Building Power Online: How Movements Use, Lose and Own Digital Space

How do social movements and civil society organisations harness digital tools to build power and organise effectively—even when repressive governments and mainstream platforms expose them to surveillance, censorship, or network shutdowns?

This workshop brings together movement leaders, digital activists, researchers, donors and policymakers to examine the strategies civil society uses to keep digital spaces open. Grounded in real-world practices rather than abstract theory, we draw on cases from across the Global South and Eastern Europe to explore how movements adapt, build workarounds, and use community-driven technologies - and how donors and allies can offer meaningful support.

Program Overview

15:00 – 15:10 | Opening Remarks

15:10 – 16:00 | Panel: Navigating Digital Suppression & Platform Power

A discussion featuring representatives from protest movements, digital partner organisations, Danish Media and movement support organisations, MFA and donors. Speakers will share perspectives on internet shutdowns, algorithmic bias, tech-policy gaps, public interest tech and the legal frameworks connecting Danish advocacy with global digital rights.

Moderated by Vukasin Petrovic, Strategy Expert and Senior Movement Specialist, ActionAid Denmark MOVE

Panel TBA

16:00 – 16:15 | Break

16:15 – 17:15 | Breakout Sessions

Participants can choose one of two focused, interactive conversations to discuss practical solutions based on real cases:

1. Organising Under Digital Restriction: From Kenya to Jordan 

Hosted by Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke / MOVE

Focusing on how movements organise and maintain momentum when governments restrict or block network access. Looking at real cases, including walkie-talkie apps on 2G networks during Kenya’s Finance Bill protests and Discord-based coordination in Nepal, we discuss low-bandwidth tools, VPN strategies, safe financial support structures and practical digital organising strategies for operating in difficult digital environments and how to best support these.

Panelists: 

• Brian Malika, One More Percent
• Villy Nawa, Movement Leader Zambia 
• Safaa Ali Sarayrah, Jordan (digital trainer)
• Luminate (TBC)
• Stellar Development Foundation (TBC)

Moderated by Andreas Grarup Nielsen, Senior Movement Specialist MOVE 

2. Tech Policy, Censorship & Algorithmic Discrimination

Co-hosted by 7amleh, Oxfam Denmark & International Media Support

Examining how tech-policy gaps and automated moderation impact human rights defenders on the ground. Drawing on examples from Palestine, this session explores how international allies can actively advocate for tech platform accountability and address systemic algorithmic bias.

• Public Interest Tech advisor, IMS 
• Nadim Nashif, Director 7amleh, DDI Advisory Board

Moderated by Jonas Devantier, Oxfam

15:15 – 16:00 | Networking Space

Join us for an informal chat after to continue the important conversations.