The Centre for Internet and Society
https://cis-india.org
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Transference: Reimagining Data Systems: Beyond the Gender Binary
https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/events/transference-reimagining-data-systems-beyond-the-gender-binary
<b>The Centre for Internet and Society (CIS) invites you to participate in a day-long convening on the rights of transgender persons, specifically right to privacy and digital rights. Through this convening, we hope to highlight the concerns of transgender persons in accessing digital data systems and the privacy challenges faced by the community. These challenges include access to their rights — their right to self-identify their gender and welfare services offered by the State and the privacy challenges faced by transgender and intersex persons in revealing their identity.</b>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify; ">As the meaning of the word ‘Transference’ goes, through this convening, as a learning, we hope to capture and transfer the realities of transgender persons with engaging and being a part of digital data systems in India. Given the rapid digitisation of different public and private data systems in India, we hope to initiate a conversation that understands their struggles and challenges to realistically initiate the re-imagination of data systems — digital and otherwise — one that is mindful about their everyday struggles with privacy and access.</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify; ">Owing to the history of systemic exclusions faced by transgender persons, it is important to highlight their difficulties in accessing technological systems and the impact on their privacy, as central issues that require serious consideration. Presently, their realities seem to be ignored by the State while designing most technology laws and policies governing digital systems.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify; ">Background</h3>
<p><span id="docs-internal-guid-491cb7c5-7fff-049a-e44a-d55b71b690d7"> </span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify; "><span>In the landmark verdict in 2014, NALSA Vs Union of India, the Supreme Court of India for the first time recognised the right of an individual to self-identify their gender as male, female or transgender. This verdict detailed nine directives to be implemented by the central and state governments in India for the inclusion of transgender persons.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify; "><span>Similarly, 2017 was a watershed moment in India’s constitutional history when the Supreme Court held the right to privacy to be a fundamental right. More importantly, the Court expounded on this right and held that the protection of an individual’s gender identity is an essential component of the right to privacy and that privacy at its core includes the preservation of personal intimacies, autonomy, the sanctity of family life, marriage, procreation, the home and sexual orientation.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify; "><span>The 2017 privacy judgement led to the Supreme Court pronouncing the </span><span>Navtej Johar v Union of India in 2018</span><span>, striking down the </span><span>Koushal </span><span>judgement and decriminalising acts of consensual non-hetrosexual acts of intimacy. In 2019, the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 was introduced in Parliament for the regulation and protection of personal data. The PDP Bill classifies data into two categories as (i) personal data; and (ii) sensitive personal data. As per the PDP Bill, data identifying the transgender status and intersex status falls within the ambit of sensitive personal data. Around the time of the PDP Bill being tabled in Parliament, the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2019 was passed by the Parliament despite </span><a href="https://scroll.in/article/944943/explainer-despite-criticism-the-transgender-persons-bill-was-just-passed-whats-next"><span>severe opposition</span></a><span> to the Bill from civil society members as well as members of Parliament.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify; "><span>There is a lack of clarity on the interplay between the PDP Bill and the Transgender Act and the challenges the PDP Bill may pose to the transgender community. Moving beyond mere mentions in the definition of the law through a cisgendered heteronormative lens, it is important for the discourse on data and privacy to broaden its scope to realistically include people of different sexual orientations, gender and sexual identities, gender expressions and sex characteristics.</span></p>
<h3><span>About the Event</span></h3>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify; ">Through these panel discussions, we propose to highlight the concerns of transgender persons with accessing digital data systems and the privacy challenges faced by them . These challenges include access to their rights — their right to self-identify their gender and access welfare services offered by the State and the privacy challenges faced by transgender persons in revealing their identity.</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify; ">The objective of these discussions is to initiate more conversations about the technological and data exclusions faced by this historically marginalised community in India. The intent is to better understand the realities of transgender persons and contribute to the larger advocacy on privacy, intersectionality and (digital) systems design.</p>
<hr />
<p>Click to register for the event <a class="external-link" href="https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUpcOiqrD8uG9X_4L6EIzXI-QFCipmFqqDV"><b>here</b></a></p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/events/transference-reimagining-data-systems-beyond-the-gender-binary'>https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/events/transference-reimagining-data-systems-beyond-the-gender-binary</a>
</p>
No publishertorshaGender, Welfare, and PrivacyEventInternet Governance2021-12-15T12:58:31ZEventLaunching CIS’s Flagship Report on Private Crypto-Assets
https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/events/launching-cis-flagship-report-on-private-crypto-assets
<b>The Centre for Internet & Society is launching its flagship report on regulating private crypto-assets in India, as part of its newly formed Financial Technology (or Fintech) research agenda. This event will serve as a venue to bring together the various stakeholders involved in the crypto-asset space to discuss the state of crypto-asset regulation in India from a multitude of perspectives.</b>
<h3>About the private crypto-assets report</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The first output under this agenda is our report on regulating private cryptocurrencies in India. This report aims to act as an introductory resource for policymakers who are looking to implement a regulatory framework for private crypto-assets. The report covers the technical elements of crypto-assets, their history, proposed use cases as well as its benefits and limitations. It also examines how crypto-assets fit within India’s current regulatory and legislative frameworks and makes clear recommendations for the same.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">About the Event</h3>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify; ">The launch event will feature an initial presentation by researchers at CIS on the various findings and recommendations of its flagship report. This will be followed by a moderated discussion with 5 panelists who represent the space in policy, academia and industry. The discussion will be centered around the current status of crypto-assets in India, the government’s new proposed regulations and what the future holds for the Indian crypto market.</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify; ">The confirmed panelists are as follows:</p>
<ol>
<li>Tanvi Ratna - Founder, Policy 4.0 and expert on blockchain and cryptocurrencies </li>
<li>Shehnaz Ahmed - Senior Resident Fellow and Fintech Lead at Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy </li>
<li>Nithya R. - Chief Executive Officer, Unos.Finace </li>
<li>Prashanth Irudayaraj - Head of R&D, Zebpay </li>
<li>Vipul Kharbanda - Non resident Fellow specialising in Fintech at CIS </li>
<li>Aman Nair - Policy Offer, CIS (Moderator) </li>
</ol>
