Sociotechs

Data reuse is crucial to making existing datasets accessible across users, systems and organisations. As we discuss today with Elena Parmiggiani, many questions surround data reuse: how can data be managed, curated and prepared to achieve cross-contextual reusability? How does this affect social and political responsibility across countries, regions and sites of data production?

Elena Parmiggiani is Associate Professor in Digital Collaboration and Computer-Supported Collaborative Work, and Deputy Head of Department for Sustainability at the Department of Computer Science, NTNU, Norway. Her latest work focuses on data curation and management, a topic to which she brings empirical insights on environmental monitoring in Norway and on dynamics occurring - to cite Elena's work - in the "backrooms" of data science. 

Sources:

Parmiggiani, E., Amagyei, N. K., & Kollerud, S. K. S. (2023). Data curation as anticipatory generification in data infrastructure. European Journal of Information Systems, 1-20.

Parmiggiani, E., Østerlie, T., & Almklov, P. G. (2022). In the backrooms of data science. Journal of the Association for Information Systems, 23(1), 139-164.

In this episode we discuss data labeling, the intensive work behind the scenes of AI, with Srravya Chandhiramowuli. Through Srravya's expertise, we explore the myth and realities of data labeling, focusing on the demands experienced by workers and on the many competing challenges experienced in meeting them. Our conversation continues by exploring the origins of such demands, delving into the interests of client firms and their impacts on the lives of workers.

Srravya is a PhD candidate at the Centre for Human Computer Interaction Design (HCID) Center at City, University of London. She examines the work practices of data annotation for AI, geopolitics of labour and resources to identify work centric design opportunities and policy interventions.

Resources:

Chandhiramowuli, S., & Chaudhuri, B. (accepted, 2023). “Match made by humans: A critical enquiry into human-machine configurations in data labelling.” In IEEE Proceedings of the 56th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS), Hawaii.

Chandhiramowuli, S., & Chaudhuri, B. (2021). “Politics of Data in & as News: A Data Justice Perspective.” AMCIS 2021 Proceedings. 13. 

In this episode, we sit down with Aleksi Aaltonen to discuss his focus on data as semantic material and its implications for understanding technology in society. Delving into data ontology, we uncover its implications for the big data industry and how data simplification impacts its ability to capture reality. Aleksi introduces the concept of "data commodities," discussing their significance in today's landscape. Finally, we delve into data-induced harm in the information systems and our role as researchers to overcome it.

Aleksi Aaltonen is Assistant Professor of Management Information Systems at Fox Business School, Temple University. He uses computational, quantitative, and qualitative methods to understand Information Systems phenomena, and his work offers multiple insights into understanding the world through data.

Resources: 

Aaltonen, A., Alaimo, C., & Kallinikos, J. (2021). The making of data commodities: Data analytics as an embedded process. Journal of Management Information Systems, 38(2), 401-429.

Aaltonen, A., & Penttinen, E. (2021). What makes data possible? A sociotechnical view on structured data innovations. Hawaii Conference of Information Systems Sciences (HICSS), 2021.

We delve into the world of border securitization and specifically, the involvement of AI in the EU's border externalization strategy. Our guest Antonella Napolitano sheds light on using surveillance technologies at the borders. From the concept of "border externalization" to the implications of the AI Act, we explore the consequences of outsourcing surveillance and the role of the EU as a funder. Join us as we discuss how these technologies shape migration policies and consider how researchers and activists could make an impact toward better outcomes. Finally, we explore ways to oppose the detrimental outcomes of surveillance technologies and curb the degenerative dynamics of EU-funded surveillance.

Antonella Napolitano is an independent advisor who works with a broad spectrum of organizations in the spaces of human rights and protection. She is the author of “Artificial Intelligence: The New Frontier of the EU’s Border Externalisation Strategy”, a report published by EuroMed Rights on the involvement of AI in EU’s border externalization and its surveillance implications.

Resources: 

Hi,

Welcome to the inaugural episode of "Sociotechs," we are Silvia and Tejas, the hosts of this brand-new podcast. As researchers with diverse interests, Silvia delves into data justice, digital identity, and the politics of sociotechnical artifacts, while Tejas explores digital behaviors and value creation amidst emerging technologies. Together, we seek to understand how technologies are designed and employed to participate in our world.

Why a podcast, you might ask? We believe that critical discussions around sociotechnical systems should be accessible to a broader audience. By featuring engaging conversations and diverse perspectives from academic, activist, and civil society realms, we hope to ignite deeper discussions about the state of the world.

In this podcast, we'll explore multiple intersections of technology and social issues, with a keen focus on data-generated harm and the quest for fairer technologies. Expect insightful interviews with speakers from all corners of the world, untangling the design and politics of sociotechnical artifacts.

Join us on this thrilling expedition as we amplify voices, share research, and cultivate dialogues to imagine a future where technology contributes to a fairer and more equitable world. Let's dive into the realm of Sociotechs, where the world of digital technologies meets the complexities of society!

References:

Music by Shounak Shirodkar