In this presentation, researcher Amber Macintyre will share trends of how data and technology are used in election campaigns - whether informative or full of disinformation - from the last year around the world, demonstrating what to look out for in the upcoming Georgian elections.

Get the ugliest dashboard you can find the source file for, and bring it with you – it could be made with Tableau, Excel, or Plotly – doesn't matter.

During this workshop together we are going to make the dashboard look professional, tidy, and attractive by applying best practices of data visualization, UX design and storytelling.   

This is a hands-on practical workshop, so bring your laptop with an ugly dashboard for the best experience, but just watching is also OK. Bonus points if you have a real case and want to use this workshop to raise yor design to the next level.

To exercise the right to defend rights, everyone should be able to, for example, freely express their opinions, share ideas, and access publicly relevant information held by the authorities. They should also be able to access funds for their operations, to peacefully protest, and to form and join associations to defend human rights without illegitimate restrictions. The experience of human rights defenders in relation to this right reflects the openness of civic space, the overall democratic development of a country, and the freedoms enjoyed by its citizens. Monitoring if there is an enabling environment for people to exercise the right to defend rights is though not a simple task. Despite efforts, most countries are still unable to report on violations against human rights defenders to the global human rights and sustainable development mechanisms. On the other hand, civil society and national human rights institutions are meticulously documenting cases and gathering information on legislation, day-to-day environment of individuals and civil society operation, trends, processes and mechanisms related to these issues. This session will discuss impactful initiatives performed by state and non-state actors to fill the data gaps and trigger concrete actions to expand the enabling environment for human rights defenders. It will also introduce the newly developed concept of “citizen data” and how it is fostering dialogue and support for non-traditional data practices.

Teaching digital security to non-technical individuals poses a significant challenge. Journalists and citizens committed to disseminating information have become targets of surveillance technologies and tactics typically reserved for combating serious crime. Their data, whether in transit or storage, faces considerable risk. Extremist political groups also present a threat. Despite these dangers, data security often remains a low priority for many, including entire newsrooms and organizations. A group of journalists from Central Eastern Europe has been trained to deliver digital security workshops to individuals working with sensitive information as part of the Internews Digital Security Fellowship, utilizing VR and TTX techniques. The workshop will share insights gained through the M&E process, and all digital security-related questions will be addressed. Additionally, a VR headset demonstrating part of the training will be available for interested participants.

Foreign influence operations are no longer just an issue for governments – the information space is one to watch and protect for all domains, private sector included. Advanced technologies have only automated the problem, but also offer key solutions. This session will serve as an introduction to what information warfare is, who the actors are behind it, and how artificial intelligence is affecting it. Case studies will focus on Eastern Europe and Russia’s wars on Ukraine and Georgia, but also bring in perspectives from East Asia. This aims to be an overview for a wider audience, given that everyone from data scientists to journalists to business leaders must come together to fight this common threat.

Intergroup dehumanization, the denial of human qualities to an outgroup, is a significant issue in today's society. It reduces empathy, hinders prosocial behavior, and fuels aggression, especially in international conflicts. Dehumanization can increase support for war and war-related violence, as seen in genocides. This study focuses on blatant dehumanization between Ukrainians and Russians during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.  It highlights an under-researched aspect: the role of ingroup perception in dehumanization. While dehumanization often emphasizes outgroup inferiority, this study suggests it might be more about perceived ingroup superiority. Past research mostly focused on negative views of the outgroup without measuring the comparative nature of dehumanization.  Using a Large Language Model, the study analyzed Telegram posts classified as either dehumanizing or neutral, examining how differences in perceptions between groups contribute to dehumanization, particularly in relation to emotional polarization. The analysis also looks at how dehumanizing language varies between Ukraine and Russia, exploring the actors involved, the timing, and the language used.

Data storytelling helps communicate business stories using the language of data insights. It serves as a bridge, connecting the world of data analytics with business stakeholders. But what does the term mean, and how do you actually do it? This interactive workshop teaches how to find, write, and tell a data story.

In the first part of this lecture, Silvia Semenzin will explore the impact of AI systems on gender equality. She will begin by outlining what TFGBV is, why it is challenging to address, and how AI technology may exacerbate gender discrimination and bias. Through case study discussions, the session will examine the role of tech companies in either challenging or promoting gender equality. The second part of the lecture will focus on the potential of AI to promote gender equality and what a feminist AI should look like, before opening to Q/A.