#speakup barometer

Digital Participation Matters

What does it mean for citizens to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the Web? The #speakup barometer project assesses digital participation on a country basis. Find out about our approach and methodology.

Our latest country findings

#speakup barometer Pakistan Country Panel (DW)

Expert interview

David Kaye, UN-Sonderbeauftragter für Meinungsfreiheit

UN Rapporteur Kaye: We must support those who push back against authoritarian regimes

The UN's Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, David Kaye, says supporting platforms or companies in pushing back against authoritarian control is a key part of protecting and promoting digital participation.

Mark Surman, Executive Director Mozilla Foundation: Participating in the digital world is participating in society

The key to digital participation is a healthy Internet — and the responsibility is on users, experts, and governments, says the Mozilla Foundation’s Mark Surman.

Download our interactive roleplay on digital participation

Inspiring young people in Kenya's Kibera slum 17.01.2019

‘Kenyans must defend their digital rights’ 21.01.2019

From maize and millet to mobile phones, how digital media is transforming Ghana 29.11.2018

Methodology

Grafik speakup barometer research questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the #speakup barometer?

The #speakup barometer is a DW Akademie project that examines the connection between digital participation, freedom of expression and access to information.

What is our goal?

What is our approach?

What is our method?

What are the results?

Which countries are we studying?

Global Experts on Digital Participation

The Promise and Perils of Digital Participation: Global Experts weigh in

Jemila Abdulai, Blogger (Ghana)

“If you're using social media, you can actually access your capital. You can access the country next to yours, you can access an entire sub-region. Or even the entire continent.”
The Promise and Perils of Digital Participation: Global Experts weigh in

Regina Honu, CEO Soronko Academy

A major barrier to digital participation is gender: “Women should be given equal access just as men when it comes to digital. We must assure that all women, wherever they are, also have the opportunity to access data or go online.”
The Promise and Perils of Digital Participation: Global Experts weigh in

Guy Berger, Director for Freedom of Expression and Media Development (UNESCO)

“UNESCO has developed Internet Universality indicators to get an evidence base of what is happening in terms of rights, openness, accessibility, and multi-stakeholder practice. When you have that map, you can make recommendations for changes in policy by government, the companies operating there, the media, civil society, the technology people and by journalism developers and journalism teachers.”
The Promise and Perils of Digital Participation: Global Experts weigh in

Berhan Taye, #KeepitOn (Access Now)

“Participation online means that you're able to access information. And for any functional democracy, access to information is one of the basic rights and services provided by government.”
The Promise and Perils of Digital Participation: Global Experts weigh in

Rebecca MacKinnon, Director (Ranking Digital Rights)

“Digital platforms need to be clear with their users: who has access to their data under what circumstances? The companies need to really be proactive about anticipating what possible harms might come from their business and work to prevent those harms. Part of the problem is that the business model is set up for certain types of engagement that actually amplify harmful behaviors.”
The Promise and Perils of Digital Participation: Global Experts weigh in

David Kaye, UN Special Rapporteur

Companies such as Facebook “need to find ways to involve their users and civil society more in designing the rules of the platform,” in order to foster “a kind of democratic digital participation.”
The Promise and Perils of Digital Participation: Global Experts weigh in

Catherine Gicheru, ICFJ fellow / Country Manager (Code4Kenya)

Catherine Gicheru is concerned that digital platforms are too “urban based,” and leave out women’s voices: “If you don't hear 52 percent of your population then what policies are you going to come up with?”
The Promise and Perils of Digital Participation: Global Experts weigh in

Mark Surman, Executive Director (Mozilla Foundation)

“Participating in the digital world is participating in society. And the real question is how will we participate? Will it be good for humanity or in the service of a set of big companies?”