The Promise and Danger of Digital Organizing

With the advent of Web 2.0 and now exacerbated by Covid19, digital organizing has become increasingly central to federal, state and local campaigns. However, it is digital organizing’s global beginnings and reach that makes it so effective. From the Arab Spring in 2011, the Occupy movement that same year, the #MeToo movement in 2017, digital organizing has ushered in a new era of political movements, translating online action into in-person resistance.

Digital organizing functions in part due to the affordances of the tools available to us. Sometimes this means the social media apps we use daily and other times it includes tools meant to target specific populations, legislators or support campaign efforts. As digital organizing has grown in the past 10 years, so has the number of targeted tools. But they fundamentally involve the same components: existing networks, shareability, and public pressure. Social media apps such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter allow us to build loosely structured social networks based on personal beliefs and interests, which in turn help organizers to disseminate information to similar populations. This factor, coupled with the way applications are designed to instantaneously share information, allows information to spread more easily, while also providing a lower entry barrier for people who do not typically engage in political discussions.

The internet’s democratizing nature is one of the greatest strengths of digital organizing, bringing new people into the fold and lifting up stories that ordinarily would not gain exposure through traditional media. Last summer’s Black Lives Matter protests were sparked through witness videos shared on social media, ultimately leading to what analysts believe may be the largest movement in US history. At the peak of protests, half a million people were turning out in over 550 places nationwide, with marches and supply drops being coordinated via Facebook and safety precautions being shared on Instagram and Twitter. TikTok’s rise to popularity at this time led to a type of micro citizen journalism, as young adults captured their lived experiences of protest violence not being depicted in traditional media. The same radical transparency that emerged from live stream video during the Occupy protests and Spain’s 15M movement in 2011 lies at the center of TikTok’s potential as an advocacy tool.

As a public forum, social media also allows constituents to advocate for themselves by speaking directly to those in power, whether they be politicians or corporations. While citizens have been encouraged to contact their government representatives to effect change for decades, it is only now that these exchanges have become subject to public scrutiny, turning local issues into opportunities for collective advocacy. For corporations, this public pressure leads to an increase in corporate social responsibility since brands not only understand that consumers expect more, but also that their responses to both personal and social issues are now public for anyone to see. Issues of equity, social justice, environmental impact and labor rights are becoming more and more central to companies’ brands

However, many of the same affordances of digital tools have also been detrimental to democracies over the years, leading to an increase in misinformation and performative activism. Users who lack expertise or media literacy on a subject can appear as experts, leading to the spread of misinformation. While many associate the term “fake news” with the Trump administration, misinformation is in large a product of social media and polarization. In a study conducted by the University of Colorado, researchers found that out of a sample of 736 Facebook and Twitter users, those who identified as extremely conservative shared 26% of the fake news stories in the sample, while those who identified as extremely liberal shared 17% of the fake news stories. The prevalence of misinformation on both sides of the political spectrum points to some of the detrimental effects digital culture can have on democracy.

Ultimately, like any aspect of our lives that blends technology with civic life, social media as a political tool should be used intentionally, seeking to center and uplift the communities that need it most. Whether this be using Whatsapp to organize immigrant populations, revising data privacy policies, or building tools to limit the spread of misinformation, the technology should always work for the community, rather than around it.

The Future of Smart Cities and Local Governments

From aqueducts to grid plans, cities have been both the ultimate catalysts and ultimate tests for technological innovation. Yet, as new technologies emerge, their implementation into communities requires intentionality from every stakeholder, including municipal governments, law enforcement officials, and citizens. Despite its novelty, AI is no different. Accurately informed stakeholders can be the key to successful implementation, so let's dive in.

How Can AI help Government and Cities?

AI can help governments and city officials focus on what's most important - their citizens. With the capabilities of AI systems, we will see more efficient work for cities that invest in this technology.

With Artificial Intelligence (AI), Video Analytics, and Machine Learning, cities/counties can increase safety and security efficiency to achieve the Smart City vision. AI helps public agencies reduce costs by streamlining processes while increasing accuracy when performing tasks such as remotely monitoring events, analyzing data from surveillance cameras, investigating accidents, conducting inspections, and responding to emergencies.

Video analytics detects events that occur across the camera field of view (FOV) by extracting information from live video and video surveillance footage, enabling public safety agencies to act more swiftly - a critical factor in emergency response. In addition, cities and counties can now improve services with Video Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning (AI/ML), and mobile apps for citizen engagement.

These technologies are not new to public agencies that use them in their daily workflows. For example, in 2013, the FBI used Briefcam Video Synopsis to reconstruct the Boston Marathon bombings and identified the two suspects related to the bombing attack on record time.

Video Analytics enables public safety agencies to carry out procedures in the field with mobile apps and conduct sophisticated searches for objects, people, and text in the archived video. In addition, machine learning is used to interpret Big Data from various sources - such as police body-worn cameras, law enforcement attendance records, and 911 calls that identify victims of violence or high-risk situations. Moreover, Artificial Intelligence, Video Analytics, and Machine Learning can understand interactions between objects and people, enabling cities/counties to improve their safety and security strategies.

Our Changing Cities

The Covid19 Pandemic has entirely shifted city life. Cities were usually characterized by their crowded and bustling nature; we now live in cities defined by distance. AI cameras and occupancy monitoring systems can help ensure physical distancing in spaces by measuring the distance between occupants and tracking the number of people entering or leaving an area. These cameras can even detect whether or not someone is wearing a face mask, alerting you to any potential violations. These systems can be precious in public indoor spaces such as museums or government buildings. As public health guidelines shift daily, AI systems can take the stress of monitoring your areas for physical distancing and mask compliance. 

