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.
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
The Metaversality Index 2022
The metaverse has been defined as the convergence of our physical and digital lives to create a virtual community where...
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....
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Business Day | MELISSA GOVENDER: Can development finance accelerate Africa’s drive towards a digital economy?
This article was originally published in Business Day on 26 January 2022. A well-functioning digital economy is necessary to achieve...
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...
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...
Business Day: The West Looks on as Africa Opts for China’s Digital Silk Road Programme
This article was originally published on Business Day on 18 July 2021. How has the West attempted to counter China’s influence...
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...