Julie Owono

Owono was born in Cameroon and grew up in Russia and France. She is a polyglot, fluent in five languages including Russian and Ewondo, her mother tongue. Owono received a master's degree in International Law from La Sorbonne Law School. She has worked as a blogger for Global Voices and an opinion columnist for Al-Jazeera, commenting on the politics of the Gulf of Guinea. Between 2012 and 2020 she analyzed and commented on international news for several programs in French and English on the French public international channel France 24.

File:Julie Owono 2016 (cropped).jpg

By the mid-2010s, Owono was active in Internet Sans Frontieres, "a Paris-based non-profit organization advocating for freedom of expression on the internet", becoming head of its Africa desk.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ozy.com/around-the-world/the-battle-for-a-free-internet-in-africa/79011/|title=The Battle for a Free Internet in Africa|date=June 27, 2017|website=OZY}} In that capacity, she lauded the growth of internet growth in African countries, but cautioned that their governments must avoid censoring the internet, stating that "[a] government cannot say that it wants to fully get into the digital economy and treat the essential commodity of that economy in the way we have seen so far".

In 2018 and 2019, Owono sought to pressure the government of Chad to restore internet access that had been cut off certain parts of the country. Owono indicated that the restriction occurred "because videos of violent clashes among the Zaghawa tribe in northern Chad were being shared on WhatsApp". Owono sought to persuade western military allies to pressure the government of Chad to restore access but was disappointed in the response. Owono also oversaw a fundraiser to buy premium VPN access for journalists and activists, which raised €2,000 ($2250).

In 2020, Owono was one of 20 individuals from around the world named to the Facebook Oversight Board, an organization established to make consequential precedential decisions about content moderation on the platforms of Facebook and Instagram.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/06/facebook-names-first-members-of-oversight-board-for-content-moderation.html|title=These are the people Facebook put in charge of deciding whether to delete controversial posts|last=Bursztynsky|first=Jessica|date=6 May 2020|website=CNBC}}

{{As of|2023}}, Owono is the Executive Director at IWB. In July 2023, following a recommendation from the oversight board to deplatform Cambodian head of state Hun Sen, the government of Cambodia listed Owono as one of 22 people connected with Meta who were banned from entering the country.{{Cite web|url=https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501318760/cambodia-bans-22-members-of-the-board-of-directors-of-meta-platforms-inc-from-entering-country/|title=Cambodia bans 22 members of the Board of Directors of Meta Platforms. Inc from entering country - Khmer Times|date=July 4, 2023}}

Julie Owono has served as an inaugural member of the Meta Oversight Board since its establishment in 2020. In this capacity, she contributes to the Board's mission of reviewing and making binding decisions on complex content moderation cases across Meta's platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. Owono's work emphasizes the importance of upholding freedom of expression while addressing harmful content.{{Cite news |last=Levy |first=Steven |title=Inside Meta's Oversight Board: 2 Years of Pushing Limits |url=https://www.wired.com/story/inside-metas-oversight-board-two-years-of-pushing-limits/ |access-date=2025-05-09 |work=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}}

Beyond her adjudicative responsibilities, Owono actively engages in public discourse on content governance. She has participated in various events and discussions, including appearances on podcasts such as "Wonks and War Rooms",{{Cite web |last=Dubois |first=Elizabeth |date=2023-03-08 |title=Meta Oversight Board with Julie Owono |url=https://www.polcommtech.com/post/meta-oversight-board-with-julie-owono |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=PolCommTech.ca |language=en}} where she elaborated on the Oversight Board's processes and the challenges of content moderation. Her insights contribute to broader conversations about transparency, accountability, and the evolving responsibilities of social media platforms in managing online speech.

Julie Owono is deeply engaged in advancing the intersection of business, human rights, and artificial intelligence through her affiliations with several academic and research institutions.{{Cite web |last=Owono |first=Julie |last2=Lenard |first2=Thomas M. |last3=Wallsten |first3=Scott |date=2025-05-12 |title=Julie Owono on the Importance of Establishing a Democratic Agenda for Content Governance - Publications |url=https://techpolicyinstitute.org/publications/content-moderation/julie-owono-on-the-importance-of-establishing-a-democratic-agenda-for-content-governance/ |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=The Technology Policy Institute |language=en-US}} She is a researcher at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University, where she focuses on content governance, digital rights, and the ethical implications of emerging technologies. At the Berkeley Human Rights Center, she further explores the impact of artificial intelligence on marginalized populations and global digital economies.