<p>Registration link: <a class="external-link" href="https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TdY-EPLoRvGY2rfsq4CENw">https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TdY-EPLoRvGY2rfsq4CENw</a></p>
<h3>Agenda</h3>
<table class="plain">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>17.30 - 17.35</td>
<td>Welcome Note</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17.35 - 18.35</td>
<td>
<p>The status of private crypto-assets in India</p>
<ul>
<li>Presentation on CIS’ flagship Report on regulating private crypto-assets in India</li>
<li>Moderated discussion with panelists across industry, government, journalism and academia providing their insight as to the current and future state of private crypto-assets, and their regulation, in India.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>18.35 - 19.00</td>
<td>Audience questions and discussion</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/events/launching-cis-flagship-report-on-private-crypto-assets'>https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/events/launching-cis-flagship-report-on-private-crypto-assets</a>
</p>
No publisherAdminInternet GovernanceEventCryptocurrenciesWebinar2021-12-03T15:16:27ZEvent #CultureForAll Conference on Cultural Mapping
https://cis-india.org/raw/culture-for-all-conference-on-cultural-mapping
<b>Sahapedia is organising the #CultureForAll Conference on Cultural Mapping, digitally on September 28 and 29, 2021. The conference will take place in collaboration with the Centre for Social Studies at the University of Coimbra, Azim Premji University, the Centre for Internet and Society, and the Re-Centring Afro Asia project at the University of Cape Town.</b>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Cross-posted from <a class="external-link" href="https://www.sahapedia.org/conferences">Sahapedia</a></b></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Featuring 15 papers across 4 sessions, the conference will present research primarily from South Asia with some papers discussing experimental mapping techniques in Africa and Europe. Sessions will be chaired by academicians from among our collaborators and promise to interrogate, discuss, and reflect upon the complex questions of who, what, how, and for whom to map culture. Speakers at the conference will present work ranging from literature in Nagaland and food in Goa to music in South Africa and architecture in Delhi. They include researchers in history, literature, and music, as well as architects and educators.</p>
<hr />
<ul>
<li>The conference will be held on Zoom. Register here: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://bit.ly/2X4XAap">https://bit.ly/2X4XAap</a></li>
<li>For the schedule and more details, visit <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.sahapedia.org/conferences">https://www.sahapedia.org/conferences</a></li>
<li>The Cultural Mapping Conference is part of the ongoing <a href="https://www.sahapedia.org/culture-for-all">#CultureForAll (CFA) </a><span>festival by Sahapedia.</span></li>
</ul>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/raw/culture-for-all-conference-on-cultural-mapping'>https://cis-india.org/raw/culture-for-all-conference-on-cultural-mapping</a>
</p>
No publishersnehaResearchers at WorkDigital KnowledgeEvent2021-09-20T15:18:02ZBlog EntryCIS Seminar Series
https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/cis-seminar-series
<b>The CIS seminar series will be a venue for researchers to share works-in-progress, exchange ideas, identify avenues for collaboration, and curate research. We also seek to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on research exchange, and foster collaborations among researchers and academics from diverse geographies. Every quarter we will be hosting a remote seminar with presentations, discussions and debate on a thematic area. </b>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The first seminar series was held on 7th and 8th October on the theme of <a href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/cis-seminar-series-information-disorder">‘Information Disorder: Mis-, Dis- and Malinformation’</a>,</p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">Theme for the Second Seminar (to be held online)</h3>
<h3>Moderating Data, Moderating Lives: Debating visions of (automated) content moderation in the contemporary</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) based approaches have become increasingly popular as “solutions” to curb the extent of mis-, dis- mal-information, hate speech, online violence and harassment on social media. The pandemic and the ensuing work from home policy forced many platforms to shift to automated moderation which further highlighted the inefficacy of existing models (<a href="https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?u73Lwx">Gillespie, 2020)</a> to deal with the surge in misinformation and harassment. These efforts, however, raise a range of interrelated concerns such as freedom and regulation of speech on the privately public sphere of social media platforms; algorithmic governance, censorship and surveillance; the relation between virality, hate, algorithmic design and profits; and social, political and cultural implications of ordering social relations through computational logics of AI/ML.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">On one hand, large-scale content moderation approaches (that include automated AI/ML-based approaches) have been deemed “necessary” given the enormity of data generated <a href="https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?JHQ0rF">(Gillespie, 2020)</a>, on the other hand, they have been regarded as “technological fixtures” offered by the Silicon Valley <a href="https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?YLFnLm">(Morozov, 2013)</a>, or “tyrannical” as they erode existing democratic measures <a href="https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?Ia8JYp">(Harari, 2018)</a>. Alternatively, decolonial, feminist and postcolonial approaches insist on designing AI/ML models that centre voices of those excluded to sustain and further civic spaces on social media (<a href="https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?1Sa8vf">Siapera, 2022)</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">From the global south perspective, issues around content moderation foreground the hierarchies inbuilt in the existing knowledge infrastructures. First, platforms remain unwilling to moderate content in under-resourced languages of the global south citing technological difficulties. Second, given the scale and reach of social media platforms and inefficient moderation models, the work is outsourced to workers in the global south who are meant to do the dirty work of scavenging content off these platforms for the global north. Such concerns allow us to interrogate the techno-solutionist approaches as well as their critiques situated in the global north. These realities demand that we articulate a different relationship with AI/ML while also being critical of AI/ML as an instrument of social empowerment for those at the “bottom of the pyramid” <a href="https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?bvx6mV">(Arora, 2016)</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The seminar invites scholars interested in articulating nuanced responses to content moderation that take into account the harms perpetrated by algorithmic governance of social relations and irresponsible intermediaries while being cognizant of the harmful effects of mis-, dis- mal-information, hate speech, online violence and harassment on social media.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">We invite abstract submissions that respond to these complexities vis-a-vis content moderation models or propose provocations regarding automated moderation models and their in/efficacy in furthering egalitarian relationships on social media, especially in the global south.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Submissions can reflect on the following themes using legal, policy, social, cultural and political approaches. Also, the list is not exhaustive and abstracts addressing other ancillary concerns are most welcome:</p>
<ul>
<li>Metaphors of (content) moderation: mediating utopia, dystopia, scepticism surrounding AI/ML approaches to moderation.</li>
<li>From toxic to healthy, from purity to impurity: Interrogating gendered, racist, colonial tropes used to legitimize content moderation </li>
<li>Negotiating the link between content moderation, censorship and surveillance in the global south</li>
