@alkatandan and I are exploring forming a CoSocial group to watch together and discuss videos on the impact of digital technologies on culture and politics. Looking for feedback on whether the group and video ideas are of interest.
This group is formed with the intention of providing a space for communications within the group, comparable to private communications in Mastodon. As per CoSocial Code of Conduct, the following behaviour is not welcome: “Publication or sharing of non-harassing private communication without consent.”
I am left with so much to think about and many useful challenges to my current ways of framing things.
The video I mentioned at the end, which may be interesting (even tho it is a bit light weight compared to what we watched today, and is quite old now): How algorithms shape our world - Kevin Slavin from 2012.
Looking forward to future session, as all the videos you’ve listed looking very interesting!
Sorry I could not catch the end of what looked like a fun discussion. One question I have is what we want in future videos? Do we want familiar /well-tread material – great for jumping off points into discussion, remains accessible for different levels of knowledge in this area. Or focus on content/concepts/ideas for us to grapple with?
It’s always nice listening to Meredith Whittaker speak… but it’s always nice listening to Cory Doctorow as well! It would be interesting to know how many in the Watch Party have heard/read him yet. I’d be even more excited to pick that if it meant introducing people unfamiliar with him to him. Zuboff’s book is the subject of one of Cory Doctorow’s books, How to End Surveillance Capitalism, which broadly agrees with Zuboff’s book but also offers an interesting critique of one aspect of it, which I imagine Zuboff appreciated too after reading Doctorow’s book. I’ll revisit that to share the details of that here later! These all sound interesting so it will be difficult to pick one I’d prefer watching to the others, but I look forward to voting on it.
In the spirit of maintaining group privacy, I would like to give a glimpse into our first discussion without attributing specific thoughts to individuals. We discussed the meaning of privacy, an abstract concept that means different things in different contexts and doesn’t fit well into how it is currently framed as a commodity. And also discussed the roles that privacy plays as protection, shelter for human development, flourishing, autonomy and freedom.
Knowledge about us is power over us. Not everyone who uses our information has our best interest in mind. Asymmetry of power exists between individuals and institutions, commercial or government, and that asymmetry is compounded by vulnerabilities an individual already has from class, race, gender, and legal status for example.
Data collection is a misnomer that obfuscates data creation as a morally significant act. Then there are many issues once data is created. The lack of real information on how data will be used renders informed consent meaningless. The Internet enables increased accessibility and permanence of data. The impossibility and terrible track record of keeping data safe is undeniable. What can we do? Practicing data minimalism is one strategy. Framing of personal data as an extension of personhood may give us more digital integrity in our digital lives. This framing is gaining traction in the EU.
@shon I enjoyed your video suggestion - great talk!
On the topic of algorithms, I recently started reading Weapons of Math Destruction by Cathy O’Neil. She also has a TED talk dated Sept 2017, but still so relevant - The era of blind faith in big data must end
I think we could pair those two talks in one session.
@resl Welcome! I really appreciate your thoughts on what looks interesting. Just putting together a short list with which to create a poll for the next session. In future, it could be fun to discuss in sequence Zuboff’s Surveillance Capitalism followed by Doctorow’s How To End Surveillance Capitalism. Those are also closely related to our first session video, Carissa Véliz on Philosophy and Ethics of Privacy and Surveillance. Hope to see you at a watch party soon!
I’m familiar with Doctorow’s analysis and recommendations, I like them and have never regretted listening or reading his stuff, and would happy to have a chance to watch and discuss with other. Speaking of, in case anyone isn’t aware, he is currently doing a series with CBC’s ‘Understood’: Who Broke the Internet.
I am new here (but have been lurking for a bit), but this looks very interesting!