Pills, clicks, and bans: Auditing digital censorship of access to abortion and reproductive rights

Research supported by funding from the Social Science and Humanities Research Council

Principal investigator: Stefanie Duguay, Concordia UniversityCo-Applicants: Stefanie Duguay, Concordia University

Co-investigator: Fenwick McKelvey, Concordia University

Partner organization: Women on Web

Women on Web (WoW), a Canadian-based nonprofit providing global access to safe abortion services, has long struggled against digital suppression. Through a collaboration between the DIGS Lab and Concordia’s Applied AI Institute, this research initiative will map how major information intermediaries — search engines, social media platforms and hosting services — restrict access to WoW’s website and services. By analyzing data on website visibility, social media reach and algorithmic patterns, we aim to develop case studies that expose the structural impact of digital censorship on reproductive rights advocacy. Through this initiative, researchers at Concordia will not only assist WoW in understanding the scope of its digital censorship challenges but will also develop tools and training materials for other advocacy organizations facing similar issues.

Read the full press release on Concordia’s website.