BHRIGHT’s Digital Technologies theme tackles some of the biggest human rights issues emerging from the increasing pervasiveness of tech in our daily lives.
From improved social connectivity to the scourge of misinformation and ‘fake news’, digital technologies can impact individuals and societies in both positive and negative ways.
The Digital Technologies theme investigates both sides of the coin from a human rights perspective: the use of digital tech to improve lives, livelihoods and communities, and the increasing misuse of emerging technologies in order to manipulate, monitor and mistreat people, in the process stripping away people’s right to privacy, agency and freedom.
Our researchers explore the ‘good’ side of digital technology, including its use in promoting social good and increasing sustainability, as well as the ‘bad’ or ‘ugly’ side, such as cybercrimes, the ‘digital divide’ and surveillance by the state.
Research areas include:
- The use and potential use of digital technologies in improving human rights, including: Smart Cities; social inclusion; increased transparency, visibility and accountability; and improved monitoring of human rights in areas such as human trafficking, child labour and modern slavery.
- The use and abuse of digital technologies in politics, including surveillance, election monitoring, election manipulation and the spreading of political rumours.
- Using digital technologies to achieve the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs).
- Digital technologies to enhance consumer rights, such as tracking the source of food, improved government budgeting and spending.
- The use of digital technologies to build social inclusion, especially for people in rural or remote areas or those in marginalised groups.
- The societal impact of digital misinformation and fake news.
- The ethical concerns and considerations of the use of digital technologies, from a human rights perspective.
- Using digital technologies to improve livelihoods in developing countries.
Theme leader
The Digital technologies theme is led by Dr Mohammad Hossain.
Theme resources
Academic publications
- ‘Are you a cyberbully on social media? Exploring the personality traits using a fuzzy-set configurational approach’, International Journal of Information Management (102537).
Dr Mohammad Hossain led this research in collaboration with Professor Matthew Warren from RMIT University, Mohammed Quaddus from Curtin University, Associate Professor Shahriar Akter from University of Wollongong and Professor Ilias Pappas from Norwegian University of Science and Technology and University of Agder.