<li>Whose values decide what is and is not harmful? </li>
<li>Challenges of building moderation models for under resourced languages.</li>
<li>Content moderation, algorithmic governance and social relations. </li>
<li>Communicating algorithmic governance on social media to the not so “tech-savvy” among us.</li>
<li>Speculative horizons of content moderation and the future of social relations on the internet. </li>
<li>Scavenging abuse on social media: Immaterial/invisible labour for making for-profit platforms safer to use.</li>
<li>Do different platforms moderate differently? Interrogating content moderation on diverse social media platforms, and multimedia content.</li>
<li>What should and should not be automated? Understanding prevalence of irony, sarcasm, humour, explicit language as counterspeech.</li>
<li>Maybe we should not automate: Alternative, bottom-up approaches to content moderation</li>
</ul>
<h3>Seminar Format</h3>
<p>We are happy to welcome abstracts for one of two tracks:</p>
<p><strong>Working paper presentation</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">A working paper presentation would ideally involve a working draft that is presented for about 15 minutes followed by feedback from workshop participants. Abstracts for this track should be 600-800 words in length with clear research questions, methodology, and questions for discussion at the seminar. Ideally, for this track, authors should be able to submit a draft paper two weeks before the conference for circulation to participants.</p>
<p><strong>Coffee-shop conversations</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">In contrast to the formal paper presentation format, the point of the coffee-shop conversations is to enable an informal space for presentation and discussion of ideas. Simply put, it is an opportunity for researchers to “think out loud” and get feedback on future research agendas. Provocations for this should be 100-150 words containing a short description of the idea you want to discuss.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">We will try to accommodate as many abstracts as possible given time constraints. We welcome submissions from students and early career researchers, especially those from under-represented communities.</p>
<p>All discussions will be private and conducted under the Chatham House Rule. Drafts will only be circulated among registered participants.</p>
<p>Please send your abstracts to <a href="mailto:workshops@cis-india.org">workshops@cis-india.org</a>.</p>
<h3>Timeline</h3>
<div id="_mcePaste"><ol>
<li>Abstract Submission Deadline: 18th April</li>
<li>Results of Abstract review: 25th April</li>
<li>Full submissions (of draft papers): 25th May</li>
<li>Seminar date: Tentative 31st May</li>
</ol></div>
<h3>References</h3>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify; "><span><a href="https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?ZHb88g"><span>Arora, P. (2016). Bottom of the Data Pyramid: Big Data and the Global South. </span></a><a href="https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?ZHb88g"><i><span>International Journal of Communication</span></i></a><a href="https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?ZHb88g"><span>, </span></a><a href="https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?ZHb88g"><i><span>10</span></i></a><a href="https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?ZHb88g"><span>(0), 19.</span></a></span><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify; "><span><a href="https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?ZHb88g"><span>Gillespie, T. (2020). Content moderation, AI, and the question of scale. </span></a><a href="https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?ZHb88g"><i><span>Big Data & Society</span></i></a><a href="https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?ZHb88g"><span>, </span></a><a href="https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?ZHb88g"><i><span>7</span></i></a><a href="https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?ZHb88g"><span>(2), 2053951720943234. https://doi.org/10.1177/2053951720943234</span></a></span><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify; "><span><a href="https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?ZHb88g"><span>Harari, Y. N. (2018, August 30). </span></a><a href="https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?ZHb88g"><i><span>Why Technology Favors Tyranny</span></i></a><a href="https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?ZHb88g"><span>. The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/10/yuval-noah-harari-technology-tyranny/568330/</span></a></span><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify; "><span><a href="https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?ZHb88g"><span>Morozov, E. (2013). </span></a><a href="https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?ZHb88g"><i><span>To save everything, click here: The folly of technological solutionism</span></i></a><a href="https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?ZHb88g"><span> (First edition). PublicAffairs.</span></a></span><span> </span></p>
<p><a href="https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?ZHb88g" style="text-align: justify; ">Siapera, E. (2022). AI Content Moderation, Racism and (de)Coloniality. </a><a href="https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?ZHb88g" style="text-align: justify; "><i>International Journal of Bullying Prevention</i></a><a href="https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?ZHb88g" style="text-align: justify; ">, </a><a href="https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?ZHb88g" style="text-align: justify; "><i>4</i></a><a href="https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?ZHb88g" style="text-align: justify; ">(1), 55–65. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42380-021-00105-7</a></p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/cis-seminar-series'>https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/cis-seminar-series</a>
</p>
No publisherCheshta AroraInternet GovernanceMachine LearningArtificial IntelligenceEventSeminar2022-04-11T15:19:11ZBlog EntryPlatforms, Power and Politics: Digital Labour in India
https://cis-india.org/raw/platforms-power-and-politics-digital-labour-in-india
<b>The Centre for Internet & Society (CIS) invites you to a webinar wherein it will launch and present four research reports on digital labour in India. The webinar will be hosted on July 28, 2021 at 5 p.m. (IST) / 11.30 a.m. (UTC)</b>
<p><a class="external-link" href="https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dK1i_pvXSTSXS2gNq80qFA">Click here to register for the Event Now</a></p>
<p><a href="https://cis-india.org/raw/platforms-power-and-politics.pdf" class="internal-link">Download the brochure of the Event here</a></p>
<hr />
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Few recent developments in labour and employment have attracted as much attention as the expansion of platform economies. Spanning a range of services and industries, digital platforms have become a permanent fixture in upper-class urban consumption in India.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><span>In this webinar, we will launch and present four research reports on digital labour in India, hosted at the Centre for Internet and Society. Together, they uncover aspects of labouring in three dominant industries of platform work: logistics, transportation, and domestic and care work. These works were supported separately by the Azim Premji University and Foundation, and the Feminist Internet Research Network (incubated by the Association for Progressive Communications).</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><span> </span><span>Informed by deep ethnographic work, these reports unpack the contours of power, control and resistance that shape the experience and outcomes of working </span><i>for</i><span> digital platforms. The reports arrive at the ways in which platforms, as moving techno-social assemblages </span>[<a href="#1">1</a>] <span>distribute risk and reward in ways that implicate the livelihoods, agency, and bargaining power of actors across digital platforms’ value chains.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Each of these reports also contributes towards developing a southern understanding <span>platform work. In contexts where there is an increasing reliance on technology providers for developmental outcomes and provision of public services, and informality is the dominant labour market structure, what does it mean to work on digital platforms? By situating the histories of informal work in India, and the intersectional identities constituting informality, these reports highlight how digital platforms can both reinforce and reorient the transaction of informal service work.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">With restrictions on public mobility and the “hygiene theatre”[<a href="#2">2</a>]resulting from the outbreak of covid-19, digital labour platforms have sought to entrench their position in urban India as providers of ‘essential services’. As digital platforms gain centre-stage in India’s various marketplaces, it becomes all the more urgent to collectively reflect upon languages of strategic intervention that can enable a worker-first and southern imagination of digital platform work, and grassroots as well as policy thought around it.</p>
