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Anri Van der Spuy

Anri Van der Spuy

PhD Researcher

Department of Media and Communications

Email
A.Van-Der-Spuy@lse.ac.uk
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Languages
English
Key Expertise
Internet Governance, Digital policy, Digital inequality, Digital risk

About me

Research topic

Technologies of Risk: The Collateral Implications of Digital Technologies

Efforts to promote universal access to information and communication technologies (ICTs) continue to be a significant focus of a myriad development efforts – and even more so since the COVID-19 pandemic. But digital development outcomes are not always positive, and nor are they equally distributed. Digital development efforts can and do expose people to new, different, and global risks for which they might be ill-prepared – thereby potentially exacerbating existing socio-digital inequalities or even introducing new ones. Given that most research on digital development outcomes tend to focus on collateral benefits and positive outcomes, and fail to interrogate how these are distributed, this research examines the ways in which diverse stakeholders evaluate, perceive, and respond to digital development risks in select African countries.

Biography

Anri has a background in law, communications governance, digital policy and development. Before starting her PhD, she managed Research ICT Africa’s Digital Policy Project as a senior researcher, where she is now a doctoral fellow. An admitted attorney (lawyer) with expertise in media law, Anri previously received an MSc degree (distinction) in Media and Communications Governance from LSE’s Department of Media and Communications. In her native South Africa, she also completed an MPhil in Media, Democracy and Development (cum laude), a BPhil (honours) in Journalism, and an LLB (law) degree at the University of Stellenbosch.

Anri is an associate of both the CyberBRICS initiative and the Fairwork Project (based at the Oxford Internet Institute); and serves on the advisory boards of the Freedom Online Coalition and Christchurch Call process respectively. She has consulted on Internet and digital policy challenges, with a development focus, to various United Nations and intergovernmental agencies (including UNESCO, the ITU, the UN Secretariat of the Internet Governance Forum, the UN Broadband Commission on Sustainable Development, the African Development Bank, and the World Bank); for stakeholders participating in processes/fora like the G20 and G7; for Internet-focused and related entities like the Internet Society and ICANN; and for global NGOs specialising in communications governance challenges.

Expertise Details

Internet Governance; Digital or Cyber Policy; Digital Inequality; Digital Risk.

Publications

Books, reports, and chapters:

Gillwald, A.; Razzano, G.; Rens, A. & Van der Spuy, A. (2020) “South Africa: protecting mobile user data in contact tracing” In: Taylor, L.; Sharma, G.; Martin, A. & Jameson, S. (2020) Data Justice and Covid-19: Global Perspectives. London: Meatspace Press (book chapter)

Van der Spuy, A. (2020) “South Africa” In: Puddephatt, A. Platform Accountability. Cedar Partners. (forthcoming) (book chapter)

Souter, D. & Van der Spuy, A.(2019) UNESCO’s Internet Universality Indicators: a framework for assessing Internet development. Paris: UNESCO. Retrieved from: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000367617. (also available in English, Spanish, French and Chinese.)

Van der Spuy, A. & Souter, D. (2018, September) Women’s Digital Inclusion: Background Paper for the G20. APC & the Internet Society. Retrieved from: https://www.apc.org/en/pubs/womens-digital-inclusion-background-paper-g20.

Souter, D. & Van der Spuy, A. (2018, March) W20 Digital Inclusion Background Paper. London: GSMA. Available from: https://www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/GSMA_narrative_VF.pdf.

Van der Spuy, A. & Aavriti, N. (2018, January) Mapping Research in Gender and Digital Technology. Ottawa: IDRC & APC. Retrieved from: https://www.apc.org/sites/default/files/IDRC_Mapping_0323_0.pdf.

Van der Spuy, A. (2017) What if we all governed the Internet? Advancing Multistakeholder Participation in Internet Governance. Paris: UNESCO. Retrieved from: https://en.unesco.org/sites/default/files/what_if_we_all_governed_internet_en.pdf

Souter, D. & Van der Spuy, A. (2017, March) UN Broadband Commission Working Group on the Digital Gender Divide: Recommendations for Action. Geneva: ITU. Retrieved from: https://www.broadbandcommission.org/Documents/publications/WorkingGroupDigitalGenderDivide-report2017.pdf.