Previously, Owono established{{Cite web |title=Program on Democracy and the Internet Launches New Content Policy & Society Lab (CPSL) |url=https://pacscenter.stanford.edu/news/pdi-project-launch/ |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=Stanford PACS |language=en-US}} the Content Policy and Society Lab (CPSL) at Stanford University, a research laboratory{{Cite web |title=Articles about Content Policy & Society Lab - The Stanford Daily |url=https://stanforddaily.com/tag/content-policy-society-lab/ |access-date=2025-05-14 |language=en-US}} dedicated to studying the application of the multi-stakeholder approach to the governance of emerging technologies (Stanford PACS).{{Cite web |last=Fellow |first=Practitioner |last2=Lab |first2=Digital Civil Society |last3=PACS |first3=Stanford |title=Julie Owono |url=https://pacscenter.stanford.edu/person/julie-owono/ |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=Stanford PACS |language=en-US}} CPSL was instrumental in examining how diverse voices, including civil society, policymakers, and technology companies,{{Cite web |date=2022-05-13 |title=[INTERVIEW] "Exploring different options within Content Policy" with Julie Owono |url=https://www.sciencespo.fr/public/chaire-numerique/en/2022/05/13/interview-exploring-different-options-within-content-policy-with-julie-owono/ |access-date=2025-05-14 |language=en-US}} can collaborate to create inclusive governance frameworks for AI and other advanced technologies.

Beyond academia, Owono is a prominent Board Director and Advisory Board Member for several international organizations committed to digital rights, freedom of expression, and the ethical use of AI. She is a board member of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ),{{Cite web |date=2024-03-12 |title=CPJ welcomes newsroom and human rights leaders to board of directors |url=https://cpj.org/2024/03/cpj-welcomes-newsroom-and-human-rights-leaders-to-board-of-directors/ |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=Committee to Protect Journalists |language=en-US}} Witness,{{Cite web |title=Julie Owono |url=https://www.witness.org/portfolio_page/julie-owono/ |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=WITNESS |language=en-US}} Meedan,{{Cite web |title=Core Values & Team |url=https://meedan.com/about-us/team |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=meedan.com |language=en}} and the Dangerous Speech Project.{{Cite web |title=Our Team |url=https://www.dangerousspeech.org/team |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.dangerousspeech.org |language=en}} Additionally, she serves on the Advisory Board of Latimer AI,{{Cite web |title=Latimer: AI for Everyone - Inclusive Language Model |url=https://www.latimer.ai |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.latimer.ai |language=en}} an initiative focused on creating inclusive AI frameworks that respect human rights.

Owono’s work reflects her commitment to advocating for ethical governance in the age of AI,{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNk-AtCxAhc |title=Julie Owono : Intelligence artificielle et droits humains |date=2019-02-11 |last=UNESCO |access-date=2025-05-14 |via=YouTube}} ensuring that emerging technologies are developed and deployed in ways that uphold global human rights{{Cite web |title=How the internet and ChatGPT will cause the rise or fall of our society with Julie Owono - The Executive Appeal with Alex D. Tremble |url=https://the-executive-appeal.captivate.fm/episode/93-how-the-internet-and-chatgpt-will-casuse-the-rise-or-fall-of-our-societywith-julie-owono |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=the-executive-appeal.captivate.fm |language=en}} standards while incorporating diverse, multi-stakeholder perspectives.{{Cite web |title=Julie Owono |url=https://www.weforum.org/people/julie-owono/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250502214826/https://www.weforum.org/people/julie-owono/ |archive-date=2025-05-02 |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=World Economic Forum |language=en}}

Julie Owono has been recognized for her impactful work in the fields of Business, Digital rights, Internet governance, and Human rights. Below is a listing of her key awards and honors:

