The Data Fix with Dr. Mél Hogan Colonialism, with Ulises A. Mejias and Nick Couldry
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Jan 6, 2025 
Ulises A. Mejias, a communication studies professor and co-author of "Data Grab: The New Colonialism of Big Tech," and Nick Couldry from the London School of Economics, delve into the alarming ties between data colonialism and capitalism. They discuss how modern tech mirrors historical exploitations and how big corporations perpetuate systemic discrimination. The conversation shifts toward resistance strategies, emphasizing universities as critical spaces for activism and the need to equip students with critical thinking skills against corporate influences.
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Colonialism and Capitalism
- Data colonialism wouldn't exist without capitalism, and capitalism wouldn't exist without colonialism.
- This connection highlights the inherent extractive nature of both systems.
Data Colonialism as a Continuity
- Data colonialism represents a continuity of historical colonialism, focusing on extraction and dispossession.
- While the resources change, data now becomes a new form of extractable wealth.
Outsourcing Exploitation
- Examples like content moderation outsourced to the Global South illustrate data colonialism's exploitative practices.
- This mirrors historical colonialism by leveraging cheaper labor and resources in specific regions.
