PROJECT DESCRIPTION
DigitalReach on behalf of the Southeast Asian Coalition on Tech Accountability (SEACT) are looking for a short-term consultant to document the role of social media platforms during the period of the 2022 Philippine Presidential Election. Given that the 2016 Presidential Election was documented to have experienced significant information disorder and manipulation that threatened the Philippines’ democracy, this raises the question of whether and how social media platforms would that such experiences would not be repeated in 2022.
Documenting the roles of social media platforms would provide more understanding on how social media platforms affect and even jeopardize the right to free and fair election by allowing and even enabling disinformation and hate speech. In 2022, it is likely that the role of social media platforms in the election will not be limited to mainstream social media platforms such as Facebook and its affiliated products, YouTube, and Twitter. It is likely to expand to emerging platforms such as TikTok and Telegram.
Mainstream social media platforms still have to improve on their efforts at preventing disinformation and hate speech. Documenting their roles would provide an understanding of their performance in comparison to the last election. Emerging platforms might also raise more concerns due to unclear policies in handling hate speech and disinformation, especially since their efforts have been criticized as inconsistent in many documented occasions. Observing and analyzing the newly emerging platforms would provide a picture of their influence on election for the first time.
OBJECTIVES
- To explore how social media platforms handle hate speech and disinformation in the 2022 Philippine Election.
- To address the areas that social media platforms have overlooked in the 2022 Philippine Election.
- To use the result for advocacy for greater accountability of social media platforms.
WORK DESCRIPTION
The consultant will work as a researcher who is responsible for the project on the following tasks;
- Design a methodology for research.
- Document the situation using mixed approaches such as online research, observations, and firsthand in-depth interviews.
- Write a report based on the findings. The report should highlight key findings for each targeted social media platform.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Is a Philippine national
- Have at least a bachelor degree in political science or related fields
- Have proven research and written communication skills in English
- Demonstrable knowledge of the Philippine politics and its structure
- Demonstrable knowledge of human rights in Southeast Asia on topics such as freedom of expression and access to information, the right to privacy, and digital security
DELIVERABLES
| Details | Timeline |
A compilation of materials on the development of digital rights since Rodrigo Duterte became a president in 2016. The materials should be able to identify key issues and highlighted events related to threats against freedom of expression, the right to privacy, and digital security. | The initial compilations shall be submitted by Week 4. These materials shall be continually updated while monitoring the situation until the end of the contract period, with the final compilation to be submitted at the end of the contract. |
| A compilation of materials that illustrate the work profiles of the candidates for president in the upcoming 2022 election to observe how Duterte’s legacy is likely to continue. | The initial compilations shall be submitted by Week 6. These materials shall be continually updated while monitoring the situation until the end of the contract period, with the final compilation to be submitted at the end of the contract. |
| A compilation of key statistics that illustrate threats against digital rights in the Philippines following the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte. | The initial compilations shall be submitted by Week 8. These materials shall be continually updated while monitoring the situation until the end of the contract period, with the final compilation to be submitted at the end of the contract. |
CONTRACT DETAILS
The consultant will work for three months from 1 November 2021 – 31 January 2022, during which s/he is expected to complete the tasks described above, based on a work plan agreed upon with DigitalReach. The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Executive Director. The work is not full time, although the consultant is expected to diligently respond to communications and provide updates related to the consultancy. The compensation is $1,000 (a thousand US dollars) for completing the tasks, to be paid twice on Week 6 and the end of the consultancy.
HOW TO APPLY
Please submit the following application documents to [email protected] by October 24, 2021:
- A 1-page cover letter detailing why you are interested in this consultancy, and how you will be able to contribute to the consultancy given your experience.
- Your curriculum vitae
- Names and contacts of two references
The shortlisted candidates will be notified by October 26, 2021
This annoucement can be download here.
