Melissa Govender

Melissa works to identify areas for collaboration within the digital economy, focusing on the digital divide, and how technology can be used to unlock economic opportunities and growth.

Healing with Algorithms: Creating a safe environment for AI’s integration into healthcare

Healing with Algorithms: Creating a safe environment for AI’s integration into healthcare

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform diagnostics, medical research, and patient experiences. Despite this, several obstacles stand in...

13 Mar 2024 AI Policy Lab reports
Access Partnership contributes to Agile Nations’ policy paper on the Responsible Metaverse Self-Governance Framework

Access Partnership contributes to Agile Nations’ policy paper on the Responsible Metaverse Self-Governance Framework

As part of the Agile Nations Metaverse Working Group under the UAE Ministry of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, & Remote...

13 Oct 2023 Metaverse Policy Lab Opinion
AI in Healthcare: Maximising Opportunities, Minimising Risks

AI in Healthcare: Maximising Opportunities, Minimising Risks

On 27 September, Access Partnership hosted a webinar discussing the convergence of technology and healthcare. This convergence offers substantial potential...

11 Oct 2023 AI Policy Lab
Access Alert: AI Data Harvesting – Ethical? Monopolistic?

Access Alert: AI Data Harvesting – Ethical? Monopolistic?

Large language models and their dependence on data harvesting Many creatives and authors believe that their online stories and posts...

26 Jul 2023 Latest AI Thought Leadership
Harnessing AI as a Content Moderation Tool

Harnessing AI as a Content Moderation Tool

On 30 May, Access Partnership hosted a webinar on the far-reaching implications of AI-generated content and the platforms that facilitate...

30 May 2023 AI Policy Lab
Building Secure Online Environments for Young Users

Building Secure Online Environments for Young Users

On 24 May, Access Partnership hosted a webinar on how to design immersive online platforms that balance the freedom to...

25 May 2023 Metaverse Policy Lab
Shaping the Regulatory Environment for AI-Generated Content 

Shaping the Regulatory Environment for AI-Generated Content 

On 23 May, Access Partnership hosted a webinar on the far-reaching implications of AI-generated content and the platforms that facilitate...

24 May 2023 AI Policy Lab
Access Alert | TikTok ban would create USD 431 billion opportunity for alternative social media platforms

Access Alert | TikTok ban would create USD 431 billion opportunity for alternative social media platforms

America may ban TikTok Earlier this month, the Montana House of Representatives sent a bill that would ban TikTok to...

24 Apr 2023 Opinion
Tech Policy Trends 2023 | The Metaverse: exploring its regulatory future

Tech Policy Trends 2023 | The Metaverse: exploring its regulatory future

The metaverse presents a unique challenge for governments and regulators. How do you legislate for an idea that is so...

20 Feb 2023 Opinion
Exploring the benefits of a future metaverse: What can we learn from current virtual reality applications?

Exploring the benefits of a future metaverse: What can we learn from current virtual reality applications?

The metaverse has the potential to redefine almost every sphere of our daily lives, from healthcare and education to work,...

23 Jan 2023 Metaverse Policy Lab
The Metaversality Index 2022

The Metaversality Index 2022

The metaverse has been defined as the convergence of our physical and digital lives to create a virtual community where...

15 Nov 2022 Metaverse Policy Lab
Africa Continental Free Trade Area: What are the opportunities for the ICT sector?

Africa Continental Free Trade Area: What are the opportunities for the ICT sector?

This report was co-authored with Nicholas Frimpong-Manso and Lawrence Amevor from GP Business Consulting, a premier consultancy based in Africa....

25 Oct 2022 Reports
Access Alert | Japanese investment in digital transformation will include Metaverse and NFTs

Access Alert | Japanese investment in digital transformation will include Metaverse and NFTs

The Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, announced this week that the country will promote efforts to expand the use...

6 Oct 2022 Metaverse Policy Lab Opinion
Women in Tech Podcast | Roe v Wade: Should women be worried about their data? with Melanie Garson

Women in Tech Podcast | Roe v Wade: Should women be worried about their data? with Melanie Garson

In this episode, Access Partnership’s Senior Policy Manager, Melissa Govender, interviews Melanie Garson. Melanie has a wealth of experience working...

8 Aug 2022 Opinion
Does the Metaverse Provide an Opportunity for Meta to Redefine its Stance on Data Privacy? 

Does the Metaverse Provide an Opportunity for Meta to Redefine its Stance on Data Privacy? 

In our previous article entitled “The importance of creating an interoperable Metaverse,” Lydia Dettling discussed how much data Metaverse platforms...

18 Jul 2022 Metaverse Policy Lab
Access Alert | Launch of Metaverse Standards Forum

Access Alert | Launch of Metaverse Standards Forum

Yesterday the Metaverse Standards Forum was launched. As we discussed previously in our article titled  “How can we protect those...

22 Jun 2022 Metaverse Policy Lab Opinion
Access Partnership’s Fair Tech Institute and Metaverse Policy Lab host The Metaverse Dialogue

Access Partnership’s Fair Tech Institute and Metaverse Policy Lab host The Metaverse Dialogue

Watch The Metaverse Dialogue – An Exploratory Primer here. More than 120 discussants participated in the inaugural Metaverse Dialogue on...

8 Jun 2022 Metaverse Policy Lab
Access Alert | Disney+ enters the South African market

Access Alert | Disney+ enters the South African market

 Disney+, the streaming service from The Walt Disney Company, will launch in South Africa on 18 May 2022. Disney is...

4 May 2022 Opinion
Access Alert | South Africa’s Competition Commission Intends to Prosecute WhatsApp for Abuse of Dominance – Proposed Fine is 10% of Turnover

Access Alert | South Africa’s Competition Commission Intends to Prosecute WhatsApp for Abuse of Dominance – Proposed Fine is 10% of Turnover

In July 2020, Facebook South Africa stated that it would off-board GovChat and #LetsTalk, a technology start-up that connects government...

15 Mar 2022 Opinion
Access Alert | South Africa Releases IMT Spectrum Auction Dates

Access Alert | South Africa Releases IMT Spectrum Auction Dates

In March 2021, the North Gauteng High Court barred telecommunications regulator, Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) from auctioning...

4 Oct 2021 Opinion
Access Alert: Nigerian Government Tightens Grip on Tech Sector

Access Alert: Nigerian Government Tightens Grip on Tech Sector

The Nigerian Government has plans to introduce a series of strict obligations for stakeholders in the tech sector, including new...

18 Aug 2021 Opinion
Fair Tech Forum Highlights | Faster, Greener, Cheaper: How Can Smart Mobility Unblock Transportation Challenges in Emerging Markets?​​

Fair Tech Forum Highlights | Faster, Greener, Cheaper: How Can Smart Mobility Unblock Transportation Challenges in Emerging Markets?​​

On the 16th of June 2021, Access Partnership’s Emerging Markets team hosted a webinar which unpacked how mega cities in...

22 Jun 2021 Opinion