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Who is watching who?

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In celebration of Unesco’s World Media Freedom Day, Nelson Mandela University hosted a webinar titled “Media: Under Surveillance” recently.

The webinar was presented by the Faculty of Humanities and School of Language, Media and Communications and delivered thought-provoking discussions on the corporate surveillance economy, the chilling effects of surveillance on journalists and the consequences of private surveillance of the ‘other’ using social messaging apps.

According to Nelson Mandela University Media and Communication lecturer and webinar convenor, Jude Mathurine, an understanding of our mediated world demands that Media Freedom Day should not exclusively celebrate a free, sustainable and competent press but also recognise the intersection between fundamental personal freedoms – like the right to privacy, freedom of association and movement as it relates to platforms of expression and creativity.

A key theme to emerge in the discussions was the need for accountability by those who use the media, technology and platforms to weaponise and monetise surveillance.

Mail and Guardian Deputy Editor Athandiwe Saba gave several accounts of South African journalists, including herself, who discovered they were being under surveillance by government agencies and other powerful individuals by legal, and illegal means.

“The effect of this surveillance on journalists is immense – from a psychological and safety perspective. However, as the media industry we need to continue holding the powerful to account and realise the importance of our work and that we need to keep on doing it. It is important to be knowledgeable about what is allowed in South African law, and for the media industry to lean on each other and continue to share our stories of surveillance,” said Saba.

University of Cape Town post-doctoral scholar Dr Leah Junk said today journalists play a more important role than ever in providing context and in distinguishing what is ‘true’. As a social anthropologist, Junk did her MA research on how social dynamics are shaped by everyday digital technologies when she analysed the WhatsApp communication of a neighbourhood watch group in Cape Town.

“I looked at how crime anxiety manifested on the group and who was considered suspicious, how subjects were identified and communicated about. These digital tools are the less obvious forms and tools of cultivation of truths in which a distinction is made between self and other,” said Junk.

Wits Ruth First Fellow 2021 Murray Hunter said social data is being managed by just a few companies, even though there seems to be an explosion of data access.

“Ultimately, it is about holding not only large social media platforms accountable, but also individual users to make use of these tools responsibly, and finally, holding the powerful in society, like politicians who engage in misinformation and disinformation, to account,” said Mathurine.

The webinar, which formed part of the Faculty of Humanities’ Language, Media and Power series was moderated by The Herald/ Weekend Post News Editor, Kathryn Kimberley.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.