Envisioning a Tech Just and equitable world

a vector of a blue tree with pink fruits with text: Connecting communities of interest, digital education, power dynamic shifts and creating coalitions

Interconnectedness

Inviting different perspectives and lens to the roundtable

The chart features seven ellipses intersecting at the middle, where a catalyst logo is positioned. Each ellipse represents a distinct area: Transformative justice, gender, human rights, funder, migrant rights, tech literacy and access, governance, and disability.

Reimagining with permaculture design

What if we apply permaculture ethics to make a regenerative tech just world?

The chart comprises three intersecting circles: People Care, Fair Share, and Earth Care. People Care encompasses human needs, care, access, utility, and quality. Fair Share includes co-creation, co-ownership, community-driven initiatives, equality, and open-source practices. Earth Care focuses on reuse, repurpose, and reducing tech waste.

Tech Justice is at its infancy in the UK

Tech Justice is a relatively new term in the UK. Data Justice is seen as the closest definition to Tech Justice yet it does not encompass the larger framing of how it is connected to social justice. Overall, it requires a larger framing for different directions and concepts.

BIRDS EYE VIEW

Broad and applicable to mass concerns of how deployment of technology impacts communities.

Concerns closest to social justice give us a stronger sense of reframing the root causes e.g. migrant, racial justice

The chart features a horizontal pyramid with 'Social Justice' at its base and 'Tech Justice' at its apex

Digital in social justice

Digital justice

AI ethics

AI for good

Data
justice

Algorithmic justice

Tech justice encompasses everything in these circles and potentially more

ZOOM IN VIEW

More niche and narrow concerns based on projects tech experts are working on

Examples

  • Application of smart tech to problematic tech (predictive policing)
  • Data privacy

FUTURE STATE | VISION OF TECH JUSTICE

Tech Justice as an ecosystem

yellow sun
A vector of a blue tree with 3 fruits with texts Racial equity, regulation, gender equity

User control and data privacy as a protective canopy, providing shelter and privacy

a vector blue tree that has a fruit with text that reads Safe online community spaces

Access and accessibility act as the flowing rivers, providing equal opportunities for all to benefit from technology

Anti-oppressive use of technology as gentle breeze

vector representing wind

Fertile soil

Responsible design and development

Collaborative roots

Co-design and co-production including designers, developers, communities to meet specific needs for marginalised groups and match-making with those who work in social justice

Collaborative roots

Ethics and Human Rights

Power Shifts Possibilities

Military focused

pink arrow

People focused

Tech giants
ownership

pink arrow

Community
owned

Data owned

pink arrow

Data cooperatives

Expert-led design

pink arrow

Co-designed by all

Human harm

pink arrow

Uphold human rights

“If the sector supported as many nonprofits and individuals to skill up with digital and emerging tech the future of the sector could belong to smaller, nimble organisations that are digitally savvy. In turn, they could adopt the tools much faster than really large organisations and that in turn would shift power and could re-energise and galvanise the sector” - Zoe Amar

“If the sector supported as many nonprofits and individuals to skill up with digital and emerging tech the future of the sector could belong to smaller, nimble organisations that are digitally savvy. In turn, they could adopt the tools much faster than really large organisations and that in turn would shift power and could re-energise and galvanise the sector” - Zoe Amar

Expertise and knowledge are decentralised

How might we foster collaboration between tech experts and movement builders to address tech and social injustice?

How might we utilise open source platforms as knowledge sharing spaces for marginalised groups and encourage inclusive conversations?

Bridge the accessibility gap

Tech Justice requires making technology accessible, inclusive and community-owned.

"Those who are marginalised in terms of race, gender, ability, sexual orientation, and migrant status are not hard to reach. It is the tech giants or those in power or wealth you can't access e.g. Facebook, Bill Gates"

CHALLENGES AT PRESENT

Tech is NOT neutral by default.

It can have positive and negative impacts on individuals and communities. People need to have the digital skills to navigate responsibility and safety.

Biases encoded in tech

Biases leads to reinforcing and perpetuating existing systemic issues in society. Biases include class, race and gender which significantly impacts marginalised communities who are unrepresented in the design and development of training algorithms and technology.

Barriers to Tech Just world

The diagram depicts a barrier sign at the center, with arrows extending outward to various factors: access, skills, knowledge, funding, supremacy, patriarchy, and capitalism.

REPRESENTATIVES

OTHER INFOGRAPHICS

Tech Justice Overview Infographics

Download Tech Justice Overview

Roundtable Summary Infographics

Download Roundtable Summary 

Data Summary Infographics

Download Data Summary

Network and Communities Infographics

Download Network and Communities

Emerging Tech Infographics

Download Emerging Tech

Surveillance Infographics

Download Surveillance

World of Work Infographics

Download Data Summary
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