In today’s Race + Power newsletter, we look at how technology—once heralded as the great equalizer—often perpetuates systemic inequity when left unchecked. As leaders, organizers, and advocates, we must question who technology is serving—and who it may be leaving behind.

Consider the fact that even as we see advancements in telemedicine, AI diagnostics, and wearable health devices, we must also grapple with how these innovations inadvertently widen health inequities for low-income communities, communities of color, and underinsured people. Equitable innovation can close these gaps—if we prioritize the people most impacted by health disparities.

Facial recognition technology remains largely unchecked, disproportionately targeting Black, Indigenous, and communities of color through flawed algorithms and biased implementation. As corporations and government agencies expand its use, civil liberties are increasingly at risk. This raises vital questions about data privacy, policing, and the power of tech corporations in our daily lives.

Meanwhile, the intersection of technology and disability justice, though often overlooked, is an area of enormous potential to disrupt inequality across society. When people with disabilities are included at the helm of technology design and policy, innovation becomes more inclusive, and systems that have historically ignored disability can be transformative—for everyone.

Technology can either deepen systemic inequities—or help dismantle them. Nonprofits at the vanguard of social justice need to understand the opportunities and the risks that come with new platforms and innovations, both to their operations and to their communities. Join NPQ and NTEN (Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network) for an upcoming session on how organizations can use technology responsibly and equitably.