Category: Digital Livelihoods

Facebook links its (big) entry into e-commerce to the pandemic

Jonathan DonnerDigital Livelihoods, Digital Political Economy
Facebook launches Shops to bring more businesses online during the pandemic
A major new push into e-commerce will bring an Instagram shopping tab, shoppable live streams, and more. Facebook Shops begin rolling out today.

In a live stream, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said expanded e-commerce would be important to begin rebuilding the economy while the pandemic continues. “If you can’t physically open your store or restaurant, you can still take orders online and ship them to people,” he said. “We’re seeing a lot of small businesses that never had online businesses get online for the first time.”

The big platforms may have an even bigger role in retail and e-commerce, after COVID-19

Change model: Seeing an opportunity, or sensing good timing for a move they have been developing for a while, a big player enters new part of the market.

Making working from home a permanent condition

Jonathan DonnerDigital Livelihoods, Digital Political Economy
Twitter Will Allow Employees To Work At Home Forever
Two months into working from home, Twitter makes it permanent for some.

Is this a trend other firms in tech will follow? Will there be similar moves in other sectors? We saw the term “remote-first” used in an article this week. Like “mobile first”, there is likely to be some momentum in this direction for a while.

BREAKING: After Axing 135 Staff, Andela Will Go Fully Remote & Give Jobs To Non-Employees
After cutting its staff base by 10 percent with the axing of 135 staff, Andela is going fully remote and giving jobs to non-employees.

European Commission Strategy: Digital technologies – actions in response to coronavirus pandemic

Jonathan DonnerDigital Livelihoods, Identity and Privacy, Public Sphere
Digital technologies – actions in response to coronavirus pandemic
The European Commission has been working to coordinate, complement and initiate measures to deal with every aspect of the coronavirus pandemic, and digital, media and telecoms play a vital role. Digital technologies have never been more important in our lives, and making sure Europe has the infrastructure, the connectivity and the regulations in place to respond to coronavirus and to keep people active and safe online is our mission.

Key Quote: “Shaping Europe’s Digital Future”

Follow links for details on Data, artificial intelligence and supercomputers, Telecommunications, networks and connectivity, Online platforms and disinformation, and skills, collaborative working and creativity

Change Model: Policy

Internet Society Foundation Emergency Response Grant Programme: COVID-19

Jonathan DonnerDigital Livelihoods
Emergency Response Grant Programme: COVID-19
“Our Emergency Response Programme will provide funding to organizations working on projects that utilize the Internet to improve lives during or in response to an emergency situation. In 2020, the Foundation’s focus will be on projects that respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, both during the immediate period of the crisis but also looking ahead at responses to the inevitable “second wave” later this year/into 2021. ”

There are areas of focus within this call for proposals which include an eye on the Post-COVID-19 digital landscape, including “Platforms that establish new pathways to alternative livelihoods”

Change model: philanthropic support for nonprofit programs.

Open Society Foundations’ response takes the long view

Jonathan DonnerDigital Livelihoods, Digital Political Economy, Identity and Privacy, Public Sphere
Going Big against COVID-19
“In this perilous moment, Open Society is committing more than $130 million to provide relief for communities who will suffer the greatest impact.”

“For many of us, the pandemic has underlined the challenges to our globalized world, and to the old ways of running our economies, posed by the existential threat of climate change. The current catastrophe also presents an opportunity—an opportunity to push for fundamental changes needed to build societies that are stronger and more resilient in addressing the challenges to come. I assure you that the Open Society Foundations will be an active participant in this search for a better world to emerge from the trauma of our present horror.”

Patrick Gaspard – Open Society Foundations

Berlin ensures freelancers and creatives are included in COVID-19 relief

Jonathan DonnerDigital Livelihoods

“Authorities in Berlin, mindful of the role that entrepreneurs and freelancers in the arts and other creative sectors play in the city-state’s economy, were among the first in Germany to pledge financial assistance to them.”

‘Stress-Free’: Coronavirus Aid Flows Quickly to Berlin’s Self-Employed
Within days, Germany’s capital distributed money to 150,000 artists, shop owners, hairdressers and other small-business owners and freelancers to cover basic expenses.

The change model implied by this policy action is that gig workers will be an important part of the post-COVID-19 digital economy in the city, and are thus worthy of support during the crisis.