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Big Data: Inequality by Design?
[conference paper]
This document is a part of the following document:
Proceedings of the Weizenbaum Conference 2019 "Challenges of Digital Inequality - Digital Education, Digital Work, Digital Life"
Abstract This paper proposes to tackle the problem of digital inequality by introducing digital technologies of knowledge generation and decision-making to a feminist critique of rationality that is informed by discourse theory and intersectional perspectives on gender and gendered relations of inequality. T... view more
This paper proposes to tackle the problem of digital inequality by introducing digital technologies of knowledge generation and decision-making to a feminist critique of rationality that is informed by discourse theory and intersectional perspectives on gender and gendered relations of inequality. Therefore, it takes a closer look at the epistemological foundations of Big Data as one prominent representation of digital technologies. While Big Data and Big Data-based results and decisions are generally believed to be objective and neutral, numeral cases of algorithmic discrimination have lately begged to differ. This paper argues that algorithmic discrimination is neither random nor accidental; on the contrary, it is - amongst others - the result of the epistemological foundation of Big Data - namely: data fundamentalism, post-explanatory anticipatory pragmatics, and anti-political solutionism. As a consequence, a critical engagement with the concepts and premises that become materialized in the design of digital technologies is needed, if they are not to silently (re)produce social inequalities.... view less
Keywords
discourse theory; intersectionality; algorithm; digitalization; epistemology; Foucault, M.; social inequality; digital divide; gender-specific factors; technology assessment
Classification
Technology Assessment
Free Keywords
Big Data; Algorithmic Discrimination; Feminist Critique of Rationality; Epistemology; Intersectionality; Weizenbaum-Institut; Weizenbaum Institute
Collection Title
Proceedings of the Weizenbaum Conference 2019 "Challenges of Digital Inequality - Digital Education, Digital Work, Digital Life"
Conference
2. Weizenbaum Conference. Berlin, 2019
Document language
English
Publication Year
2019
City
Berlin
Page/Pages
10 p.
Status
Primary Publication; peer reviewed