<p>We invite researchers, practitioners, activists and students from across disciplines to join us in this venture.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The event will be segmented into 4 presentations (of 10-12 minutes each), with space for discussion and feedback at the end of each presentation. The detailed agenda, and a reading list are provided below.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; "><span style="text-align: justify; ">Agenda</span></h3>
<p><span style="text-align: justify; ">5.00 p.m.: Introduction</span></p>
<p><span style="text-align: justify; ">5.05 p.m. <strong>Session 1: Perspectives from platformisation of domestic and care work in India</strong> - Ambika Tandon and Aayush Rathi, Centre for Internet and Society</span></p>
<p><span style="text-align: justify; ">5.25 p.m.: <strong>Session 2: Promise and prescriptions in the platformisation of food delivery work in Mumbai</strong> - Simiran Lalvani, University of Oxford</span></p>
<p><span style="text-align: justify; ">5.45 p.m.: Break</span></p>
<p><span style="text-align: justify; ">5.50 p.m.: <strong>Session 3: ‘Taxi’ nahi chalata hoon main (I don’t drive a Taxi): Flexibility and risk in the Ridehailing platform economy in Mumbai</strong> - Anushree Gupta, IIT Hyderabad</span></p>
<p><span style="text-align: justify; ">6.10 p.m.: <strong>Session 4: The unbearable lightness of being: Performing precarious cab-driving in Delhi</strong> - Sarah Zia, Independent researcher</span></p>
<p><span style="text-align: justify; ">6.30 p.m.: Discussion and Closing</span></p>
<table class="listing">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th><span style="text-align: justify; ">Moderator: Noopur Raval, AI Now</span></th>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2><span>Reading List</span></h2>
<ol>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><strong>Ambika Tandon and Aayush Rathi (2021). Platforms, Power and Politics: Perspectives from Domestic and Care Work in India.<br /></strong>Through exhaustive platform-mapping and feminist ethnographic work, the authors uncovers the implications of digital platforms’ operations on domestic and care workers’ civil liberties, social protection, and gainful work outcomes. Access the full <a href="https://cis-india.org/raw/platforms-power-and-politics-perspectives-from-domestic-and-care-work-in-india">report here</a><span>.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><strong>Simiran Lalvani (2019). Workers’ fictive kinship relations in Mumbai app-based food delivery.</strong><br />This essay unpacks the kinship term <i>bhai</i><span> (brother) in order to understand the implications of such kinship sedimentations on food delivery work in Mumbai. Complicating the notion of an atomised worker, it details how having a fictive kinship ties with a </span><i>bhai</i><span> eases entry to platform work, upon joining ties guide negotiation with the discipline imposed by the employer and reflects on the experience of women workers. Read the </span><a href="http://blog.castac.org/2019/07/workers-fictive-kinship-relations-in-mumbai-app-based-food-delivery/">essay here</a><span>.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><strong>Sarah Zia (2019).</strong><span> </span><strong>Not knowing as pedagogy: Ride-hailing drivers in Delhi.<br /></strong>Ride-hailing platforms have “disrupted” public transport in India since their arrival but what hasn’t received enough attention is how these platforms create a deliberate regime of information invisibility and control to keep the drivers constantly on their toes which works to the companies’ advantage. This essay explores how the lack of transparency around algorithmic structures not only prohibits drivers from knowing completely and surely about their work (“why did I get this ride?”, “why did my ratings drop?”) but also how they build tactics of coping and earning from a place of unknowing. <span>Read the </span><a href="http://blog.castac.org/2019/07/not-knowing-as-pedagogy-ride-hailing-drivers-in-delhi/">essay here</a><span>.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><strong>Anushree Gupta (2019). Ladies ‘Log’: Women’s Safety and Risk Transfer in Ridehailing.</strong><br />Gig work produces new risks and safety concerns that require new mediations and negotiations. This post outlines the gendered cityscapes that drivers in the ride hailing sector navigate on an everyday basis. Building on insights from fieldwork in the ridehailing economy in Mumbai, the essay argues that drivers rely not only on their spatial knowledge of the city, but also on social knowledge that genders social exchange, predicates identities and draws boundaries. Analysing women’s presence as workers and passengers/customers, the author highlights the figure of the woman and the gendered forms of labour that underpin gig workers’ everyday realities. Read the <a href="http://blog.castac.org/2019/08/ladies-log-womens-safety-and-risk-transfer-in-ridehailing/">essay here</a><span>.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><strong>Noopur Raval (2019). Power Chronography of Food-Delivery Work.</strong><br />This essay presents the observations around the design of temporality within app-based food-delivery platforms in India. It draws on semi-structured interviews by field-researcher Rajendra and his time spent “hanging out” with food-delivery workers who are also often referred to as “hunger saviors” and “partners” in the platform ecosystem in India. Read the <a href="http://blog.castac.org/2019/08/power-chronography-of-food-delivery-work/">essay here</a><span>.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><strong>Simiran Lalvani (2021). Sexual contracts of app-based food delivery: An examination of social reproduction through feeding and being fed in Mumbai, India.</strong><br />What happens to socially reproductive norms of feeding when apps seem to democratise work? How does this work mediate the tension between workers’, consumers’ choices and the prescription of dominant norms about feeding and being fed? This paper examines the socio-cultural burdens and risks that arise for workers and customers through 3 interrelated aspects – (i) household requirements of food delivery work, (ii) the definition, social meanings and anxieties associated with eating out and (iii) how platforms make anxiety inducing outside food popular, if not palatable. Read the <a href="https://www.rosalux.de/publikation/id/44269/plattformkapitalismus-und-die-krise-der-sozialen-reproduktion?cHash=2fbe6d0d75def9f0295410605939c43a">chapter here</a><span>.</span></li>
</ol>
<p><span> </span></p>
<hr />
<p class="discreet">[1] <a name="1"></a><span>Edwards, D.W. and B. Gelms. (2018). ‘The rhetorics of platforms: Definitions, approaches, futures’, </span><i>Present Tense: Special Issue on the Rhetoric of Platforms, 6(3).</i></p>
<p class="discreet"><i> </i><span style="text-align: justify; ">[2] </span><a name="2"></a><span style="text-align: justify; ">Thompson, D. (July 27, 2020). Hygiene Theater Is a Huge Waste of Time. </span><i style="text-align: justify; ">The Atlantic</i><span style="text-align: justify; ">. Available at </span><a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/07/scourge-hygiene-theater/614599/" style="text-align: justify; ">https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/07/scourge-hygiene-theater/614599/</a></p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/raw/platforms-power-and-politics-digital-labour-in-india'>https://cis-india.org/raw/platforms-power-and-politics-digital-labour-in-india</a>
