About

Our aim is to shape a new care-led digital infrastructure for a wide network of women that is not extractive and exploitative. We believe that we can work with Feminist practices as the building blocks to do this.

Here, digital infrastructure means a local based server (like the internet) that provides connected digital spaces (like the web). ddcommons.net is our connected digital space and our local server sits in a community cafe in Dundee.

By doing this we can highlight what a digital space could be like when shaped through local communities; providing connection, support and the sharing of knowledge in a non-extractive way; promoting digital access and literacy whilst prioritising inclusivity.

Why?

The internet, as we know it today, is not a gender safe space. It was built by men for men and coded with conscience and unconscious bias, making it already flawed as an inclusive digital space. As it stands the internet is marred by abuse, misinformation, and misogyny.

Driven by a quest for connection and information those that can get online can access the boundless opportunities that the internet presents. Unfortunately, digital spaces also open up a whole world of abuse, false information, and misogyny. These spaces can also work like echo chambers that go on to reinforce inequality and oppression that exists outside of these networks. Online experiences can sometimes be frightening and marginalised voices are often not heard. Rather than being free and empowered to shape digital infrastructures, women are often driven away from online spaces, dis-empowering women and girls every day.  

So what did we do ?

Inspired by communities like the Feminist Internet Research Network (FIRN), the Feminist Principles of the Internet, and The Institute for Technology in the Public Interest (TITiPI), we developed a proposal outlining our vision:

A digital platform that is built, owned, and maintained by a network of women. A digital platform built on valued-based needs, from a place of care, offering a trusted space to connect, share resources, and engage in meaningful activities online.

We pitched our proposal to the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), who awarded us capital funding to buy, build and install high speed fibre, a high spec server and other tech needed to turn this into reality. This support came from the Connecting Scotland: Place Based Digital Inclusion initiative, a collaboration between Scottish Government and SCVO to increase digital inclusion.

What will it do?

The digital infrastructure now sits in a community-based cafe in Dundee, and ready to host our vision. We now have the task of designing and building the virtual infrastructure.

Just like the web, there will be public and private spaces. It will consist of a variety of tools for self-publishing and sharing content. We aim to have an internal social network, a digital library and shared online storage where documents and files can be stored locally and on the cloud.

In the future we will deliver workshops and an on-site training programme built around the principles of community networks, digital commons and the tools available. Together, learning and sharing practical skills and gaining the confidence and empowerment to be rightfully affirmed online.

Over the next few months, community members will be working together to start to grow this project and its community. If you're interested, give us a shout!

Here's where you can get involved

This project has been initially funded by Connecting Scotland: Place Based Digital Inclusion a collaboration between Scottish Government and SCVO to increase digital inclusion. Original development partnership was between Cake or Dice, Scottish Refugee Council (Dundee), Scrap Antics, Dundee Makerspace, Abertay University (Computer Arts), In-Grid Collective. This group is still learning and growing.