Latest 300 | LSE Public lectures and events | Video Technocolonialism: when technology for good is harmful
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Dec 5, 2024 Professor Mirca Madianou, a media and communications expert from Goldsmiths University, dives into the concept of technocolonialism, highlighting how digital innovations can perpetuate inequalities between the Global North and South. She critiques the implications of biometric programs on refugees in Bangladesh, illustrating how technology can entrench colonial legacies. Madianou also discusses the ethical dilemmas of AI in humanitarian settings and emphasizes the need for justice-driven, community-focused approaches to technology design. Her insights challenge assumptions about 'technology for good'.
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Rohingya Biometric Controversy
- Over 1 million Rohingya refugees arrived in Bangladesh in 2017-2018, fleeing genocide in Myanmar.
- A UN biometric registration program sparked protests due to the symbolic erasure of the Rohingya identity and data sharing concerns.
Digital Humanitarian Interventions
- Digital innovation and AI are championed as solutions in humanitarian emergencies, including biometrics, blockchain, and chatbots.
- These technologies are used for various purposes, from distributing aid to providing mental health services.
Technocolonialism Defined
- Technocolonialism describes how digital innovations reinforce power imbalances between the Global North and South.
- It builds on existing colonial power dynamics within humanitarianism, migration, and technology.