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We weren’t relying on the captions and could laugh at these mistakes. But I kept thinking of the many people especially those with hearing impairment who can’t participate without auto-captions and were probably confused, at times totally lost. This technology is a real boon and certainly a step toward a more inclusive internet, but it’s a shame that it only works well for those who speak “standard” English. As immigrant, indigenous, and religious groups conduct their activities online, millions of people are affected by the software’s shortcomings. This is clearly an issue of equity and inclusion, and tech companies like Facebook, Google, and Zoom must address it.