Glossary
A
► ActivityPub
An open protocol that allows different social platforms to interact with one another. Used by Mastodon, PeerTube and other “Fediverse” services.
► Anchor Institution
A stable organisation — such as a university, established NGO or cooperative — that can maintain governance processes, documentation and continuity for shared digital tools or standards.
► API (Application Programming Interface)
A way for different software systems to communicate. Changes to commercial APIs often disrupt NGO workflows that depend on them.
► AT Protocol
The decentralised social networking protocol used by Bluesky. Designed to allow multiple hosts and portable user identities.
B
► Blockchain
A type of shared ledger maintained across many computers. Provides transparent record-keeping, but is not inherently democratic or decentralised.
C
► Civic Tech
Technology used to support participation, transparency, public engagement or collective decision-making. Varies widely by region and context.
► Community Network
Locally built and governed internet infrastructure, often used in rural or underserved areas. Designed to increase connectivity autonomy.
► Crisis-Ready Tools
Technologies that continue functioning during outages, shutdowns or low-bandwidth conditions. Examples include mesh messaging apps and offline-first tools.
D
Identity systems that allow people to control their own credentials rather than relying on central authorities.
E
► Encryption
A method of securing communication so only the intended recipient can read it. Essential for protecting sensitive conversations.
F
► Fediverse
A group of interoperable social platforms (such as Mastodon and PeerTube) that communicate using ActivityPub. No single company owns the network.
G
► Governance Layer
The rules, decision-making processes and accountability mechanisms that define how a system is run — independent of its technical design.
► GovStack
A modular approach to building public digital services using open standards. Helps countries avoid vendor lock-in.
I
► IPFS (InterPlanetary File System)
A distributed storage protocol that allows content to be hosted across many nodes rather than a central server.
M
► Mesh Network
A network where devices connect directly to one another, allowing communication when traditional infrastructure is unavailable.
► Metadata
Information about a communication (such as time, location, device) rather than its content. Often more revealing than the message itself.
O
► Open Data
Data that is accessible, reusable and shared openly, usually with clear licensing. Important for transparency and research.
► Open Source Software
Software whose code is publicly accessible and can be inspected, modified or shared. Governance varies widely.
P
► Participation Platform
A digital tool used for consultations, deliberation, idea-sharing or collective decision-making.
► Peer-to-Peer (P2P)
A model where devices communicate directly with each other rather than via a central server.
► Proof of Personhood (PoP)
Methods for confirming that someone is a real, unique human without revealing their full identity. Approaches include social verification, video challenges and biometrics.
R
► Resilience (Digital)
The ability to continue operating during outages, shutdowns, platform changes or other disruptions.
S
► Self-Hosting
Running software on an organisation’s own server or infrastructure rather than relying on a commercial provider.
► Stewardship
Long-term care and governance of tools, standards or infrastructure, often shared across multiple organisations.
V
► Verification (Digital)
Ways to confirm that a user, message or participant is genuine. Methods range from social trust to device checks to cryptographic proofs.
W
► Web3 (Contextual Definition)
A broad set of technologies that aim to distribute control of digital systems, typically using blockchains or decentralised protocols. Quality and purpose vary significantly by project.