crisis mapping and the middle east: revolutionizing the technology
TRANSCRIPT
Crisis Mapping and the Middle East: revolutionizing the
technology
Anahi Ayala IacucciInnovation Media Advisor [email protected]
Crisis Mapping
Crisis Mapping can be described as combining the following 3 components: information collection, visualization and analysis. All of these elements are within the context of a dynamic, interactive map. So typically people use the following taxonomy:
1. Crisis Map Sourcing2. Crisis Map Visualization3. Crisis Map Analysis
: CROWDSOURCING, MAPPING, AND CROWDFEEDING TOOL
Ushahidi, which means “testimony” in Swahili, began as a one-off deployment for mapping reports of election violence after the December 2007 Kenyan elections. Ushahidi is a crowdsourcing mapping system that people to report into the platform by web submission, SMS, Twitter or e-mail. The Ushahidi platform is right now being used in more than 30 countries and 60 projects, from electoral monitoring in Burundi to violence in Congo to Early Warning system in the Rift Valley.
WHAT IS USHAHIDI?
Platform Methodology
WHAT IS USHAHIDI?
Platform
Methodology
Case studies:
• Egypt: “The Bee Project”
• Sudan: “The Jan30 Crowdmap”
• 2,700 reports• 211 pictures• 323 videos• 91.3% ✓• 56,928 hits
Editorial Board
Cairo Mansoura Said Assuit Alexandria
Regional Coordinator
Verification Team
Mapping Team
Electoral Monitors CrowdNGOsJournalists
SECURITY
• Lebanon Team • US support (SIPA New Media Task Force Team,
VTC)• Security protocols with different options• Phone check in case of arrest• Use of Skype for internal communication (PSW)• Last minute plan to overcome Egyptian law on
SMS• Multiple copies of the platform• Separate Domains• Keeping Constant contacts with the National
Security
HOW DO WE EVALUATE THIS PROJECT?
GOAL 1: TO HELP EGYPTIAN CITIZENS AND INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ELECTORAL PROCESS
• Publication of the electoral laws in Egypt• Publication of the Egyptian constitution with amendments• Publication of applicable human rights conventions• Publication of up to date news on the electoral process and electoral campaign• 40,000 visited the website
GOAL 2: TO HIGHLIGHT AND SEEK REDRESS OF VIOLATIONS OF ELECTORAL LAWS
• There are 1500 case of electoral violations in front of Egyptian courts…
…but we don’t know if those
violation complains are related to the use of this platform, or if the presence of the platform has (or will be) in any of those cases
GOAL 3: RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT CITIZEN RIGHTS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PARTICIPATION IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS
• Online Network where on going discussions were happening:Web Site (media monitoring and electoral education)Facebook Fan PageTwitter AccountBlogs (two: one in English and one in Arabic)
• Media Coverage5 Programs on BBC & BBC Arabic Channels.1 Egyptian Channel (10 O'clock Program)Articles and features in more than 10 different languagesMore than 100 Press releases (many language) (Local & International) (Printed & Online)
GOAL 4: TO PROVIDE EGYPTIAN CITIZENS WITH ACCURATE INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF
ELECTION-RELATED VIOLATIONS
• 2700 reports• 44,000 visits from Egypt• 90% of reports were verified
GOAL 5: TO EMPOWER LOCAL PARTNERS TO ADVOCATE FOR CLOSER ADHERENCE
TO ELECTORAL LAWS AND FAIR PRACTICES IN THE CAMPAIGN AND ELECTION PERIOD
U-Shahidi had an impact on the discussion in local and international media about the elections.
Sudan: January 30th, 2011
Transparency and security
Social Media ..or dangerous media?
Outcome:
• The platform was closed after 2 weeks • All of the activists in Sudan ended up closing
their FB pages and disconnecting from Internet for some time
• Several people were arrested, tortured, intimidated or disappeared
1. Not enough organization on the ground2. Protesters were very much predictable to the NCP
members3. No previous knowledge on the ground of digital and
social media4. Very skilled tech savvy repressive regime5. No previous experience in this kind of operation from
people on the ground
Problems
What is next?
People will use new technologies no matter
what! (and even if they do not
really know how..)
Technology is not bad..people are!
The more people have access to technology and the more technology it is easy to use, the more we need to be there to teach, share, inform
and build local capacity.
1. Data Protection2. Security3. Do Not Harm4. Privacy
What do people not necessarily know?
Are we in front of the rise of new rights?
• Right to internet?• Can the internet harm?• What is privacy on Facebook and Twitter?• Can you remotely violate a national law?• Intelligence vs privacy
So, what to do?
1. Share lessons learned2. Create new protocols, new standards3. Talk about failures and risks4. Make sure people do know what they do (easier
to say than to do)5. Get the broader community involved6. Let people understand that if there is no
preparation on the ground technology can only make it worst
