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EP25 | Digital Colonialism & Civic Tech | Power, Platforms, Policy
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How much of South Africa’s digital future is really in its own hands? And what happens when civic tech depends on foreign platforms?
In this closing episode of The Angle’s civic tech series, we speak with Gabriella Razzano, Executive Director at OpenUp and a leading voice in digital rights, governance, and civic innovation.
From digital colonialism to the realities of data extractivism, Gabriella breaks down the geopolitical forces that shape civic space — from platform dependence to investment bias. We talk about what African innovation actually looks like, how to build meaningful community tech, and why data isn’t neutral—it’s power.
We explore:
-Why less than 1% of global AI investment reaches Africa
-The difference between owning data and extracting value from it
-Why revenue-driven civic tech is needed to build strong institutions
-How the G20 and BRICS influence Africa’s regulatory future
-The power of context, not code, in building civic products that last
This is a thought-provoking, high-level conversation that brings the entire series full circle—from local innovation to global influence.
This is part of a limited podcast series titled “The Digital Future of South Africa – Navigating Power, Policy, and Progress” in association with the Wits School of Governance, Tayarisha, and the Civic Tech Innovation Network.
00:00 – Intro: Digital power, global rivalry & civic space
02:00 – What is digital colonialism?
05:00 – Data extractivism & Big Tech’s role in Africa
09:00 – China vs. US: Competing tech models
12:00 – Where SA’s policy model fits (or doesn’t)
16:00 – Why owning data ≠ using data
20:00 – Platform dependence and shrinking civic space
23:30 – Reimagining civic tech from the grassroots
27:00 – Tech’s role in enabling (not replacing) civic action
30:00 – Opportunities for young civic tech creators
33:00 – The real investment problem in African innovation
36:00 – Revenue-first vs. grant-funded models for civic tech
40:00 – South Africa in the G20 and BRICS: Influence or inertia?
43:00 – Final thoughts on African digital sovereignty
#DigitalGovernance #CivicTech #AfricaDigitalFuture #TechAndPolicy #DigitalInclusion #InnovationInAfrica #PlatformPower #SmartCitiesAfrica #DataSovereignty #TheAnglePodcast YouTube · The Angle · YouTube · Substack · LinkedIn · Facebook · Instagram · X · TikTok
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In this closing episode of The Angle’s civic tech series, we speak with Gabriella Razzano, Executive Director at OpenUp and a leading voice in digital rights, governance, and civic innovation.
From digital colonialism to the realities of data extractivism, Gabriella breaks down the geopolitical forces that shape civic space — from platform dependence to investment bias. We talk about what African innovation actually looks like, how to build meaningful community tech, and why data isn’t neutral—it’s power.
We explore:
-Why less than 1% of global AI investment reaches Africa
-The difference between owning data and extracting value from it
-Why revenue-driven civic tech is needed to build strong institutions
-How the G20 and BRICS influence Africa’s regulatory future
-The power of context, not code, in building civic products that last
This is a thought-provoking, high-level conversation that brings the entire series full circle—from local innovation to global influence.
This is part of a limited podcast series titled “The Digital Future of South Africa – Navigating Power, Policy, and Progress” in association with the Wits School of Governance, Tayarisha, and the Civic Tech Innovation Network.
00:00 – Intro: Digital power, global rivalry & civic space
02:00 – What is digital colonialism?
05:00 – Data extractivism & Big Tech’s role in Africa
09:00 – China vs. US: Competing tech models
12:00 – Where SA’s policy model fits (or doesn’t)
16:00 – Why owning data ≠ using data
20:00 – Platform dependence and shrinking civic space
23:30 – Reimagining civic tech from the grassroots
27:00 – Tech’s role in enabling (not replacing) civic action
30:00 – Opportunities for young civic tech creators
33:00 – The real investment problem in African innovation
36:00 – Revenue-first vs. grant-funded models for civic tech
40:00 – South Africa in the G20 and BRICS: Influence or inertia?
43:00 – Final thoughts on African digital sovereignty
#DigitalGovernance #CivicTech #AfricaDigitalFuture #TechAndPolicy #DigitalInclusion #InnovationInAfrica #PlatformPower #SmartCitiesAfrica #DataSovereignty #TheAnglePodcast YouTube · The Angle · YouTube · Substack · LinkedIn · Facebook · Instagram · X · TikTok
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