</p>
No publisherambikaDigital LabourResearchers at WorkEvent2021-07-20T02:42:47ZEventGender, Health, & Surveillance in India - A Panel Discussion
https://cis-india.org/raw/gender-health-surveillance-in-india-panel-discussion
<b>Women and LGBTHIAQ-identifying persons face intensive and varied forms of surveillance as they access reproductive health systems. Increasingly, these systems are also undergoing rapid digitisation. The panel was set-up to discuss the discursive, experiential and policy implications of these data-intensive developments on access to public health and welfare systems by women and LGBTHIAQ-identifying persons in India. The panelists presented studies undertaken as part of two projects at CIS, one of which is supported by Privacy International, UK, and the other by Big Data for Development network established by International Development Research Centre, Canada.</b>
<p> </p>
<h4>Event note and agenda: <a href="https://cis-india.org/raw/files/gender-health-surveillance-in-india-panel-agenda" target="_blank">Read</a> (PDF)</h4>
<h4>Recording of the discussion: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgYxcD3NUuo" target="_blank">Watch</a> (YouTube)</h4>
<hr />
<iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/QgYxcD3NUuo" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe>
<p> </p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/raw/gender-health-surveillance-in-india-panel-discussion'>https://cis-india.org/raw/gender-health-surveillance-in-india-panel-discussion</a>
</p>
No publisherAayush Rathi and Ambika TandonData SystemsRAW EventsGenderReproductive and Child HealthSurveillanceResearchers at WorkEvent2020-12-23T14:03:13ZBlog EntryCall for Papers: #CultureForAll Conference
https://cis-india.org/raw/call-for-papers-culture-for-all-conference
<b>We are collaborating with Sahapedia, Azim Premji University, and University of Cape Town to invite papers on cultural mapping for the #CultureForAll conference scheduled to be held in March 2021. Cultural mapping is a set of activities and processes for exploring, discovering, documenting, examining, analysing, interpreting, presenting, and sharing information related to people, communities, societies, places, and the material products and practices associated with those people and places. All interested academicians, researchers, PhD students, and practitioners are invited to submit papers. The conference is supported by Tata Technologies and MapMyIndia.</b>
<p> </p>
<h4>Cross-posted from <a href="https://www.sahapedia.org/conferences" target="_blank">Sahapedia</a>.</h4>
<hr />
<h3>Background</h3>
<p>Sahapedia in collaboration with the Azim Premji University, The Centre for Internet and Society and the University of Cape Town is inviting papers in cultural mapping for the Culture For All conference scheduled to be held in March 2021.</p>
<p>Cultural mapping is a set of activities and processes for exploring, discovering, documenting, examining, analysing, interpreting, presenting, and sharing information related to people, communities, societies, places, and the material products and practices associated with those people and places. It was recognised by UNESCO more than a decade ago as a crucial tool in sustaining the tangible, intangible, and natural heritage of the world.</p>
<p>However, the exercise is either used inadequately or rarely highlighted in the Indian context thereby limiting accessibility to peer-reviewed work in this area. As part of the #CultureForAll festival and conference, an open call for research papers and action projects in cultural mapping is being made to consolidate knowledge created till date in India and regions with similar cultural history like Asia and Africa. Cultural mapping and documentation are intricate processes that attempt to solve complex questions of who, what, how, and for whom to map. We hope these papers will carve out a space to interrogate, discuss, and reflect upon the same.</p>
<p>Another central objective of reviewing work in this area is to develop a mapping toolkit/guide that can help make cultural documentation accessible to anyone interested. Without being prescriptive or lending itself to a homogenous practise, the toolkit/guide would be a way to bring together varied approaches, contexts, and innovations in the field. In a sector like culture where financial and non-financial resources are insubstantial, we believe this toolkit/guide will give organisations and individuals a clear roadmap for future mapping projects.</p>
<h3>Themes</h3>
<p>All interested academicians, researchers, PhD students, and practitioners are invited to submit their papers under any one of the following themes. All papers will be evaluated by a review committee and select papers in each theme will be awarded INR 10,000 and presented in the #CultureForAll conference. Papers will also get an opportunity to be published in respected peer-reviewed journals and Sahapedia's web platform.</p>
<p><strong>Cultural Mapping—Theory & Practise:</strong> There is no fixed way to map cultural resources and the approach can be multi-fold. Efforts can also vary in terms of community involvement and collaborative processes. Papers submitted under this topic should explore and elucidate the theoretical and methodological frameworks used in mapping, with an emphasis on issues and challenges faced, the extent of community engagement, and the impact of such projects in policymaking and society, if any.</p>
<p><strong>Technology for cultural mapping:</strong> Technology and digitisation have shifted approaches to culture and heritage and the recent pandemic has made it indispensable to the society at large. Papers are invited on issues related to techniques and technologies for preservation, management and dissemination of cultural heritage with a focus on innovation and social equity specifically for the Indian context.</p>
<p><strong>Evaluating impact of cultural mapping applications:</strong> Cultural mapping provides rich cultural data by creating resource inventories that helps address varied issues like sustainability, intergenerational conflict, alienation of youth, and the role of women in society. It can create opportunities for communities to affirm identity and pursue land rights. Cultural mapping can be an informative classroom activity for children, and a valuable methodology for academic research. As a policymaking tool, it can be used to enhance and conserve heritage sites while promoting new tourism development approaches. Papers submitted under this topic should illustrate how cultural mapping has been used in areas like education, tourism, placemaking, conservation, and skilling, the issues and challenges faced, how impacts are measured, and the metrics associated with such measurement.</p>
<h3>Important dates</h3>
<p>Call for papers: November 16, 2020</p>
<p>Last date for submission: January 31, 2021</p>
<p>Announcement of final selection: February 26, 2021</p>
<p>Presentation of select papers: March 1 to March 15, 2021</p>
<p>If you have any questions, please contact us at conference[at]sahapedia[dot]org</p>
<h3>Eligibility & Selection</h3>
<p>All interested academicians, researchers, PhD students, and practitioners are invited to participate in the call for papers. Papers should be submitted in English and will be reviewed for their originality, relevance, and clarity. Works that have been published earlier or are found to be plagiarised will not be accepted. The submission should include a paper of not more than 3,500 words along with a presentation for the same. Please email submissions to conference[at]sahapedia[dot]org with the subject "Paper Submission: [Theme] [Applicant’s Full Name]". Please find formatting instructions for the paper <a href="https://www.sahapedia.org/sites/default/files/pdf/Annexure-1-Submission-Requirements.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/raw/call-for-papers-culture-for-all-conference'>https://cis-india.org/raw/call-for-papers-culture-for-all-conference</a>
</p>
No publishersneha-ppResearchers at WorkDigital KnowledgeEvent2020-12-23T13:34:23ZBlog EntryHow to Shut Down Internet Shutdowns
https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/events/how-to-shutdown-internet-shutdowns
<b>This talk will focus on the challenges and opportunities for research on internet shutdowns after the judgement of the Supreme Court in Anuradha Bhasin v. Union of India. Stepping beyond the judgement, there will be a wider discussion on the practice of whitelists, blocking powers of the central government.
