Guy Berger
@guyberger.bsky.social
Consultant. Former UNESCO director for free expression and media development. Emeritus professor journalism & media studies, Rhodes University, South Africa. https://commspolicy.africa/
Tomorrow Tuesday, a webinar on prospects for information as a public good - in the face of Generative AI. Along with the idea of Re-generating AI. Work within the system, or outside of it? We'll debate this as part of the International Panel on Social Progress www.linkedin.com/posts/guy-be...
Generative AI - how does it impact prospects for information as a public good?
Generative AI companies aren’t exactly making things don’t look good for the information ecosystem.
Courtesy of them… | ...
Generative AI - how does it impact prospects for information as a public good?
Generative AI companies aren’t exactly making things don’t look good for the information ecosystem.
Courtesy of them, we...
www.linkedin.com
October 27, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Tomorrow Tuesday, a webinar on prospects for information as a public good - in the face of Generative AI. Along with the idea of Re-generating AI. Work within the system, or outside of it? We'll debate this as part of the International Panel on Social Progress www.linkedin.com/posts/guy-be...
"AI systems are reshaping Africa’s relationship with the global economy, determining whether the continent remains locked into extractive relationships or develops genuine technological sovereignty." And journalists are missing this story. www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/...
African media must follow the money and treat AI as a story about power, not tech
AI systems are reshaping Africa’s relationship with the global economy, determining whether the continent remains locked into extractive relationships or develops genuine technological sovereignty.
www.dailymaverick.co.za
August 6, 2025 at 2:10 PM
"AI systems are reshaping Africa’s relationship with the global economy, determining whether the continent remains locked into extractive relationships or develops genuine technological sovereignty." And journalists are missing this story. www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/...
Reposted by Guy Berger
this is pretty shitty blog.cloudflare.com/perplexity-i...
Perplexity is using stealth, undeclared crawlers to evade website no-crawl directives
Perplexity is repeatedly modifying their user agent and changing IPs and ASNs to hide their crawling activity, in direct conflict with explicit no-crawl preferences expressed by websites.
blog.cloudflare.com
August 4, 2025 at 7:42 PM
this is pretty shitty blog.cloudflare.com/perplexity-i...
Reposted by Guy Berger
My new piece, “AI is Not Africa’s Savior: Avoiding Technosolutionism in Digital Development,” is published on @brookings.edu!
I reflect on the need to put the lived experiences and needs of African communities over AI hype, which is becoming prominent.
www.brookings.edu/articles/ai-...
I reflect on the need to put the lived experiences and needs of African communities over AI hype, which is becoming prominent.
www.brookings.edu/articles/ai-...
AI is not Africa’s savior: Avoiding technosolutionism in digital development | Brookings
Chinasa T. Okolo discusses how Africa can ensure AI progress serves the contitnent's broader goals of social and economic empowerment.
www.brookings.edu
August 1, 2025 at 3:17 PM
My new piece, “AI is Not Africa’s Savior: Avoiding Technosolutionism in Digital Development,” is published on @brookings.edu!
I reflect on the need to put the lived experiences and needs of African communities over AI hype, which is becoming prominent.
www.brookings.edu/articles/ai-...
I reflect on the need to put the lived experiences and needs of African communities over AI hype, which is becoming prominent.
www.brookings.edu/articles/ai-...
Reposted by Guy Berger
Between Musk & the Trump administration, Media Matters has been squeezed to the brink. In settlement discussions, lawyers for X demanded the organization hand over all its cash and shut down — all because MM reported ads appeared on X next to antisemitic content. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/25/u...
Under Siege From Trump and Musk, a Top Liberal Group Falls Into Crisis
www.nytimes.com
July 25, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Between Musk & the Trump administration, Media Matters has been squeezed to the brink. In settlement discussions, lawyers for X demanded the organization hand over all its cash and shut down — all because MM reported ads appeared on X next to antisemitic content. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/25/u...
A new policy brief gives a little-heard perspective on AI. Informed by African interests in the 2025 processes of the G20, the authors signal potent connections and problems within the international AI tech stack www.linkedin.com/posts/guy-be...
A new policy brief gives a little-heard perspective on AI. | Guy Berger
A new policy brief gives a little-heard perspective on AI. Informed by African interests in the 2025 processes of the G20, the authors signal potent connections and problems within the international A...
www.linkedin.com
July 14, 2025 at 1:45 PM
A new policy brief gives a little-heard perspective on AI. Informed by African interests in the 2025 processes of the G20, the authors signal potent connections and problems within the international AI tech stack www.linkedin.com/posts/guy-be...
A call for the G20 to come out in support of payment by AI companies for scraping news websites: media20.org/wp-content/u...
media20.org
July 10, 2025 at 9:55 AM
A call for the G20 to come out in support of payment by AI companies for scraping news websites: media20.org/wp-content/u...
Africa's Continental AI Strategy now has an implementation plan. The African Alliance for Access to Data (I'm convenor), urges the plan to reference: the relevance of Right to Information systems, Open Science & work towards Guidelines on access to data. dataalliance.africa/alliance-hig...