Journals, conference papers and policy briefs:

Graham, M.; Woodcock, J.; Heeks, R.; Mungai, P.; Van Belle, J.P.; Du Toit, D.; Fredman, S.; Osiki, A.; Van der Spuy, A. & Silbermanm, S.M. (2020) The Fairwork Foundation: Strategies for improving platform work in a global context. Geoforum.

Gillwald, A. & Van der Spuy, A. (2019) National digital governance for more equitable access to the Internet as global public good. MISTRA: Democracy in South Africa – the next 25 years. Giganet (forthcoming).

Van der Spuy, A.; Brown, I.; Calandro, E. & Oolun, K. (2018, October) Collaborative Cybersecurity: the Mauritius case. Research ICT Africa Policy Brief: Africa Digital Policy. Retrieved from: https://researchictafrica.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Policy-Brief-ADPP-N-1-Collaborative-Cybersecurity-Mauritius-Case.pdf.

Van der Spuy, A. & Oolun, K. (2018) Promoting cybersecurity through stronger collaboration in Africa. Policy Brief prepared for CPR South, Maputo (Mozambique), September 2018. Retrieved from: http://www.cprsouth.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/CPRSouth2018_Anri.pdf.

Van der Spuy, A. (2016). Review of: Cyberwar: Law and Ethics for Virtual Conflicts, edited by Jens David Ohlin, Kevin Govern and Claire Finkelstein. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015. Global Policy Journal. Retrieved from: https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/22/06/2016/book-review-cyberwar-law-and-ethics-virtual-conflicts.

Op-eds:

Van der Spuy, A.; Gillwald, A.; Rens, A. & Razzano, G. (2020, April 27) Mobile phone data is useful in coronavirus battle. But are people protected enough? The Conversation. Retrieved from: https://theconversation.com/mobile-phone-data-is-useful-in-coronavirus-battle-but-are-people-protected-enough-136404.

Van der Spuy, A. (2019, May 20) The Christchurch Call could potentially be used to clamp down on legitimate political dissent in Africa. The Daily Maverick. Retrieved from: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-05-20-the-christchurch-call-could-potentially-be-used-to-clamp-down-on-legitimate-political-dissent-in-africa/.

Van der Spuy, A. (2018, May 10) Facebook revelations: with greater connectivity comes greater responsibility (2018, May). The Daily Maverick. Retrieved from: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2018-05-10-facebook-revelations-with-greater-connectivity-comes-greater-responsibility/#.W0W2ki2B000.

Gillwald, A.; Van der Spuy, A.; Graham, M.; Woodcock, J. & Englert, S. (2019, April 11). Fairwork exposes exploitation in gig economy amid regulatory vacuum. Business Day. Retrieved from: https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/opinion/2019-04-11-fairwork-exposes-exploitation-in-gig-economy-amid-regulatory-vacuum/.

Blog entries:

Van der Spuy, A. (2020, November 4) Q&A: Robin Mansell on her Advanced Introduction to Platform Economics book. Media@LSE (blog). Retrieved from: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/medialse/2020/11/04/qa-with-robin-mansell-on-her-advanced-introduction-to-platform-economics-book/.

Van der Spuy, A. (2020, April 7) Should we nationalise data? In conversation with Ulises Mejias. Media@LSE (blog). Retrieved from: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/medialse/2020/04/07/should-we-nationalise-data/.

Van der Spuy, A. (2020, March 25) Towards a different kind of #DataMustFall? Data colonialism and inequality (interview with Nick Couldry). Media@LSE (blog). Retrieved from: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/medialse/2020/03/25/towards-a-different-kind-of-datamustfall-data-colonialism-and-inequality/.

Van der Spuy, A. (2020, March 19) Colonising ourselves? An introduction to data colonialism (interview with Nick Couldry). Media@LSE (blog). Retrieved from: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/medialse/2020/03/19/colonising-ourselves-an-introduction-to-data-colonialism/. Van der Spuy, A. (2020, February 20) Freedom Online Conference: From digital inclusion to digital equality? Media@LSE (blog). Retrieved from: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/medialse/2020/02/20/freedom-online-conference-from-digital-inclusion-to-digital-equality/.

Van der Spuy, A. (2019, August 5) How do we tackle children’s risks without sacrificing their opportunities. Africa Portal. Retrieved from: https://www.africaportal.org/features/how-do-we-tackle-online-risks-without-sacrificing-childrens-digital-futures/.

