Digital inequality and data colonialism

We are becoming digital; we are in the digital age. Digital technologies have permeated all textures of life. Our life practices are being reshaped in every aspect. We are in a process of distinct change and transformation in every segment of life, from our private living spaces to public life and work life. 

In fact, digital transformation began in the late 1990s with the spread of the internet, and the process progressed rapidly thereafter. However, this evolutionary development took on a revolutionary character with the Covid-19 pandemic. With the pandemic, digital technologies were effectively put into use in all areas of life, from education to entertainment, from production to marketing. To protect against the pandemic, streets and avenues were emptied, and people shut themselves in their homes. The doors of workplaces were locked, and work was moved to the home. While school buildings and university campuses fell silent, education was compressed into screens. Markets and bazaars were closed, the lights of shop windows went out, the streets darkened, and in their place, the windows of virtual stores were opened. That was when we realized that this is a revolution, a highly encompassing global revolution in which digital technologies have infiltrated all textures of life and permeated all its details. Moreover, it is much more inclusive and much more transformative than the first industrial revolution. 

Indeed, the first industrial revolution was carried out in a certain geography, in a limited area, under the leadership of certain actors, and it took quite a long time to reach the whole world. However, even though the digital revolution we are currently in is taking place under the leadership of certain actors, it has reached almost the most remote corners of the world at once and created an impact at a global level in a short time. Therefore, the whole world is in a revolutionary process of change and transformation, and all people are aware of this. People of all ages, all education levels, and all social classes are aware that they are in a revolution, and each of them is affected by it in some way. 

The problem is the direction of this impact, who manages and controls it, and to whom and to what extent it provides benefits. As in every process of change and transformation, there are those who determine and those who are determined in the change and transformation taking place with digitalization. There are actors, devices, and tools. There are those who target and those who are targeted. There are those who profit and those who serve interests. It is necessary to address digitalization from this aspect as well. It is important to question technological developments on the axis of the concept of equality so that they can provide benefits to humanity at a general level and be used for the benefit of all humanity. 

On the other hand, no matter how much humanity develops, the colonial mindset unfortunately does not reset. The controls are always in someone's hands, and they manage the process in line with their own interests. In other words, from the very beginning, some have been holding the head of the water and directing the flow of the water in line with their own interests. The rest take their place in the process in a determined manner and turn in the direction shown to them without question.

With the first industrial revolution, large capital developed, and the capitalist system became established. While the powerful became constantly stronger, the deprived continued to become more deprived. Even worse, this deprivation was called improvement, and consolation was provided. Finding a job and working for a subsistence wage were presented as the reward of the system. Thus, the happy surrender of people was ensured. The same situation applies to digitalization. 

The actors of the digital are clear. All digital channels are under the management of a few people. The content is determined by these actors. And behind them are always the same political actors. Almost all people in the world are in contact with digital technologies, and because of this, they feel good. Each of us, almost all people in the world, believe that we are in an information society and that we can access information more easily than ever before in human history, and because of this, we feel good. We think that our children, who are born into the digital, know everything and are therefore geniuses, and we rejoice. But we never think about the extent to which the information we access is actually useful, for what purposes it is given to us, or the reason for the ease of access. We never think that the actors of capital continue to hold the head of the water, that it is not easy to give up power, and that digital channels are an important tool for the actors of capitalism. 

No matter the level of technological progress, as long as the colonial mindset in the world does not change and inequalities do not disappear, nothing will change. Of course, our quality of life improves, our lifestyle changes, and our daily life practices are reshaped, but as long as the philosophy of life does not change, a real change and transformation cannot be spoken of. Unless all people in the world and all social segments have the same opportunity for education, the same opportunity for acculturation, and the same quality of life, no revolution can be considered a truly radical revolution. For the betterment of humanity and for a more livable world, opportunities must be equalized as much as possible. For this, it is important that those who hold the head of the water direct the water equally to all fields, and that those who hold the controls transmit quality information equally to all viewers. 

Therefore, while the world is in the midst of a digital revolution, it is necessary for a better world to question inequalities and the capitalist exploitation system in all their aspects. Perhaps many of the problems being experienced today will disappear only when thinking progresses on the axis of the concepts of inequality and exploitation. The massacre of children and innocent people in Gaza will come to an end, and children will be able to eat candy too.

All of these will be addressed at the symposium titled Digital Inequality and Data Colonialism, which will be held by the Üsküdar University Faculty of Communication between May 15-17. The symposium, where nationally and internationally renowned academics, researchers, and intellectuals will make presentations, has been organized continuously for 11 years with different themes each year, and problems related to the world and humanity are discussed on the axis of communication and media. The symposium, where the presented papers will also be published as a book, will take place at the Üsküdar University Central Campus and South Campus halls (Altunizade – Üsküdar).

The detailed program of the symposium can be accessed via the link https://ifig.uskudar.edu.tr/2024/sempozyum-programi. We look forward to seeing everyone. See you in Üsküdar.