Colombians spend an average of three and a half hours a day on social media, engaging with platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. But behind every scroll and interaction lies a web of opaque algorithms and unaccountable content moderation practices, dictated by a handful of global tech giants. What happens when these systems fail to understand the cultural, social, and political nuances of Colombia?
In this episode, journalist and digital rights expert María Juliana Soto explores how these platforms affect freedom of expression, public debate, and human rights in Colombia. With interviews from experts and activists, we uncover the real-world impacts of censorship, disinformation, and algorithmic biases, particularly on vulnerable groups like activists, journalists, and marginalised communities.
From the disappearance of crucial content on peace processes to the unchecked spread of harmful narratives, we’ll delve into the consequences of these practices for democracy and safety in Colombia and consider the potential of an alliance on content moderation and freedom of expression in Colombia to increase civil society engagement with governments and social media platforms on issues of content moderation, content curation, and platform transparency and accountability in Colombia.