At the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF), we believe that digital justice must be rooted in social justice. Technology is not neutral, it reflects the values, systems, and power structures in which it is developed. That is why the relationship between technology and social justice is central to our work.

Just AI – Data & Algorithms for Communities is DEF’s flagship initiative to ensure that artificial intelligence (AI) and data systems are ethical, inclusive, and accountable to the communities they impact. Launched in 2023, Just AI places people, not algorithms, at the center of the digital ecosystem.

Our work is grounded in the vision of the Constitution of India, especially the opening words of the Preamble: “We the People of India.” These words remind us that democracy must extend to the digital realm and that technologies must uphold dignity, equity, and rights for all, not just a privileged few.

Through community-based research, AI literacy and capacity-building, policy advocacy, and the Just AI Awards, we are:

Backed by over 23 years of DEF’s work across rural, peri-urban and other underserved regions in India, Just AI reflects our enduring commitment to building a digital ecosystem where technology empowers, includes, and respects the people it serves.

We invite you to join us in this mission to co-create a future where data and algorithms work for justice, and where digital rights are upheld as fundamental rights.