Shetechtive Uganda blog

A look at AI filters, bias, exploitation and what Africans can do about it By Rebecca Nanono, Contributor Introduction Artificial intelligence systems ,from generative text to face filters on apps , are only as smart as the data they are trained on. That means the billions of images, videos, recordings, messages, and internet activity that exist online influence how AI understands the world . And increasingly, African digital content , especially from young, creative users is being sucked into global AI models . This is not just a technical issue but a digital rights and power issue . In this blog, we explore the following. How African data fuels AI Why African women’s images and voices often appear in AI systems The risks of this dynamic What communities and policymakers can do The Data Behind the AI Curtain Modern AI systems, like those powering TikTok’s face filters or global large language models (LLMs), rely on large datasets drawn fr...

2025 was supposed to be the year artificial intelligence and data-driven systems finally delivered on their promise: efficiency, inclusion, and innovation. Instead, it became a year of hard lessons. Across governments, corporations, and platforms, repeated data and AI failures exposed a familiar truth.  Technology is only as ethical as the systems of power that shape it. For women, marginalized communities, and digital rights defenders, these missteps were not abstract “tech problems.” They had real consequences: surveillance without consent, automated exclusion, silencing of voices, and deepened inequalities. As we move forward, ending data and AI disasters must start with naming what went wrong. 1. Treating Data as a Resource, Not a Right One of the biggest missteps of 2025 was the continued framing of personal data as a commodity rather than a human rights issue. Governments and companies rushed to collect, share, and monetize data without meaningful consent, transparenc...

In today’s digital age, populism no longer relies solely on rallies, posters, or radio speeches. It thrives online, on social media timelines, encrypted messaging apps, livestreams, and viral videos. The internet has become a powerful political arena, one where emotions often travel faster than facts and where misinformation can shape public opinion long before the truth catches up. At its core, populism claims to speak for “the people” against a corrupt elite. While this framing can sometimes highlight real social grievances, in the digital era it is increasingly fueled by misinformation, disinformation, and simplified narratives that reduce complex realities into shareable slogans. The result is a digital ecosystem where fear, anger, and resentment are easily weaponized,and where women, girls, and marginalized communities often bear the greatest harm. The Digital Amplification of Populism Social media platforms were designed to maximize engagement, not accuracy. Algorithms rewa...

By Shetechtive Uganda In today’s world, information is no longer just something we look for, it is   something hunting us . Notifications ping before we wake up, timelines refresh before we blink, and algorithms seem to know what we’re thinking before we do. Welcome to the era of Man versus Information , a modern survival story where the battlefield is digital, the weapon is data, and the players are all of us, especially women navigating tech spaces in Uganda. Most of us once believed that more information meant more empowerment. And yes, it does, until it doesn’t. What happens when information stops being a resource and becomes a storm? When it overwhelms, manipulates, or misleads? When it blurs truth and fiction? When deepfakes distort realities, scams target the vulnerable, and misinformation fuels harmful narratives about women and minority groups online? This is not just noise. It is a new kind of digital pressure . At Shetechtive Uganda, we see it every day. Young w...