P70 ICT & development

Amnesty International's research on TikTok found that algorithms promote biased content, amplifying harmful and discriminatory material. https://thewire.in/tech/amnesty-international-warns-of-tech-systems-perpetuating-gender-inequalities-and-discrimination “Marginalised groups, including women and LGBTI people, face threats to their human rights due to extensive and improper data collection practices that do not reflect their individual realities. This under-regulated accumulation and processing of vast amounts of data not only constitutes harmful mass surveillance but also entrenches discrimination against women and LGBTI people,” Amnesty said. In Pakistan, for instance, the suspension of the ‘X’ category on its Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) left thousands of transgender and gender-diverse individuals without valid documents, denying them fundamental rights like voting and healthcare access. The brief also highlights barriers to accessing information on sexual and reproductive health, rights, and services, such as abortion, particularly for women and LGBTI people. Limiting access to health information constitutes a violation of the right to health, as seen in the United States, where “abortion rights activists and organisations have reported removals of abortion-related content on Meta and TikTok, effectively preventing people from accessing life-saving information”. 15/07/2024