</b>
<p> </p>
<p><img src="https://cis-india.org/How-to-Shut-Down-Internet-Shutdowns-Details/" alt="null" width="100%" /></p>
<p> </p>
<h3><strong>About the Speaker</strong> </h3>
<p>Apar Gupta is the Executive Director of the Internet Freedom Foundation.</p>
<p>Apar has been fighting the good fight for digital rights. While in law school almost 20 years ago, he wrote a legal commentary on the IT Act that is now in its third edition. As a lawyer in the Supreme Court, he worked on landmark cases such as on Section 66A, Intermediary Liability, Internet Shutdowns, the Right to Privacy and Privacy.</p>
<p>He also helped create public campaigns to advance net neutrality, reform defamation laws, fight Internet shutdowns and create a privacy statute. Apar previously ran his own successful law firm, was profiled in Outlook Magazine and listed in Forbes India's list of 30 under 30. He has also worked as a commercial litigator and partner in top law firms, written papers cited widely in local and international publications and taught courses at NLS and NLU.</p>
<p>RSVP <a class="external-link" href="https://forms.gle/CGei6wNUbR4t92549">here</a>, or by sending an email Torsha (torsha@cis-india.org).</p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/events/how-to-shutdown-internet-shutdowns'>https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/events/how-to-shutdown-internet-shutdowns</a>
</p>
No publisherpranavinternet governanceEventInternet Governance2020-02-03T11:13:12ZEventCybersecurity Visuals Media Handbook: Launch Event
https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/cybersecurity-visuals-media-handbook-launch-event
<b>6th December | 6 pm | Centre for Internet and Society, Bangalore</b>
<p> </p>
<p>The existing cybersecurity imagery in media publications has been observed to be limited in its communication of the discourse prevailing in cybersecurity policy circles, relying heavily on stereotypes such as hooded men, padlocks, and binary codes.</p>
<p><br />In order to enable a clearer, more nuanced representation of cybersecurity concepts, we, at CIS, along with <a class="external-link" href="http://designbeku.in/">Design Beku</a> are launching the Cybersecurity Visuals Media Handbook. This handbook has been conceived to be a concise guide for media publications to understand the specific concepts within cybersecurity and use it as a reference to create visuals that are more informative, relevant, and look beyond stereotypes.</p>
<p>We will be launching the interactive digital handbook on 6th December, 2019, at the Centre for Internet and Society, Bangalore, at 6 pm. The event would include a discussion on the purpose, process, and concepts behind this illustrated guide by CIS researchers and Design Beku.</p>
<p>The launch will be followed by a panel discussion on Digital Media Illustrations & the Politics of Technology. We will be joined by Padmini Ray Murray, Paulanthony George, and Kruthika N S in the panel. It will be moderated by Saumyaa Naidu.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Padmini Ray Murray</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">Padmini founded the Design Beku collective in 2018 to help not-for-profit organisations explore their potential through research-led design and digital development. Trained as an academic researcher, Padmini currently as the head of communications at Obvious, a design studio. She regularly gives talks and publishes on the necessity of technology and design to be decolonial, local, and ethical. <strong><br /></strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Paulanthony George</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">Paulanthony hates writing bios in the third person.<br />My research focuses on the relationships between made objects, the maker and the behaviour of making, in the context of spreadable digital media (and behaviours stemming from it). I study internet memes inside and outside of India and phenomenon such as dissent, satire, free expression and ambivalent behaviour fostered by them. The research is at the intersection of digital ethnography, culture studies, human-computer interaction, humour studies and critical theory. I spend my time watching people. I draw them, the way they are, the way some people want to be and sometimes I have interesting conversations with them.</p>
<p><span id="gmail-docs-internal-guid-5cb9e515-7fff-777e-6b99-8a216379ee39">
</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Kruthika N S</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">Kruthika NS is a lawyer at LawNK and researcher at the Sports Law & Policy Centre, Bengaluru. She uses art as a medium to explore the intersections of the law and society, with gender justice featuring as the central theme of her work. Her art has included subjects such as the #MeToo movement in India, and the feminist principles of the internet, among several other doodles.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Saumyaa Naidu</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">Saumyaa is a designer and researcher at the Centre for Internet and Society. <strong> </strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p><br /><strong>Agenda</strong><br />6:00 - 6:15 pm - Introduction <br />6:15 - 6:45 pm - Presentation on the Media Handbook by Paulanthony George<br />6:45 - 7:00 pm - Tea/ Coffee <br />7:00 - 8:00 pm - Panel discussion on Digital Media Illustrations & the Politics of Technology<br />8:00 - 8:30 pm - Tea/ Coffee and Snacks</p>
<p>The interactive version of handbook can be accessed <a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.github.io/cybersecurityvisuals/index">here</a>. The print versions of the handbook can be accessed at: <a class="external-link" href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/13Llq1vD5Eb-yo2YE3X6dRPaZ_WsMYhfa/view?usp=sharing">Single Scroll Printing</a>, <a class="external-link" href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mK_lxA0Eeb7GWxqZk4IM3cBxKdWakKS9/view?usp=sharing">Tiled-Paste Printing</a>.</p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/cybersecurity-visuals-media-handbook-launch-event'>https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/cybersecurity-visuals-media-handbook-launch-event</a>
</p>
No publishersaumyaaCybersecurityCyber SecurityEventInternet Governance2019-12-06T09:27:37ZEventDomestic Work in the ‘Gig Economy’
https://cis-india.org/raw/domestic-work-in-the-gig-economy-20191116
<b>The CIS and Domestic Workers’ Rights Union (DWRU) are hosting a discussion on the ‘gig economy’ and domestic work on Saturday, November 16 at Student Christian Movement of India, Mission Road, Bangalore. This event is a part of a project supported by the Feminist Internet Research Network led by Association for Progressive Communication (APC) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada.</b>
<hr />
<p style="text-align: justify;"><img src="https://cis-india.org/home-images/FutureofWork.jpeg" alt="Domestic work in the gig economy, 16 December 2019, Student Christian Mission of India, Bangalore" /></p>
<p> </p>
<h4>Presentation: <a href="https://cis-india.org/raw/domestic-work-and-platforms-presentation" class="internal-link" title="Domestic Work and Platforms Presentation">Download</a> (PDF)</h4>
<h4>Concept Note: <a href="https://cis-india.org/raw/cis-dwru-apc-firn-domestic-work-in-the-gig-economy-concept-note" target="_blank">Download</a> (PDF)</h4>
<h4>Venue: Student Christian Movement of India (29, 2nd Cross, CSI Compound, Mission Road, Sampangi Rama Nagara)</h4>
<h4>Date and Time: Saturday, November 16, 3:00-5:30 pm</h4>
<h4>Location: <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/dCnQhid1eiyLG3DE6" target="_blank">URL</a> (Google Maps)</h4>
<h4>Feminist Internet Research Network: <a href="https://www.apc.org/en/project/firn-feminist-internet-research-network" target="_blank">URL</a></h4>
<hr />
<p style="text-align: justify;">Over the last few months, the Centre for Internet and Society, India (CIS) and the Domestic Workers’ Rights Union (DWRU) have been doing research on the platformisation of domestic work in India. In the first phase of the research, we gathered data through interviews with several stakeholders. More information about the project can be found here: <a href="https://cis-india.org/raw/digital-domestic-work-india-announcement" target="_blank">https://cis-india.org/raw/digital-domestic-work-india-announcement</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">We now find ourselves in the second phase of the research in which we have prepared a preliminary report and are seeking feedback and inputs from experts. For this, we invite you to a roundtable discussion on domestic workers in the ‘gig economy’.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The participants at the roundtable will comprise of representatives from key stakeholder groups including platform workers (i.e. domestic workers sourcing jobs through platforms), platform companies, domestic workers organisations, civil society researchers and the state labour department.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The event will begin with a presentation of the project and our initial findings. The rest of the time is set aside for a semi-moderated discussion between all participants. To ensure a focused discussion, we are also limiting participation to 30, and are hoping to have a good mix across stakeholder groups.</p>
