Ulises Mejias: Data Colonialism
Homebrewed Christianity
Intro
This chapter examines the appropriation and exploitation of digital data by corporations, highlighting the issues of data ownership and privacy. It prompts listeners to reflect on the ethical implications and power dynamics inherent in the relationship between companies and individuals.
In this episode, I talk with Dr. Ulises Mejias, Professor of Communication Studies and Director of the Institute for Global Engagement at the State University of New York. WE explore the concept of data colonialism, examining how modern technology companies extract and exploit personal data in ways that parallel historical colonialism. The conversation delves into how these practices impact education, immigration policy, and what resistance might look like in our digital age.
You can WATCH the conversation on YouTube
Here are the two editorials Ulises and I discuss
- The Core of Gen-AI is Incompatible with Academic Integrity
- Big Tech is powering Trump’s immigration crackdown
Ulises Mejias is Professor of Communication Studies and Director of the Institute for Global Engagement at the State University of New York. Originally from Mexico City, his scholarship examines the relationship between technology, power, and colonialism. He is co-author with Nick Couldry of The Cost of Connection: How Data Colonizes Human Life and Appropriates It for Capitalism and Data Grab: The New Frontier of Digital Colonialism. His work focuses on decolonizing approaches to technology and data, particularly exploring how the extraction of personal data represents a new form of colonialism.
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