Congratulations to Laura Gianna Guntrum on winning first place in the “Forum InformatikerInnen für Frieden und gesellschaftliche Verantwortung e.V.” (FlfF) Weizenbaum Study Award for her dissertation. The award ceremony took place on November 1, 2026, at the FlfF conference in Berlin.
Her dissertation examines the ambivalent role of digital technologies for activists and civil society organizations in Myanmar, Cameroon, Costa Rica, and Colombia. While information and communication technologies enable political participation and networking, they also expose activists to technology-enabled violence. The findings show that all of the activists interviewed have encountered this type of violence, the consequences of which are frequently overlooked. These consequences range from restrictions on their activism and self-censorship to significant impacts on their personal lives. Those affected respond with digital safety measures, withdrawal, or increased resistance, among other things. Furthermore, the study examines the ethical challenges of conducting research with at-risk activists. It highlights the importance of tailoring digital safety measures to local risks, available resources, and individual needs, and promotes participatory, context-sensitive approaches.
To learn more about Laura Gianna Guntrum's work, check out the comic project “Code of Courage” on the TraCe website.