Participants at a symposium exploring challenges and opportunities for a more just digital future held a lively discussion on and offline on how the digital era has changed the notion of public space.
While the concept of “public space” has been around since ancient times, the landscape has turned digital, resulting in a confrontation between the so-called “elite” on the one hand and those fighting for a just society on the other.
If digital social justice begins with connectivity, perhaps it ends when that connectivity is usurped by oppressive regimes, extremists, fake news and hate speech. A “press club”-style conversation on 13 September found theologians, politicians, church communicators, activists and journalists from around the world weighing in on the short but exceedingly complex question, “Digital instruments – Blessing or Curse?”
Besides the dangerous monopoly structures in the digital economy, there is a danger for liberty and justice as they are crucial for pluralistic democracies in the digital world, says Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria. Bedford-Strohm is also chairperson of the council of the Evangelical Church in Germany and was a keynote speaker at the opening of the symposium exploring challenges and opportunities for a more just digital future, in Berlin on 13-15 September, and co-organized by the EKD.
As a teenager growing up in East Germany in the 1980s, Dr Ellen Ueberschär learned of freedom of speech in her church parish and believes that fundamental digital rights will not prevail on their own or through voluntary commitments by corporations.
Digital justice for Kenyan Samson Waweru is clear, as he believes there should be equal access to both cyber and print information for those who have disabilities and those who do not.
When using a computer, he says in a video interview with World Council of Churches (WCC) programme executive Joy Eva Bohol that it applies to social media platforms and access to them.
Dr Salters Sterling, 84, readily sees the ties between his three biggest passions: the ecumenical movement, supporting people on the periphery of society, and speaking out on what churches need to do to survive in today’s digital world.
Sterling spent his career as a senior university administrator of Trinity College in Dublin, then began teaching there after he retired.
Digital justice is relevant to everyone in the digital age, yet it is more important to those living under an autocratic government that can use digital technologies for surveillance of civilians, says a Protestant Christian who works in advocacy.
Her work involves supporting non-governmental organizations (NGOs) across Asia and Europe, and she asked for her name not to be used.
Since my first breath until today I have been extremely blessed to have lived my dreams. Life has been challenging and tough. But—no fun in living without a fight! I will continue to grow as I am absolutely blessed to have been surrounded by love and people who believe in me.
An upcoming international symposium, scheduled for 13-15 September, will explore some key questions to help us map a more just digital future, a future that “increasingly calls for deeper reflection and new thinking in philosophy, ethics, jurisprudence, and theology,” said World Council of Churches (WCC) acting general secretary Rev. Prof Dr Ioan Sauca.
Jorge González Nuñez, 29, lives in Matanzas, Cuba. Nuñez serves as president of the Movimiento Estudiantil Cristiano de Cuba, and studies theology at the Seminario Evangélico de Teología de Matanzas.
On Monday, 13 September, the International Symposium for Communication for Social Justice in a Digital Age will begin online at 10 am CET in Berlin, Germany and continue until 5 pm CET on Wednesday, 15 September.
Ukrainian journalist and radio host Katya Potapenko says digital justice remains a goal and not a reality. "For me, digital justice is a possibility of fair access to digital platforms and devices, regardless of country of origin, social status or other features," said Potapenko, a World Student Christian Federation volunteer.
Media and communicators are invited to an online “press club” event during which they can speak candidly on the theme “Digital instruments – Blessing or Curse?”
Philip Lee is general secretary of the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC). Below, he reflects on some of the questions that will be explored during the upcoming international symposium “Communication for Social Justice in the Digital Age,” scheduled for 13-15 September.
A key part of the symposium will be hearing how communities around the world experience and address digital opportunities and challenges. Organiztions, churches, groups, community media and other community networks are invited to share their experiences, through case studies submitted in a variety of formats. Case studies will be included in the background for symposium participants, presented as part of the public resources of the symposium.