Alliance highlights data access as key for implementing the AU’s Continental AI Strategy - African Alliance for Access to Data
Data access is a critical component for implementing the African Union's Continental AI Strategy. To realise this point, tpecific text can be added to the implementation plan for the Strategy
dataalliance.africa
May 28, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Africa's Continental AI Strategy now has an implementation plan. The African Alliance for Access to Data (I'm convenor), urges the plan to reference: the relevance of Right to Information systems, Open Science & work towards Guidelines on access to data. dataalliance.africa/alliance-hig...
Can media get any mileage with the concept of "information integrity" and the 2025 agenda of the G20 countries? South African editors see possibilities media20.org/2025/05/16/m...
M20 policy brief: Information Integrity - Media20
media20.org
May 19, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Can media get any mileage with the concept of "information integrity" and the 2025 agenda of the G20 countries? South African editors see possibilities media20.org/2025/05/16/m...
Four categories of human rights are recognised by the African Union's draft study of AI, making for unique reading. But missing is access to data as part of the right to information as concerns digital dynamics. www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has published its… | Guy Berger
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has published its Draft Study on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, and Other New and Emerging Technologies in Af...
www.linkedin.com
May 9, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Four categories of human rights are recognised by the African Union's draft study of AI, making for unique reading. But missing is access to data as part of the right to information as concerns digital dynamics. www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
You've heard it's World Press Freedom Day, I hope. Needed more than ever. But where did it originate? With African journalists in 1991. You can see the story here: action-namibia.org/wp-content/u...
action-namibia.org
May 3, 2025 at 5:12 PM
You've heard it's World Press Freedom Day, I hope. Needed more than ever. But where did it originate? With African journalists in 1991. You can see the story here: action-namibia.org/wp-content/u...
achpr.au.int/en/news/pres...
On World Press Freedom Day, the ACHPR encourages "the media profession to make ethical use of AI systems in their operations and to be a watchdog that reports on the societal risks as well as opportunities of AI."
On World Press Freedom Day, the ACHPR encourages "the media profession to make ethical use of AI systems in their operations and to be a watchdog that reports on the societal risks as well as opportunities of AI."
World Press Freedom Day
WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY
03 May 2025
achpr.au.int
May 3, 2025 at 11:07 AM
achpr.au.int/en/news/pres...
On World Press Freedom Day, the ACHPR encourages "the media profession to make ethical use of AI systems in their operations and to be a watchdog that reports on the societal risks as well as opportunities of AI."
On World Press Freedom Day, the ACHPR encourages "the media profession to make ethical use of AI systems in their operations and to be a watchdog that reports on the societal risks as well as opportunities of AI."
Just published this co-authored report "Data deficits and democratic processes: The under-explored role of data in African elections". Find link and a summary of key points at www.linkedin.com/posts/guy-be...
*A new report gives insight into data and African… | Guy Berger
*A new report gives insight into data and African elections*
Digitalisation in Africa is very uneven, and the datafication of democratic processes follows the same pattern.
This is the picture emergin...
www.linkedin.com
April 22, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Just published this co-authored report "Data deficits and democratic processes: The under-explored role of data in African elections". Find link and a summary of key points at www.linkedin.com/posts/guy-be...
The African Union notes "with deep concern the recent regress by technology companies with regard to information integrity ..." & calls for "developing guidelines to ensure a public interest element for all platforms operating in Africa" achpr.au.int/en/adopted-r...
achpr.au.int/en/adopted-r...
achpr.au.int/en/adopted-r...
Resolution on developing Guidelines to assist States monitor technology companies in respect of their duty to maintain information integrity through independent fact checking - ACHPR/Res.630 (LXXXII) ...
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission) meeting at its 82nd Ordinary Session, held virtually from 25 February to 11 March 2025:
achpr.au.int
March 14, 2025 at 4:24 PM
The African Union notes "with deep concern the recent regress by technology companies with regard to information integrity ..." & calls for "developing guidelines to ensure a public interest element for all platforms operating in Africa" achpr.au.int/en/adopted-r...
achpr.au.int/en/adopted-r...
achpr.au.int/en/adopted-r...
Lots to do with data! This research uncovers where African elections are heading in terms of stakeholder use of data. Which group will get on top of the game first - Electoral commissions, political parties, researchers, FIMI actors? researchictafrica.net/2025/01/23/f...
Forthcoming report on data policy systems for democratic processes
Forthcoming research for the Advancing the Governance of Data for Development in Africa project shows five challenges regarding data access in African elections. Selected findings were shared in Decem...
researchictafrica.net
January 30, 2025 at 6:22 AM
Lots to do with data! This research uncovers where African elections are heading in terms of stakeholder use of data. Which group will get on top of the game first - Electoral commissions, political parties, researchers, FIMI actors? researchictafrica.net/2025/01/23/f...
