Dr. Osama Halabi an associate professor in Computer Science and Engineering department is one of the leads of a project titled “Future of Digital Citizenship in Qatar: A Socio-Technical Approach”.

The project is a four-year research initiative done by Msheireb Museums and Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) as a significant step towards promoting responsible digital citizenship and enhancing positive online community engagement in Qatar.

The project is funded by the Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation Council (QRDI). The initiative comprises six sub-projects led by experts in their respective fields, bringing together more than 60 researchers.

The project’s tangible outputs include web interfaces for public analysis of social media, detection of hate speech, discrimination, and propaganda, as well as training materials and ambassadors to educate students on digital literacy, propaganda detection, safety, well-being, and social inclusion.

Dr. Osama Halabi, highlighted the importance of social media literacy and the project’s focus on assessing public attitudes towards social media in Qatar. The project’s findings, which will be primarily presented in Arabic, are expected to provide deeper insights into the variations between Qatar, the Arab world, and Western countries regarding technology and social media acceptance.

Msheireb Museums and HBKU’s commitment to integrating technology with academia and emphasis on sharing research findings with the public through events, exhibitions, and community engagement activities demonstrate their dedication to fostering a more sustainable and inclusive digital environment in Qatar.

This collaborative effort between academia, museums, and the community is a promising endeavor that has the potential to impact digital citizenship and online community engagement in Qatar significantly. The initiative’s focus on responsible digital citizenship and positive online engagement sets a commendable example for other regions and countries.