Digital commons in the global south hold the promise of advancing social justice by creating spaces for knowledge sharing, community resilience, and cultural expression. Yet, these platforms are often structured through western-centric frameworks that fail to address the complex realities of marginalised communities. This paper examines how digital commons, while powerful in potential, can unintentionally reproduce exclusionary practices, sidelining women, Indigenous groups, and non-binary individuals whose voices are crucial to inclusive civic engagement and justice.
The environmental stakes in these spaces are high, particularly in regions facing acute climate impacts. Rural women, Indigenous communities, and other frontline populations, who bear the brunt of environmental change, often encounter barriers to accessing digital adaptation resources. Such barriers—rooted in language limitations, design bias, and technological inequity—restrict the flow of critical climate information to those who need it most. By analysing these disconnects, this paper highlights the urgency of reclaiming digital tools to enable equitable climate resilience and resource access for vulnerable communities.
Cultural representation within the digital commons also faces significant challenges. For communities with histories shaped by colonialism, these platforms present opportunities to reclaim narratives, preserve local knowledge, and strengthen cultural identity. However, platform algorithms and moderation policies often default to globalised norms, further marginalising non-western narratives. This research addresses the need to decolonise digital spaces, foregrounding Indigenous knowledge and local histories to transform digital commons into inclusive sites for cultural justice and resilience.
To enable a genuinely inclusive digital commons, this paper proposes a framework that prioritises equity, gender sensitivity, and cultural relevance in platform design and governance. Such a framework encourages participatory governance models, context-aware algorithmic design, and policies that honour the diversity of users within the global south. Reclaiming the digital commons thus requires collaborative efforts across communities, policymakers, and designers, envisioning spaces that not only reflect but empower the social, environmental, and cultural realities of those they aim to serve.
