2025:Program/Open Data & Open Source for Informed Communities in Conflict: the Sudan Case

Session title: Open Data & Open Source for Informed Communities in Conflict: the Sudan Case

Session type: Lecture

Track: Open Data

Language: ar

In conflict zones like Sudan, where violence has displaced millions and disrupted communication, access to reliable information is essential. Open data and open source have become critical for tracking events, combating misinformation, and amplifying the voices of affected communities. While there are risks of misuse, these tools help ensure accurate, inclusive reporting and strengthen resilience in times of crisis.

This session will examine the role of open data in crisis within the context of the Sudan war. It will explore how open-source tools improve tracking security risks, humanitarian response, and economic assessments while addressing the spread of misinformation and hate speech on social media. The session aims to provide journalists, researchers, and human rights organizations with practical tools for navigating complex information environments.

Description

Access to reliable, verified information is a lifeline in times of conflict. However, in war zones like Sudan, where ongoing violence has displaced millions and disrupted communication networks, open data and open-source research have emerged as powerful tools for resilience. By providing insights and enabling real-time verification, these resources can empower journalists, researchers, human rights organizations, and even communities, to track events, counter misinformation, and amplify the voices of the most affected by conflict.

Despite the challenges posed by misinformation and the potential risks of data exploitation, open data offers solutions that can help mitigate the chaos of conflict. When implemented effectively, open data ensures access to factual, unbiased information, helping civilians stay informed, navigate security risks and document human rights violations. Open-source is not only helpful in getting critical data that may not be covered by the media, but it has also been proved invaluable in verifying information, mapping areas of violence, and uncovering disinformation campaigns that seek to manipulate narratives.

This session will explore the dual role of open data in conflicts, using Sudan as a case study. Since April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in a brutal war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), resulting in mass displacement, internet shutdowns, and a surge in disinformation. Social media has become both a battleground and a vital communication tool –used to spread hate speech and propaganda, but also to share critical updates from those on the ground. Open-source platforms have played a role in tracking conflict escalation, documenting human rights abuses, and providing real-time, localized insights for affected communities.

The discussion will explore how open data and open source contribute to accurate, verified information that enhances community resilience. It will also examine the role of social media analysis in detecting misinformation, monitoring hate speech, and identifying patterns of violence while gaining key insights into the public discourse. Additionally, the conversation will highlight the potential of open-source tools to localize and expand coverage of security risks, humanitarian needs, and economic impacts. Strategies for safeguarding individuals and communities while maintaining transparency in open data will be addressed, along with ethical considerations and responsible practices to prevent its misuse or weaponization.

The session will also showcase innovative data-driven research models, including the use of surveys to gather firsthand accounts from affected populations and methods for cross-verifying open source information. By focusing on solutions, participants will gain practical insights into how open data can be responsibly leveraged to protect communities, combat misinformation, and ensure that truth prevails even in the fog of war. It aims to provide practical insights for journalists, researchers, and human rights organizations working in conflict environments.

How does your session relate to the event theme, Wikimania@20 – Inclusivity. Impact. Sustainability?

Open data and open source foster inclusivity by ensuring that diverse voices, particularly those in conflict zones, are represented. By making crucial and reliable information accessible, these tools empower communities that are often marginalized and cut off from traditional media, enabling them to participate in global knowledge-sharing.

The impact of open data is evident in its ability to counter misinformation, expose human rights violations, and provide life-saving insights in real-time. By showcasing how open source supports journalism, humanitarian response, and security awareness, this session demonstrates how open and free knowledge can drive tangible change in crisis situations.

Sustainability is also at the core of this discussion, as maintaining open, reliable information systems is essential for long-term resilience in conflict zones. The session will address strategies to safeguard data integrity, ensure ethical usage, and prevent the weaponization of open data, all while reinforcing the role of open knowledge in building a more informed and secure future.

What is the experience level needed for the audience for your session?

Everyone can participate in this session

Speakers

• Nihal Abdellatif

Nihal is a Sudanese project manager with a passion for media and its role in promoting social equity and building informed and inclusive communities. With various experience in between multinational companies as well as grassroots initiatives, Nihal brings contextual knowledge of the opportunities and challenges in using open data for enhancing public awareness and excellent communication skills that foster collaboration between teams for optimized impact.

• Musab Ali

As an ESTJ, I bring a structured, analytical, and results-oriented mindset to media monitoring, fact-checking, and open-source

intelligence (OSINT) research. I have solid experience in tracking and analyzing social media activity, verifying digital content,

and identifying misinformation across complex media landscapes.

I specialize in keyword development, data collection, and sentiment analysis, with a strong ability to extract actionable insights

to support investigative and monitoring objectives. My background includes contributing to research projects that demand high

attention to detail, accuracy, and strategic thinking.

With a sharp eye for emerging media trends and industry best practices, I continuously adapt to the evolving digital landscape. I

am committed to enhancing my open-source research capabilities, thrive in fast-paced, collaborative environments, and

consistently deliver reliable, insightful contributions to any team I join.