Reposted by Guy Berger
I wrote for The Contrarian about my decision to leave the New York Times contrarian.substack.com/p/departing-...
Departing the New York Times
I left to stay true to my byline
contrarian.substack.com
January 28, 2025 at 6:46 PM
I wrote for The Contrarian about my decision to leave the New York Times contrarian.substack.com/p/departing-...
Excerpt from Kentridge clip on Mayakovsky
January 28, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Excerpt from Kentridge clip on Mayakovsky
2016, Kentridge and colleagues created the Centre for the less good idea... So the periphery comes into centre
January 28, 2025 at 5:42 PM
2016, Kentridge and colleagues created the Centre for the less good idea... So the periphery comes into centre
Kentridge recalls getting Mayakovsky's plays, while a student, which still today conveys energy and creativity to him as a reader
January 28, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Kentridge recalls getting Mayakovsky's plays, while a student, which still today conveys energy and creativity to him as a reader
Reposted by Guy Berger
Suspension of U.S. media aid: the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) calls for mobilisation of European donors.
europeanjournalists.org/blog/2025/01...
europeanjournalists.org/blog/2025/01...
Suspension of U.S. media aid: EFJ calls for mobilisation of European donors
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), one of the largest official aid agencies in the world, has been instructed to stop projects ...
europeanjournalists.org
January 28, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Suspension of U.S. media aid: the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) calls for mobilisation of European donors.
europeanjournalists.org/blog/2025/01...
europeanjournalists.org/blog/2025/01...
Reposted by Guy Berger
The Israeli authorities did not allow foreign journalists' access to Gaza, except embedded with the IDF, and at the same time, lambasted Gaza-trapped Palestinian journalists as biased or "militants". The news impasse must cease, say press freedom groups.
www.cbc.ca/news/world/j...
www.cbc.ca/news/world/j...
3 Palestinian journalists on covering the war in Gaza — and surviving it | CBC News
As foreign media members were not allowed into the Gaza Strip, the responsibility for reporting fell on the shoulders of local journalists who shot footage of their neighbours and sometimes their own ...
www.cbc.ca
January 28, 2025 at 4:19 PM
The Israeli authorities did not allow foreign journalists' access to Gaza, except embedded with the IDF, and at the same time, lambasted Gaza-trapped Palestinian journalists as biased or "militants". The news impasse must cease, say press freedom groups.
www.cbc.ca/news/world/j...
www.cbc.ca/news/world/j...
What will the artist William Kentridge have to say in his lecture at UCT Summer School, coming up shortly? Title: To Cross One More Sea. Perhaps that we always hope there is only one more to go. www.kentridge.studio/mhome/
Kentridge Studio
William Kentridge (born Johannesburg, South Africa, 1955) is internationally acclaimed for his drawings, films, theatre and opera productions.
www.kentridge.studio
January 28, 2025 at 5:31 PM
What will the artist William Kentridge have to say in his lecture at UCT Summer School, coming up shortly? Title: To Cross One More Sea. Perhaps that we always hope there is only one more to go. www.kentridge.studio/mhome/
The difference between censorship and content moderation? It's a question of whether international human rights standards govern limitations on expression
www.linkedin.com/posts/guy-be...
www.linkedin.com/posts/guy-be...
Guy Berger on LinkedIn: Listening now to Courtney Radsch, PhD introduce live the report of the…
Listening now to Courtney Radsch, PhD introduce live the report of the International Observatory on Information and Democracy. The report has a promising…
www.linkedin.com
January 15, 2025 at 4:52 PM
The difference between censorship and content moderation? It's a question of whether international human rights standards govern limitations on expression
www.linkedin.com/posts/guy-be...
www.linkedin.com/posts/guy-be...
This #Wapo investigation shows the impact how Musk used X to get 200m followers for political influence. What was a platform is now a weapon. Might we see similar instrumentalisation on X.ai ? www.washingtonpost.com/business/int...
Musk’s influence on X eclipses all members of the incoming Congress, combined
The tech billionaire’s X account blasts his political messages to an audience far bigger than Trump reaches on the platform, data analysis by The Post shows.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 19, 2024 at 9:17 AM
This #Wapo investigation shows the impact how Musk used X to get 200m followers for political influence. What was a platform is now a weapon. Might we see similar instrumentalisation on X.ai ? www.washingtonpost.com/business/int...
At Politikens Boghal in Copenhagen, I asked for Marietje Schaake's book "The Tech Coup". Sold out. Likewise at their sister shop. If there's a sequel - suggested title: "Tech *Capture* (of the US state)" - maybe one could fund a copy and dig into the post-election scenario. Coup to capture, right?
December 7, 2024 at 5:28 PM
At Politikens Boghal in Copenhagen, I asked for Marietje Schaake's book "The Tech Coup". Sold out. Likewise at their sister shop. If there's a sequel - suggested title: "Tech *Capture* (of the US state)" - maybe one could fund a copy and dig into the post-election scenario. Coup to capture, right?