• 2019-2021: Practitioner Fellow, Digital Civil Society Lab, Stanford PACS, Stanford University{{Cite web |last=Fellow |first=Practitioner |last2=Lab |first2=Digital Civil Society |last3=PACS |first3=Stanford |title=Julie Owono |url=https://pacscenter.stanford.edu/person/julie-owono/ |access-date=2025-05-18 |website=Stanford PACS |language=en-US}}
• 2019-2020: Fellow, Berkman Klein Center, Harvard University{{Cite web |date=2024-10-08 |title=Julie Owono {{!}} Berkman Klein Center |url=https://cyber.harvard.edu/people/julie-owono |access-date=2025-05-18 |website=cyber.harvard.edu |language=en}}
• 2020: One of the 100 Most Influential Africans, New African Magazine{{Cite web |date=2023-06-03 |title=100 Most Influential Africans hector |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603104329/https://100.newafricanmagazine.com/2020/ |access-date=2025-05-18 |website=web.archive.org}}
• 2021: Listed by Nob Hill Gazette of San Francisco as one of the most powerful women{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Written by Jennifer Massoni Pardini {{!}} Photography by Spencer |date=2022-03-04 |title=Women In Power: Future/Female |url=https://www.nobhillgazette.com/people/profile/women-in-power-future-female/article_e8cef9f6-8f1b-551a-9cf4-8d336117463c.html |access-date=2025-05-18 |website=nobhillgazette.com |language=en}}
• 2022: Business Personality of the Year, French-American Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco {{Cite web |last=Labriet-Gross |first=Hélène |date=2022-05-24 |title=FABA : les gagnants de l'édition 2022 sont... |url=https://www.frenchmorning.com/faba-les-gagnants-de-ledition-2022-sont/?slug=628630-82306-9802a1&token=a600710f7f02ef6b4bcffb82a70858be678b7ca744f0e620063934c332aadbe9 |access-date=2025-05-18 |website=French Morning US |language=fr-FR}}
• 2022: Fellow, Program on Democracy and the Internet, Stanford PACS, Stanford University {{Cite web |last=Fellow |last2=Democracy |first2=Program on |last3=Internet |first3=the |title=Julie Owono |url=https://pacscenter.stanford.edu/person/julie-owono-2/ |access-date=2025-05-18 |website=Stanford PACS |language=en-US}}
• 2024: Fellow, Human Rights Center, University of California, Berkeley{{Cite web |title=Julie Owono |url=https://humanrights.berkeley.edu/people/julie-owono/ |access-date=2025-05-18 |website=Berkeley Human Rights Center |language=en}}

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite web |title=Announcing the First Members of the Oversight Board |url=https://www.oversightboard.com/news/announcing-the-first-members-of-the-oversight-board/ |website=Oversight Board |publisher=Oversight Board |access-date=3 June 2020 |archive-date=23 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123052204/https://www.oversightboard.com/news/announcing-the-first-members-of-the-oversight-board/ |url-status=dead }}

{{cite web|title=Career Julie Owono "French-speaking Africa is the area where there are the most needs concerning freedom of speech"|first=Dounia|last=Ben Mohamed|url=https://www.africanewsagency.fr/parcours-julie-owono-lafrique-francophone-est-la-zone-ou-il-y-a-le-plus-de-besoins-concernant-la-liberte-dexpression/?lang=en|date=2020-06-11|access-date=2021-05-03|archive-date=2022-01-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126231038/https://www.africanewsagency.fr/parcours-julie-owono-lafrique-francophone-est-la-zone-ou-il-y-a-le-plus-de-besoins-concernant-la-liberte-dexpression/?lang=en|url-status=dead}}

{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-oversight-board-is-a-supreme-court-in-zuckerberg-dictatorship-2020-9|title=As Facebook prepares to outsource tough content decisions to its new 'Supreme Court,' experts warn it still operates within a dictatorship and can't legislate a better government|first=Tyler|last=Sonnemaker|date=2020-09-26|journal=Business Insider|access-date=2021-05-03}}

{{cite web|url=https://pacscenter.stanford.edu/person/julie-owono/|title=PERSON: Julie Owono, Practitioner Fellow, Digital Civil Society Lab, Stanford PACS (2019-20, 2020-21)|website=Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society|access-date=2021-05-03}}

{{cite web|title=Global Voices Contributor Julie Owono|url=https://globalvoices.org/author/julie-owono/|website=Global Voices|access-date=2021-05-03}}

{{cite web|title=Julie Owono. More the from the Author|journal=Al Jazeera|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/author/julie_owono_2011112312305930352|access-date=2021-05-03}}

{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/24/africa/chad-internet-shutdown-intl/index.html |title=Chadians feel ‘anger, revolt’ as they struggle without internet for one year|first1=Aanu|last1=Adeoye|publisher=CNN|date=April 25, 2019}}

{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/facebook-names-20-people-its-supreme-court-content-moderation-n1201181 |title=Facebook names 20 people to its 'Supreme Court' for content moderation|first1=David|last1=Ingram|publisher=NBC News|date=May 6, 2020}}

{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-facebook-oversight-members-factbox-idUSKBN22I2N0 |title=Factbox: Who are the first members of Facebook's oversight board?|first1=Elizabeth|last1=Culliford|publisher=Reuters|date=May 6, 2020}}

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• {{cite web|date=2021-03-16|title=Julie Owono: How local voices will shape the global internet|author=Stanford Engineering Staff|url=https://engineering.stanford.edu/magazine/article/julie-owono-how-local-voices-will-shape-global-internet|access-date=2021-05-03}}

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