<h4>If you will be joining us, please RSVP to Aayush Rathi at aayush@cis-india.org.</h4>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/raw/domestic-work-in-the-gig-economy-20191116'>https://cis-india.org/raw/domestic-work-in-the-gig-economy-20191116</a>
</p>
No publisheraayushDigital EconomyRAW EventsDigital LabourResearchers at WorkEventDigital Domestic Work2019-12-06T04:52:11ZEventEvent Report: Community Discussion on Open Standards
https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/event-report-community-discussion-on-open-standards
<b>This community discussion organised by HasGeek was held at the office of the Centre for Internet and Society in Bangalore, India on June 20, 2019. </b>
<p> </p>
<p>Open standards are important for the growth and evolution of technology and practices for consumers and industries. They provide a range of tangible benefits, including, for instance, a reduction in cost of development for small businesses and organizations, facilitation of interoperability across different technologies in certain cases, and encouragement of competitiveness in the software and services market. Open standardization also encourages innovation, expansion in market access, transparency — along with a decrease in regulatory rigidity, as well as volatility in the market, and subsequently the surrounding economy, as well.</p>
<p>The importance of open standards is perhaps most strikingly evident when considering the ardent growth and impact the Internet — and the World Wide Web in particular — have been able to enjoy. The modern Internet has arguably been governed, at least for the most part, by the continuous development and maintenance of an array of inventive protocols and technical standards. Open standards are usually developed in a public-consultancy process, where the standards development organizations (“SDOs”) involved follow a multi-stakeholder model of decision-making. Multi-stakeholder models like this ensure equity to groups with varying interests, and also ensures that any resulting technology, protocol or standard which is developed is in accordance with the general consensus of those involved.</p>
<p>This event report highlights a community discussion on the state of open standardization in the age where immediately accessible cloud computing services are readily available to consumers — along with an imagined roadmap for the future; one which ensures steady ground for users as well as the open standards and open source software communities. Participants in the discussion focused on what they believed to be the key areas of open standardization, establishing a requirement for regulatory action in the open standards domain, while also touching upon the effects of market forces on stakeholders within the ecosystem, which ultimately guide the actions of software companies, service providers, users, and other consumers.</p>
<p>The event report can be accessed <a href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/resources/open_standards-event_report_2019.pdf">here.</a></p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/event-report-community-discussion-on-open-standards'>https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/event-report-community-discussion-on-open-standards</a>
</p>
No publisherKaran Saini, Prem Sylvester and Anishka VaishnavCommunitiesOpen StandardsEvent2019-08-02T06:51:00ZBlog Entry#MappingDigitalLabour - Panel discussion on platform-work in Mumbai and New Delhi
https://cis-india.org/raw/platform-work-india-panel-discussion-20190719
<b>With the rise and popularity of app-based platforms such as Ola, Uber, Swiggy Zomato, and others, there are growing public conversation about regulation of such 'gig-work' platforms and the work conditions of people who work for them. The Centre for Internet and Society (CIS) invites you to a panel discussion on Friday, July 19 in our Bangalore office, where the researchers associated with the project will present preliminary findings, and ethical and methodological challenges of studying app-based platform-work in India. Panelists Anushree Gupta, Rajendra Jadhav, Sarah Zia and Simiran Lalvani, who have conducted field studies of ride-hailing and food-delivery work in Mumbai and New Delhi, will share their preliminary field insights along with reflections on what it meant to do such studies, how they went about studying gig-work, and challenges that arose in their work. The discussion will be moderated by Noopur Raval who co-led the project. We invite scholars, journalists, and all interested members of the public to join us for the event. Tea and snacks will be served at 5 pm. </b>
<p> </p>
<h4>This project is supported by research assistance from the Azim Premji University.</h4>
<h4>Download: <a href="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cis-india/website/master/img/CIS_MappingDigitalLabour_PanelDiscussion_20190719_web.jpg" target="_blank">Poster</a> and <a href="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cis-india/website/master/img/CIS_MappingDigitalLabour_PanelDiscussion_20190719_flyer.jpg" target="_banner">Flyer</a></h4>
<h4>Session Recording: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1lwpb3jRMQ" target="_blank">Video</a> (YouTube)</h4>
<hr />
<h3>Agenda</h3>
<p>5:00 pm - Tea and snacks in the CIS lawn</p>
<p>5:30 pm - Introduction to the project (Sumandro)</p>
<p>5:40-6:20 pm - Reflections based on field studies by the speakers (Anushree, Rajendra, Sarah, and Simiran)</p>
<p>6:20-6:40 pm - Speakers' responses to questions posed by the moderator (speakers and Noopur)</p>
<p>6:40-7:15 pm - Open discussion (moderated by Noopur)</p>
<p> </p>
<h3>Speakers and Moderator</h3>
<p><strong>Anushree Gupta</strong> is a Research Associate at Tandem Research. She is interested in studying the embeddedness of technology in society, with a focus on technical workers. Her research interests include technology mediated work, digital technologies and labour sociology. Her masters thesis examined the structure and dissemination of training in vocational education institutes (ITIs). Anushree has worked professionally on software development projects, including game development and social media analytics. She holds an MA in Development Studies from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai and a B. Tech. (ICT) from DA-IICT, Gandhinagar.</p>
<p>Anushree studied dimensions of platform-work among taxi drivers in Mumbai for this project.</p>
<p><strong>Rajendra Jadhav</strong> is working as a research consultant, research fellow, researcher and research mentor with various non government organisations and academic institute for last 12 years. Rajendra has worked with Tata Institute of Social Sciences Mumbai as a Research Officer, as Program Director for PUKAR’s Youth Research Fellowship Program, and with National Dalit Watch - NCDHR, New Delhi as a National Coordinator for Research and Advocacy. Rajendra has pursued MA in Media and Cultural Studies from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.</p>
<p>Rajendra studied dimensions of platform-work among food delivery persons in New Delhi for this project.</p>
<p><strong>Sarah Zia</strong> is an education reporter working with Live Mint, and has previously worked with the Times of India and has undertaken an independent study of mobility and transport in Delhi (focusing on paratransit in Delhi and the Delhi Ring Railway). Sarah has pursued MA in Mass Communication from AJK Mass Communication Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi.</p>
<p>Sarah studied dimensions of platform-work among taxi drivers in New Delhi for this project.</p>
<p><strong>Simiran Lalvani</strong> is currently working as a Consultant at Microsoft Research on a Future of Work project. She has an MA in Development and Labour Studies from the Centre for Informal Sector and Labour Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi.</p>
<p>Simiran studied dimensions of platform-work among food delivery persons in Mumbai for this project.</p>
<p><strong>Noopur Raval</strong> is a PhD researcher at the University of California Irvine where she studies issues of labor technology. She has also worked with the Wikimedia Foundation and Microsoft Research in the past. She is interested in questions of intersectionality, and is an avid consumer of popular culture and food.</p>
