Digital challenges for civil society and media in Ukraine

Vitalii Moroz, Internews Ukraine @vitaliymorozAlisa Ruban, Center UA @alisaruban

Thursday, May 8, 14

What might have you heard about Ukraine recently?

Thursday, May 8, 14

What might have you heard about Ukraine recently?

Thursday, May 8, 14

Digital facts about Ukraine

• Cheap broadband Internet - $5-15 per month;

• Diverse market of Internet providers, no monopoly;

• About 20 million users (almost 50% of population), majority users live in urban area (100,000+);

• Market of qualified developers, IT and outsourcing companies. Ukraine is ranked as a middle size player in world’s IT market ($3.3 billion annually)

• Wide use of the Internet and social media for civic engagement and political mobilization - search #euromaidan #ukraine

• Lessons of anti-government protests - coordination, mobilization and agenda setting online

Thursday, May 8, 14

On the other hand, the landscape is complicated• #1 popular social network in Ukraine is Russian Vkontakte which is controlled

by Russian security services - up to 10 million users;

• Facebook is 8th most popular site in Ukraine (Alexa.com) - up to 4 million users, Twitter is 28th most popular site. still influential.

• Russia partly control informational flow in Ukraine through TV channels. To many residents of the Eastern regions Russian TV-channels are the main source of news;

• The number of cyber-attacks targeting media organizations and non-profits have been growing recently;

• Russia leads sophisticated informational war against Ukraine and the United States.

Thursday, May 8, 14

Threats from Russia: Pro-Russian / Russian hackers against Ukraine

Thursday, May 8, 14

Threats from Russia: Separatists use new technologies such as Zello, radio talks to coordinate

Thursday, May 8, 14

Threats from Russia: Manipulation in social media - creating fake witnesses of events and publishing

Thursday, May 8, 14

Threats from Russia: Manipulation through social media - fake social media accounts

Thursday, May 8, 14

Threats from Russia: Trolls attacking newspapers and accounts of politicians

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Digital challenges for non-profits in Ukraine

• Lack of knowledge about the Internet, digital instruments and cyber security;

• Not enough funds to sustain IT-specialists in staff;

• A tradition of ignorance of digital threats;

• Not enough funds to work with soft under licenses

Thursday, May 8, 14

Digital challenges for news organizations

• Lack of knowledge about cyber security;

• A tradition of ignorance of digital threats;

• Vulnerability to cyber attacks;

• Journalists resist multi tasking (acquiring skills beyond reporting)

• Online: Trolling and anonymity

• Huge informational flow, more mistakes

Thursday, May 8, 14

Thank you!

Alisa Ruban, Center UAalisa.ruban@gmail.com @alisaruban

Vitalii Moroz, Internews Ukraine vitaliy.moroz@gmail.com @vitaliymoroz

Thursday, May 8, 14