Recapping Saturday at MozFest
The first day of MozFest was electric with excitement and creativity. Ravensbourne College was plastered with advertisements for certain sessions — the walls on all nine floors, the elevators, the bathrooms, the coffee bar, and even in between stairs. Each floor was dedicated to one or two spaces with session rooms set up using dividers. Whimsical decor, such as a castaway island, garden, and circus, made the spaces come to life.
The diversity of sessions was astounding. From blockchain uses in film, academic research, or international development to self-defense online and offline to data mapping homelessness or marginalized communities, there was something new for everyone. Session facilitators brought alternative voices to existing conversations, such as net neutrality or fake news, or raised awareness for ones discussed less, such as the role of tech for people with disabilities.
In the Dialogue & Debates series, speakers discussed the urgent need for digital inclusion, web literacy, and digital rights and protections. Anasuya Sengupta of Whose Knowledge, an organization that curates knowledge from marginalized communities, started her session with colleague Siko Bouterse by saying, “We’re here to talk about how today’s Internet is being built for a majority by a minority.”
Mishi Choudhary, a technology lawyer, voiced similar sentiments. “The Internet promised education and empowerment for all,” Mishi said. The reality is that the web has become a platform for injustice, prejudice, hatred, and ignorance.
Attendees left Ravensbourne College with a better understanding of how the digital experience differs around the world and in various communities. Attendees discussed solutions to proposed problems, such as documenting refugees and empowering domestic violence survivors. Tomorrow at Ravensbourne and in the weeks and years to come, they will continue refining those ideas and working towards making a healthy Internet.
What was your favorite part of Saturday’s MozFest? What are you most looking forward to on Sunday?
