When Technology Meets Justice: Nettrice Gaskins and Mercy Mutemi on Building Equitable Digital Futures

February 10, 2026 - 18:36

A vital conversation is unfolding at the intersection of technology, justice, and creativity. Highlighting the urgent need to address systemic biases embedded in our digital world, thought leaders Nettrice Gaskins and Mercy Mutemi are championing the repair of historical harms through their interdisciplinary work.

Gaskins, a digital artist and scholar, emphasizes the power of creative coding and Afrofuturism. She advocates for using artistic practice to reimagine technology from diverse cultural perspectives, challenging the dominant narratives that often exclude marginalized voices. Her approach is not about simply using new tools, but about fundamentally reshaping the creative and ethical foundations upon which these tools are built.

Parallel to this, human rights lawyer Mercy Mutemi focuses on the tangible policies and power structures governing our online spaces. Based in Nairobi, she fights for digital rights, data protection, and equitable access, arguing that justice in the physical world is inextricably linked to justice in the digital realm. Her work underscores the necessity of legal frameworks that protect citizens from algorithmic discrimination and corporate overreach.

Together, their perspectives form a powerful dual approach: one that re-envisions technology’s potential through art and culture, while the other builds the legal and ethical guardrails to ensure equitable implementation. They argue that building a just digital future requires this multifaceted effort—melding imagination with advocacy to dismantle inequities and create systems that truly serve all.