In a world increasingly shaped by technology, the Legal Resources Centre's Democratising Big Tech dives into critical conversations at the intersection of technology, law, and human rights. From the shadowy underbelly of misinformation and disinformation to the pervasive threats of surveillance, hacking, and cybersecurity, this initiative unpacks the pressing issues that impact communities worldwide.
We explore topics like:
- The ethical and legal implications of surveillance technology and spyware.
- How misinformation and disinformation campaigns influence elections, media, and society.
- The systemic challenges of online discrimination, sexism, and xenophobia.
- The balance between privacy rights and national security in the digital age.
Through expert interviews, real-life stories, and legal insights, Democratising Big Tech aims to shed light on how individuals and communities can navigate, challenge, and transform the digital revolution to ensure accountability, transparency, and equity in Big Tech.
Join us to unpack the big questions surrounding Big Tech and chart a path toward a more just, equitable digital future.
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In a world increasingly shaped by technology, the Legal Resources Centre's Democratising Big Tech dives into critical conversations at the intersection of technology, law, and human rights. From the shadowy underbelly of misinformation and disinformation to the pervasive threats of surveillance, hacking, and cybersecurity, this initiative unpacks the pressing issues that impact communities worldwide.
We explore topics like:
- The ethical and legal implications of surveillance technology and spyware.
- How misinformation and disinformation campaigns influence elections, media, and society.
- The systemic challenges of online discrimination, sexism, and xenophobia.
- The balance between privacy rights and national security in the digital age.
Through expert interviews, real-life stories, and legal insights, Democratising Big Tech aims to shed light on how individuals and communities can navigate, challenge, and transform the digital revolution to ensure accountability, transparency, and equity in Big Tech.
Join us to unpack the big questions surrounding Big Tech and chart a path toward a more just, equitable digital future.
In this episode of Legal Resources Radio, we continue our deep dive into South Africa’s surveillance landscape, shifting our focus to one of the most controversial surveillance tools today—facial recognition technology (FRT). Our host is joined by Murray Hunter, a public interest advisory expert from ALT Advisory, a Bertha Fellow, and a Ruth First Fellow, whose work focuses on communication surveillance, data protection, and digital rights.
Together, they unpack what facial recognition technology really is, debunking the Hollywood myths of flawless crime-solving systems and revealing the harsh realities of its implementation in South Africa. While this technology is often introduced under the guise of crime prevention, Murray explains why its effectiveness is highly questionable—especially given its well-documented biases against people of color, its inaccuracies, and the risks it poses to fundamental rights and freedoms.
We also explore the growing role of private companies in driving facial recognition adoption, how global tech firms are exporting this technology to South Africa, and why our government’s attempts to build its own biometric database remain a cause for concern. Beyond the technical and legal challenges, we discuss the historical and political implications of mass surveillance in a country with a legacy of apartheid-era state control.
With crime being a major concern for many South Africans, there’s an increasing push for security-first solutions like facial recognition. But does it actually reduce crime, or does it merely shift it elsewhere? And at what cost to our civil liberties?
Join us for this thought-provoking discussion as we critically assess whether South Africa is truly becoming a surveillance state—or simply a state being surveilled.
Legal Resources Radio
In a world increasingly shaped by technology, the Legal Resources Centre's Democratising Big Tech dives into critical conversations at the intersection of technology, law, and human rights. From the shadowy underbelly of misinformation and disinformation to the pervasive threats of surveillance, hacking, and cybersecurity, this initiative unpacks the pressing issues that impact communities worldwide.
We explore topics like:
- The ethical and legal implications of surveillance technology and spyware.
- How misinformation and disinformation campaigns influence elections, media, and society.
- The systemic challenges of online discrimination, sexism, and xenophobia.
- The balance between privacy rights and national security in the digital age.
Through expert interviews, real-life stories, and legal insights, Democratising Big Tech aims to shed light on how individuals and communities can navigate, challenge, and transform the digital revolution to ensure accountability, transparency, and equity in Big Tech.
Join us to unpack the big questions surrounding Big Tech and chart a path toward a more just, equitable digital future.
