The costs of connection in the age of big data and AI

Sign up: https://www.diis.dk/en/node/26719/

In the current era of pervasive datafication, apps, platforms, and smart objects capture and translate our lives into data, that is extracted by corporations and sold back to us for profit. According to scholars Nick Couldry and Ulises Mejias, this global order is akin to historical colonialism’s appropriation of land and resources.

In this webinar, Couldry and Mejias’ will discuss their work on “The Costs of Connection” (2019) and how we can understand the normalization of data extractivism in the age of data capitalism. Together with Couldry and Mejias, we will reflect on the framework of data colonialism and how historical structures extend into a future characterized by intensified datafication. We also engage in discussion on the tension between connection and resistance under data colonialism.

Speakers
Nick Couldry, Professor of Media, Communications and Social Theory, Department of Media and Communications at London School of Economics
Ulises Mejias, Professor of Communication Studies, State University of New York Oswego
Marie Kolling, Senior Researcher, Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS)
Sarah Seddig, PhD Candidate, Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS)
Sofie Henriksen, PhD Candidate, Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS)

Programme
14.00-14.10 Introduction, Marie Kolling
14.10-14.30 Presentation, Nick Couldry and Ulises Mejias
14.30-14.45 Discussion, Sarah Seddig
14.45-15.10 Q&A
15.10-15.15 Closing remarks, Sofie Henriksen

Practical information
The event will be held online via Zoom. This is a Zoom meeting format and all attendees will be able to join the discussion. Participation is free of charge but registration is required https://www.diis.dk/en/node/26719/

Please note, that the meeting will be recorded and uploaded to DIIS’ YouTube channel and this page after the meeting has taken place. This means that if you are not interested in appearing in the recording, please turn off your camera. If you do not wish to ask questions by taking the floor, you can write your questions in the chat.