WITNESS’ Mobil-Eyes-Us Project AWARDED GRANT FROM NEW MEDIA VENTURES INNOVATION FUND
We are excited to announce that WITNESS’ Mobil-Eyes-Us project was recently awarded a grant from the New Media Ventures Innovation Fund!
The New Media Ventures Innovation Fund selects six innovative and changemaking startups from a pool of hundreds of applicants, all of whom are finding ways to use cutting-edge technology to advance social and environmental causes and to mobilize underrepresented communities.
Mobil-Eyes-Us aims to support frontline activists who are using live video in more meaningful ways, other than through the usual ‘likes’ and ‘hearts’ from those watching these feeds. We look at existing and new technology that can turn viewers of live video into active witnesses who can provide guidance, leverage, and solidarity in real time.
Most recently a small-scale pilot of the Mobil-Eyes-Us project launched during the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. The pilot in Rio involved collaboration with frontline activists in communities affected by human rights violations to share a series of live-streams and provide ‘distant witnesses’ with the opportunity to witness directly what was happening, and move from being viewers to active witnesses taking action in support of frontline communities.
To learn more about our Mobil-Eyes-Us Project and Tech Advocacy, please click here.
To learn more about New Media Ventures, please click here.