🌐 Crisis of Social Media Moderation - 16m in EU without checks online

14% of EU based X users have no human content moderators in their languages, according to new research from the Oxford Internet Institute. 16 million EU-based users of X don’t have moderators for their national language.  Hate speech in English is often flagged and removed quickly. But in many other languages - including Italian, Portuguese, Arabic and Spanish - especially on smaller platforms, dangerous content stays online unchecked. This moderation gap leaves entire communities exposed to harassment and disinformation.  The study also found gaps on LinkedIn. The lead author of the study, Manuel Tonneau speaks to Gareth.

 

📵 Sudan’s WhatsApp Ban: A Lifeline Cut Off

Sudan has blocked WhatsApp voice and video calls, citing vague security concerns. For families separated by war, aid workers, and journalists, this was a vital lifeline. The Keep It On coalition say the ban is less about safety
and more about control, worsening isolation and disrupting humanitarian relief. In conflict zones, connectivity isn’t optional - it’s survival.  They are calling for the ban to be lifted immediately.



The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert is Ania Lichtarowicz.

 

More on this week's stories:

Language
Disparities in Moderation Workforce Allocation by Social Media Platform

#KeepItOn: Time to end Sudan’s isolation; lift the WhatsApp block now

 

Production Manager: Liz Tuohy

Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz



For the PodExtra version of the show please subscribe via this link: https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/



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🌍The Crisis of Social Media Moderation
Moderation isn’t equal. New research shows social media
platforms fail non-English speakers — with dangerous consequences.”

📵 Sudan’s WhatsApp Ban

Sudan has blocked WhatsApp calls. For families in war, aid workers, and
journalists, that’s more than inconvenient — it’s survival cut off.



All this and more on Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast - out every Tuesday at 2100BST.


The podcast connecting global stories of technology, society, and the people living through them.













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A Ceasefire for the Digital Age

When war moves online, civilians and critical infrastructure become targets in new ways. In this episode, we unpack Access Now’s call for a digital ceasefire — a bold demand to protect human rights in cyberspace. What would it mean to declare peace in networks, servers, and code? And how do we hold governments and companies accountable in this invisible but devastating battlefield? Giulio Coppi, senior humanitarian officer author at Access Now and Marwa Fatafta, co-author of the recent report, Digital Ceasefire: The Path to Peace Goes Online are on the show.



The Science Behind DeepSeek’s Success

China’s DeepSeek R1 AI model has stunned the tech world — not just for its performance, but for how it was built. With no billion-dollar budgets and no shortcuts, the team leaned on efficiency and innovative training methods that are rewriting the rules of AI research. In this episode, we explore the science behind their success and what it reveals about the future of innovation and global competition in AI.



The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert is Ania Lichtarowicz.



More on this week's stories:

Digital Ceasefire: The path to peace goes online

The secrets of DeepSeek AI model revealed in landmark paper



 

Production Manager: Liz Tuohy



Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz

For the PodExtra version of the show please subscribe via this link: https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/



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Coming up this week on Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast:



🔌 War has gone digital. So must peace.What does it look like to demand a #DigitalCeasefire—not on the ground, but in the code, networks, and servers where conflict now spreads?

🧠 Meanwhile in China: a small AI lab just schooled the giants.DeepSeek’s R1 model made waves globally—not with limitless funds, but with clever, efficient science. No supercomputers. No hype. Just breakthrough innovation. We break down how they did it.



🌍 Two stories. One theme:
Technology is what we make it. It can safeguard rights or accelerate
disruption. It can be built by a handful of thinkers or a room full of servers.
The future isn’t just coming—it’s being coded, trained, and deployed right now.

Out every Tuesday @2100BST/2200CEST/1600EDT.


✨ Tune in to Somewhere on Earth for deep dives into tech that’s reshaping humanity’s future—ethically, efficiently, and unexpectedly.
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Artificial Intelligence isn’t coming — it’s already here. In Episode 102 of Somewhere on Earth – The Global Tech Podcast, host Ghislaine Boddington explores how AI is transforming the workplace, what it means for Africa’s young population, and who’s winning the global race for AI supremacy.



🤖 The Future of Work: Why AI Assistants Are Here to Stay

Alex Farrell, CEO of Autometry, believes AI assistants will soon be our digital colleagues, boosting productivity by taking over repetitive tasks while humans focus on creativity and decision-making. Her message is clear: AI is here now, and businesses must adapt.

🌍 Africa’s Youngest Generation: Can AI Earn Their Trust?

Dr. Wambui Kahara, CEO of Crystal Tribe Investments, highlights how Africa’s young, fast-growing population needs AI tools built with local languages and contexts. Without trust and cultural relevance, digital natives risk being left behind in the AI revolution.
⚡ AI Supremacy: Who’s Winning the Global Tech Race?

Bloomberg columnist Parmy Olson unpacks the battle between the US and China for AI dominance, warning that corporate ambition often overrides ethics and regulation. With rising concerns over trust, energy use, and mental health, the world must decide what price to pay for AI’s convenience. She also discusses her international best selling book "Supremacy: AI, ChatGPT and the Race That Will Change the World".

The programme is presented by Ghislaine Boddington.