<p>Noopur is a co-principal investigator of this project (along with Sumandro).</p>
<p> </p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/raw/platform-work-india-panel-discussion-20190719'>https://cis-india.org/raw/platform-work-india-panel-discussion-20190719</a>
</p>
No publishersumandroRAW EventsGig WorkDigital LabourPlatform-WorkResearchers at WorkEventMapping Digital Labour in India2019-07-20T11:58:19ZEventDiscussion on Open Standards with Bernd Erk and Jiten Vaidya
https://cis-india.org/openness/events/discussion-on-open-standards-with-bernd-erk-and-jiten-vaidya
<b>Rootconf organised a discussion on open standards at CIS Bangalore office. Zainab Bawa, Karan Saini and Anwesha Das coordinated and organised the event.</b>
<p>The discussions created awareness on:</p>
<ol>
<li>Consequences of building your applications around non-open standards.</li>
<li>Risks associated with non-open standards.</li>
<li>How to build your applications around open standards.</li>
</ol>
<p>Open standards are important for:</p>
<ol>
<li>Business</li>
<li>Application development</li>
<li>Communications</li>
<li>Open internet</li>
</ol>
<p> </p>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="text-align: justify; "><span>The event kicked off with Bernd Erk talking about how the convenience of availing services from a few 'cloud' providers is killing open standards in the space. </span>Jiten Vaidya then discussed his experience running a successful open source product and business, and the future of open standards in the space. Kiran Jonnalagadda and Gurshabad Grover contributed to and moderated the subsequent discussion.</div>
<p> </p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/openness/events/discussion-on-open-standards-with-bernd-erk-and-jiten-vaidya'>https://cis-india.org/openness/events/discussion-on-open-standards-with-bernd-erk-and-jiten-vaidya</a>
</p>
No publisherAdminOpen StandardsOpennessEvent2019-07-04T16:53:37ZEventTrain-the-Trainer 2019 at Vishakhapatnam
https://cis-india.org/a2k/events/train-the-trainer-2019-at-vishakhapatnam
<b>Train-the-trainer 2019 (TTT 2019), residential training program to groom leadership among the Indian Wikimedia community members, is going to happen in Visakhapatnam during 31 May, 1 and 2 June 2019 at Fairfield by Marriott Hotel at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. </b>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">TTT 2019 is the 6th iteration in the earlier iterations happened in 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. Based on internal needs-assessment conducted annually by CIS-A2K tweaks and improvises the design and expected outcomes of TTT every year. This year, <a href="https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/CIS-A2K/Work_plan_July_2018_-_June_2019/Skill_Building_Initiatives#Annual_Train-the-Trainer">A2K planned</a> to involve communities or community members in planning, and organizing the event to be more transparent. This year A2K has two major changes in organising the TTT.</p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><span>Indic communities were asked to take part in the bidding process in order to </span><a href="https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/CIS-A2K/Events/Train_the_Trainer_Program/2019/Bids">express interest </a><span>to host this iteration of TTT. Based on the bidding process, this year A2K is going to collaborate with </span><a href="https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/VVIT_WikiConnect">VVIT Wikiconnect</a><span> to host TTT 2019 in Visakhapatnam.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify; ">Wikimedians from various language and project communities showed interest to attend TTT 2019. The jury considered these applications and selected 24 participants from 13 language and project communities. A2K involved Experienced Indian Wikimedians who are not part of CIS-A2K in the jury. Apart from the details provided by applicants over application form jury members made attempts to know more about participants and reached out some of them over brief telephone calls. Based on set parameters and analysis jury made decisions. Find the <a href="https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/CIS-A2K/Events/Train_the_Trainer_Program/2019#Participants">selected participants’ list</a><span> here.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span id="docs-internal-guid-e1a35ed5-7fff-8fd6-c765-2b6b3e8cb367"> </span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Please find </span><a href="https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/CIS-A2K/Events/Train_the_Trainer_Program/2019"><span>the event page</span></a><span> for further details.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/a2k/events/train-the-trainer-2019-at-vishakhapatnam'>https://cis-india.org/a2k/events/train-the-trainer-2019-at-vishakhapatnam</a>
</p>
No publisherpavanCIS-A2KEventAccess to Knowledge2019-05-24T02:21:19ZEventWikimedia Education SAARC conference
https://cis-india.org/a2k/events/wikimedia-education-saarc-conference
<b>Centre for Internet & Society's Access to Knowledge team (CIS-A2K) happy to announce that, Wikimedia Education SAARC conference 2019 programme submissions (proposals) are open from today, 25 April 2019. Deadline for applying for scholarship is 20 May 2019. The conference organized by Christ University in association with CIS-A2K will be held from 20 - 22 June 2019 at Christ University in Bengaluru. The event is being co-organized by Wikimedia Foundation and Wikipedia & Education User Group.</b>
<p id="_mcePaste" style="text-align: justify;">Education is a core function of the Wikipedia project. Many Wiki chapters, the Wikimedia movement, user groups and affiliates are developing education programs across the globe. Wiki has been used as a teaching resource by many teachers. Students are doing assignments on Wiki and adopting modern technologies. The Wikimedia and Education movements have the same goal - to ensure that knowledge is made accessible to every person across the world.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The CIS-A2K team, for instance, is working with the language department of Christ University and other educational institutions to enrich the content of Indic Wikimedia projects with the help of students. Globally many students and educators are involved in the Wikimedia movement and the Education movement working towards democratising education and increasing accessibility of education materials. We believe that students should not only consume knowledge available on the internet but also be a part of the larger Open Internet movement, and help in creating open knowledge resources. The Wikimedia Education SAARC conference will be the first of its kind conference involving SAARC countries, engaging students, education program leaders, educators and researchers working with the Open Education and free knowledge movement.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">This conference will allow us to understand the different efforts made by the communities involved in the Wikimedia Education movement. This will help us to create models, templates and documents that can be replicated in by other institutions or programs. We at CIS A2K were inspired to host such a conference through the course of our work with Christ University. This will be one of the many projects that will be able to use the conference as a platform to showcase their work among the global Wikimedia movement.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">Conference Goals</h3>
<ul>
<li>To generate awareness of Wikipedian Education programs and activities happening in Asia by different community members/languages.</li>
<li>Sharing the knowledge and best practices of how to build "trust relationship" with new partners/teachers and how to improve trust in Wikipedia.</li>
<li>Challenges on student retention and how to engage students in the broader Wikimedia movement.</li>
<li>The best method to evaluate and measure the quality of the work done by students.</li>
<li>To introduce tools like the dashboard, across diverse languages, and other tools which will be useful for tracking, assessment, allocation of the topics and others.</li>
<li>Integration of Wiki activities with academic assignments, regular course syllabus.</li>
<li>To bridge the gap and develop a mutually beneficial liaison between Wiki communities and Wikimedia Education stakeholders.</li></ul>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='https://cis-india.org/a2k/events/wikimedia-education-saarc-conference'>https://cis-india.org/a2k/events/wikimedia-education-saarc-conference</a>
</p>
No publisherAdminCIS-A2KEventAccess to Knowledge2019-06-22T09:30:46ZEvent