The pandemic has also transformed how we move around in cities, with some trading out public transportation for a car or others foregoing a commute altogether. So whether you have seen an increase or decrease in traffic due to the pandemic, AI systems can help you monitor and mitigate these impacts. 

Gainesville, Florida, is a prime example, where researchers from the University of Florida Transportation Institute fused a variety of data streams to identify high-risk intersections. Similarly, the City of Austin implemented a pilot program that utilizes the technology to track changes in traffic throughout the pandemic and optimize hundreds of traffic signals throughout the city accordingly. They have also implemented bike stops that use object classification technology to detect bikers and alert them to the next green light.

Urban Planners and Smart Cities

The urban planning process is complex and requires an understanding of the patterns and issues within a specific municipality. Using data from video analytics, planners can make informed decisions to ensure project success with tangible results, including even distribution of pedestrian traffic along sidewalks, resolving drainage problems in certain areas during heavy rainfalls. In addition, cameras can monitor the activity of the public spaces to understand where people are going, how long they stay there, and whether people return to specific locations regularly. 

Urban planners could use video content analysis in many ways for planning purposes, including identifying the number of people who pass through different locations throughout each day. This information can be helpful when deciding where to install services like street lights or bus stops. For example, a camera on a pole could tell an operator how many pedestrians cross a street each day at a particular time. Using that information could then determine the optimal placement of a new bus stop. In addition, planners can use analytics to identify areas with high rates of crime and traffic accidents- analyzing the specific times and days these activities occur to focus their efforts on those locations. 

Trained algorithms can detect unsafe traffic conditions in certain areas, such as speeding vehicles or icy roads. In the case of hazardous weather conditions, automated real-time signs can warn drivers and encourage increased caution. 

However, local governments still have some challenges to overcome when implementing these technologies out on the streets. According to a recent article from CIO magazine, "a constant struggle for IT is integrating new tools with legacy ones." As technologies for video analytics and big data mature, a thorough examination will be required to ensure the integration is as effective as it should be. In addition, all the systems and IoT devices should communicate between them, creating a seamless monitoring system for all government stakeholders. In summary, a single unified platform would enable the urban planning teams to visualize the data they need to do their job.

Final Thoughts

As new technologies emerge, they require intentionality from every stakeholder. Accurately informed stakeholders can be the key to a successful implementation of these novelties.

Ultimately, each of these technologies should receive input from community members before successful implementation, but informed officials and the informed public are the first steps to that community engagement process. Then, as these technologies continue to grow and change, we can capitalize on how they help keep our communities safe while continually striving for a better quality of life.

Engaging Incarcerated Populations During Covid-19

Confined living conditions and a constant flow of people in and out make prisons amplifiers for infectious diseases such as Covid-19. Keeping these populations safe while also maintaining avenues for long-term empowerment are critical as we emerge out of the pandemic into a changed world.

Education can be one of these avenues for long term empowerment, as demonstrated by college in prison programs throughout the country. According to a 2018 report by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 83% of released state prisoners returned to prison within 9 years of their release, and 44% returned within the first year. According to a Rand Corporation study, educational programming in prisons reduces recidivism by 43%. Beyond highlighting the positive effects of access to education in prisons, these statistics also reflect some of the major challenges of reentry, such as finding employment, re-building relationships with loved ones, and overcoming the stigma of incarceration.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2019, 72% of adults over 25 with a college degree were employed, showcasing the importance of higher education in today’s job market. Therefore, the ability to earn a college degree while in prison better equips returning citizens to compete in the job market.

Mneesha Gellman, Director of Emerson Prison Initiative and Political Science Professor at Emerson College stresses the importance of building an intellectual community through higher education programs, a factor that has become even more important in the wake of Covid-19. While Emerson faculty are no longer able to teach in person, students are continuing to self-facilitate classes, nominating a facilitator and notetaker for discussions. Since MCI Concord, the site for Emerson’s Prison Initiative, is a non-internet prison, students have also shifted towards writing and mailing in all of their assignments. Despite the challenges these shifts present, the intellectual solidarity created within this small cohort of committed students allows the program to continue during the pandemic.

While the Emerson Prison Initiative is working to support people on the inside, Emerson faculty are participating in other efforts to support people once they are released. Upon reentering society ex-prisoners are stigmatized. Rashin Fahandej — a transdisciplinary artist, filmmaker, and assistant professor of emerging media at Emerson College — explores these stereotypes of masculinity and the stigma of incarceration through her work, connecting formerly incarcerated fathers and federal probation officers with their children through digital storytelling.

Fahandej taught a partnered studio in the spring semester that connected Emerson students, federal probation officers, and formerly incarcerated fathers to explore questions of fatherhood and masculinity. The class began work on a virtual reality (VR) project, but when the campus was shut down, it quickly pivoted to an augmented reality (AR) project. Each student focused on creating a postcard with a QR code that would activate videos, photos, and audio messages provided by the fathers and probation officers.

Many participants expressed the ability to share stories they would not have otherwise been comfortable sharing if not for the work of the students. While presenting these stories to their families in the physical space of a VR experience may have been challenging for some, the distance provided by the AR postcards allowed for greater honesty for some fathers.

While both the Emerson Prison Initiative and co-creation AR project each transitioned very differently into socially distant modes, they each demonstrate partnerships between higher education and incarcerated or formerly incarcerated people focused on empowering and supporting these populations.