to understand technologies and content so it should be in a language that we speak and understand. We want to have affordable access to devices and the Internet so that we can also benefit from being part of the digital world.

We call on all internet stakeholders to explore avenues for promoting inclusion in digital technology. Key issues for review should include cost of internet connectivity, affordability of smart devices and equity and justice for human rights online. There should be transparency and accountability in technology design. Users should be able to trust that their interests are represented during policy development for ICT.

We hope you keep the fight going!

Sincerely,
Uffa Modey, Hadassah Louis, Bolutife Adisa, Sarah Kiden, Irene Rotice, Fiona Apps, Ahmed Meiden, Craig Dube, Oarabile Mudongo, Eileen Cejas, Samuel Ankrah, Oumie Saine, Nime Chamsa Al Marif