SUBORDINATED BY THE ALGORITHM: EXPLORING DATA COLONIALISM AMONG LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS

Authors

  • Esteban Morales UBC, Faculty of Education
  • Katherine Reilly SFU, School of Communication

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5210/spir.v2022i0.13058

Keywords:

Data colonialism, Latin America, Participatory research

Abstract

Data colonialism refers to the processes by which extracted data is commodified to reproduce and expand capitalist and colonialist practices. As data colonialism transforms infrastructures and ideologies to exercise new ways of control, it has become a crucial approach to better understand how datafication transforms and impacts citizens' lives across the world—especially in the Global South. In this paper, we explore data colonialism as a lens to examine how Latin American citizens' are impacted by their engagement with different information systems. More specifically, we present findings from a collaboration with civic data organizations in five countries in Latin America. Overall, findings show how relying on data colonialism underscores the impacts to citizens when they engage with contemporary information systems, including material and physiological harm to individuals, fragmentation of communities, and various ideological shifts. However, findings also call attention to the value of integrating other theoretical approaches that emphasize discussions about agency, contextualization, and the benefits of datafication. Overall, this paper discusses how data colonialism hurts individuals, target communities, and transforms citizens' imaginaries about their place in society.

Downloads

Published

2023-03-29

How to Cite

Morales, E., & Reilly, K. (2023). SUBORDINATED BY THE ALGORITHM: EXPLORING DATA COLONIALISM AMONG LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS. AoIR Selected Papers of Internet Research, 2022. https://doi.org/10.5210/spir.v2022i0.13058

Issue

Section

Papers M