The entire business model of Silicon Valley breaks down without monopolistic control of user data & interactions, and this is why our approach hasn't been pursued by many in the technology industry to date. Read more…
In November 2019, three members of the Digital Democracy team travelled high up the Pastaza River in the Peruvian Amazon to the small oil town of Andoas, near the border with Ecuador. The purpose of the trip was to train Indigenous land defenders to use MAPEO for collecting and sharing evidence of oil spills on their territory. Read more…
The common thread that connects all facets of Gunner’s work is a focus on open approaches to capacity building and knowledge sharing in social change efforts. We’re taking a moment to explore the intersection of technology and human rights. Read more…
Five years ago, we asked ourselves an important question: Why can't frontline communities do mapping and monitoring work themselves? Why does Mapeo need to exist? Read more…
We commemorate our first decade and look to the future, exploring some of what we’ve learned in conversation with partners, allies, and others working at the intersection of technology and social justice. Read more…
In the past week, news of fires in the Amazon Basin spread through social media threads & news sites, sparking outrage, debate, resignation, denials and more. What’s really happening, what’s at stake, and what is there to be done about it? Read more…
In January 2019, Digital Democracy received a grant from SamsungNEXT to help build components for local-first peer-to-peer mapping technology. This is a brief summary of what we've been focused on using this grant. Read more…
Last month the Waorani hit the headlines worldwide due to their landmark win against the Ecuadorian Government, contesting a new oil block created without adequate consultation. The territory maps the Waorani have been making with us played an important role in the legal case. Read more…
How do you celebrate 10 years of an organization? Last month, the Digital Democracy team answered that question with a 10th birthday party, thanks to sponsorship from Mapbox, Saucey, and a fabulous volunteer host committee in San Francisco, California. Read more…
Today, August 9, is International Indigenous Peoples Day. To celebrate, we’ll be sharing a series of posts in the next few weeks introducing you to some of the people whom we are proud to count amongst our friends and colleagues. Read more…