 

More on this week's stories:

Alexandra Farell

Wambui Kahara

Parmy Olson

Supremacy: AI, ChatGPT and the Race That Will Change the World

 

Production Manager: Liz Tuohy

Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz



For the PodExtra version of the show please subscribe via this link: https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/

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In our next episode:



🚨 AI isn’t just the future — it’s already here.
From the workplace to Africa’s digital youth to the global AI race, the world is changing fast.

In this week’s Somewhere on Earth – The Global Tech
Podcast, host Ghislaine Boddington dives deep with:
🤖 Alex Farrell — why AI assistants could soon sit next to us at work.
🌍 Dr. Wambui Kahara — how Africa’s young generation can shape AI that truly speaks their language.
⚡ Parmy Olson — who’s winning the global AI race, and what it means for trust & innovation.

🎧 Episode 102 is out on Tuesday at 2100 BST!
👉 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Evergreen Podcasts:

https://open.spotify.com/show/65YZwVfA03MSdZ3198yLdb



#ArtificialIntelligence #FutureOfWork #AfricaTech #AISupremacy #GlobalTech #TechPodcast #DigitalTransformation #AIRevolution
#Innovation #SomewhereOnEarth

















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From underserved African languages to a revolutionary Braille
display — the latest Somewhere on Earth podcast covers stories that
matter.



Story 1 – AI and African LanguagesHausa, spoken by 94 million people, is understood by ChatGPT only 10-20% of the time. The issue? Lack of training data. A team behind African Next Voices has recorded 9,000 hours of speech across eighteen African languages, creating datasets to train AI and finally bring these languages online. Dr Ife Adebara CTO of EqualizeAI and Lead Solutions Engineer at Data Science Nigeria shares insights into the challenges, scope, and wider economic potential of this project.



Story 2 – Micro-Explosive BrailleMost braille displays only show one line at a time, limiting access to complex content. A team from Cornell, MIT, and Michigan Universities has developed a multiline braille display using micro-explosions of fuel gas in silicone sheets to raise dots safely and rapidly. Tested successfully with users, this innovation could bring tactile reading into classrooms, libraries, and homes, while opening applications in VR, AR, and biomedical research.

 

The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert is Ania Lichtarowicz.

 

More on this week's stories:

AI models are neglecting African languages — scientists want to
change that

Explosion-powered eversible tactile displays

 

Production Manager: Liz Tuohy

Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz

For the PodExtra version of the show please subscribe
via this link: https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/

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Find a Story + Make it News = Change the World
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🌍✨ Somewhere on Earth is back!
This week:🔹Why AI fails 94M Hausa speakers — and the project fixing it.🔹The explosive new Braille tech changing classrooms forever.



🎧 Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast

|New episodes every Tuesday 21:00 BST.



#Podcast #AI #Africa #Braille #TechForGood
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The Internet is unsafe if you’re LGBTQ+ in Africa – and Big Tech isn’t helping

Being online should be empowering - but for LGBTQ+ communities across Africa, it’s often dangerous. A new survey from digital rights group Access Now reveals how queer people are suffering harassment, threats, and abuse across social platforms. Instead of offering protection, major tech companies are turning a blind eye, leaving millions vulnerable. On this episode, we speak to Jaimee Kokonya, Africa Campaigner at Access Now, about the reality of digital life when simply logging on can put your safety at risk.



Your AI browser extension could be spying on you

Those handy AI browser assistants might be giving away more than they promise. A team at University College London has revealed that some of these popular extensions are quietly collecting highly sensitive data, including medical information and even social security details. We speak with Dr Anna Maria Mandalari, senior author of the study, about how these tools trade privacy for convenience, which extensions failed the test, and the one that actually passed. If you’ve installed one of these add-ons, you’ll want to hear this before your next click.



The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert is Ania Lichtarowicz.



More on this week's stories:

Digital Rights LGBTQ+ Africa

Rainbow-burning: how social media companies increase risks for LGBTQ+ people in Africa

AI web browser assistants raise serious privacy concerns



Production Manager: Liz Tuohy

Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz


For the PodExtra version of the show please subscribe via this link: https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/



Follow us on the socials:

Join our Facebook group

Instagram

BlueSky

 

If you like Somewhere
on Earth, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

 

Contact us by email: [email protected]

Send us a voice note: via WhatsApp: +44 7486 329 484

 

Find a Story + Make it News = Change the World

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Somewhere on Earth; The Global Tech
Podcast…

When the Internet turns against you. We hear how LGBTQ+
communities across Africa are being targeted with horrific abuse on social
platforms – while Big Tech looks the other way. We speak to Access Now’s Jaimee Kokonya on why being online is an act of bravery.

And… is your AI assistant spying on you? Research from University College London shows some popular browser extensions are harvesting
your most sensitive data. Professor Anna Maria Mandalari reveals which
extensions failed the test, which one passed, and how to protect yourself.



The tech stories that matter with Gareth Mitchell and Ania Lichtarowicz.

Out this Tuesday at 2100BST.



Subscribe to “Somewhere on Earth” wherever you get your podcasts.

https://open.spotify.com/show/65YZwVfA03MSdZ3198yLdb

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast/id1713408769

 

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