Van der Spuy, A. (2019, July 2) Uber, Uber on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all? Africa Portal. Retrieved from: https://www.africaportal.org/features/uber-uber-wall-whos-fairest-them-all/.

Van der Spuy, A. (2018, May 17). Facebook revelations: With greater connectivity comes greater responsibility. LSE Media Policy Project (blog). Retrieved from: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/mediapolicyproject/2018/05/17/facebook-revelations-with-greater-connectivity-comes-greater-responsibility/.

Van der Spuy, A. (2017, November 09). What if we all governed the Internet? Or what if we didn’t? LSE Media Policy Project (blog). Retrieved from: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/mediapolicyproject/2017/11/09/what-if-we-all-governed-the-internet-or-what-if-we-didnt/.

Van der Spuy, A. (2017, February 22). Escaping walled gardens: is the grass greener on the other side? LSE Media Policy Project (blog). Retrieved from: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/mediapolicyproject/2016/02/22/escaping-walled-gardens-is-the-grass-greener-on-the-other-side/.

Van der Spuy, A. (2016, January 22). Who will be invited to the fourth industrial revolution? LSE Media Policy Project (blog). Retrieved from: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/mediapolicyproject/2016/01/22/who-will-be-invited-to-the-fourth-industrial-revolution/.

Van der Spuy, A. & Gahnberg, C. (2015, May 1). Welcoming a UN special rapporteur to the Online Human Rights Choir. LSE Media Policy Project (blog). Retrieved from: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/mediapolicyproject/2015/05/01/welcoming-a-un-special-rapporteur-to-the-online-human-rights-choir/.

Van der Spuy, A. & Magalhães, J.C. (2014, June 30) ICANN50: Just Olympics for Geeks or Steps towards Global Governance? LSE Media Policy Project. Retrieved from: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/mediapolicyproject/2014/06/30/icann50-just-olympics-for-geeks-or-steps-towards-global-governance/.

Van der Spuy, A. (2014, March 3). Open Justice and Pistorius’ Pandora’s Box. LSE Media Policy Project. Retrieved from: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/mediapolicyproject/2014/03/03/open-justice-pistorius-pandoras-box/.

Van der Spuy, A. (2013, December 19). Contempt of Court vs. the Internet: UK Law Commission’s Recommendations. LSE Media Policy Project. Retrieved from: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/mediapolicyproject/2013/12/19/contempt-of-court-vs-the-internet-uk-law-commissions-recommendations/.

Van der Spuy, A. (2013, November 7). Is Online Participation a Prerequisite for Participating in Society? LSE Media Policy Project. Retrieved from: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/mediapolicyproject/2013/11/07/is-online-participation-a-prerequisite-for-participating-in-society/.

Van der Spuy, A. & Goodman, E. (2013, December 2) The Leveson Report Anniversary: A Celebration or a Commemoration? LSE Media Policy Project. Retrieved from: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/mediapolicyproject/2013/12/02/the-leveson-report-anniversary-a-celebration-or-a-commemoration/.

Editor of WSIS+10 series for LSE Media Policy Project (2015), including the following posts:

Bogdan-Martin, D. (2015, December 18) WSIS+10 series: WSIS+10 and Women’s Empowerment. LSE Media Policy Project. Retrieved from: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/mediapolicyproject/2015/12/18/wsis10-series-wsis10-and-womens-empowerment/.

Seidler, N. (2015, December 17) WSIS+10 series: From access to trusted access – human rights in the WSIS+10 Review. LSE Media Policy Project. Retrieved from: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/mediapolicyproject/2015/12/17/wsis10-series-from-access-to-trusted-access-human-rights-in-the-wsis10-review/.

Calandro, E. (2015, December 15) Truly multistakeholder? Participation in Internet governance debates: an African perspective. LSE Media Policy Project. Retrieved from: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/mediapolicyproject/2015/12/15/truly-multistakeholder-participation-in-internet-governance-debates-an-african-perspective/.

Souter, D. (2015, December 10). WSIS+10 series: Internet governance: on the right road or the road to nowhere? LSE Media Policy Project. Retrieved from: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/mediapolicyproject/2015/12/10/internet-governance-on-the-right-road-or-the-road-to-nowhere/.

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