Suzanne McClure
The Association of Internet Researchers (AOIR) conference in Philadelphia, held from October 18 to 21, was a landmark event, gathering over 600 attendees from diverse fields to explore the forefront of internet research. I witnessed a rich tapestry of ideas and innovations at this conference, reflecting on the evolving digital landscape.
The Attitudes Towards Data Lego Serious Play team was selected for an experimental session at AOIR. This format, designed for non-traditional presentations, allowed us to showcase our unique approach to data understanding and team building. Despite being scheduled early on a Saturday morning and having only one attendee from the AOIR executive committee, the session was insightful. While our planned 1-minute and 20-minute challenges were not executed, the feedback we received was invaluable. The suggestion to provide certificates for workshop participants and seek funding from the Lego Group for future projects was particularly noteworthy.
The conference buzzed with terms like CRIPTECH, FEMTECH, ALGOVISION, ALGORACISM, and FAUXTOMATION, but AI EMPIRE resonated the most. Discussions spanned various social media platforms, with a significant focus on the increased value of Twitter datasets following the removal of free API access.
One of the highlights was the “Screening Surveillance” presentation by Assistant Professor Sava Saheli Singh from York University, Canada. This session, featuring four short films, delved into speculative and invisible surveillance, challenging the perceived neutrality of surveillance technologies.
However, the standout panel was “Internet Subjectivities,” which examined the integration of Internet-based communications and devices into daily life and their interplay with artificial intelligence and machine learning. This panel raised profound questions about how human subjectivities are reshaped by automated processes and the implications for identity, cultural expression, and social justice.
Professor Aram Sinnreich’s presentation on the afterlife of data and its role in shaping future societal power structures was particularly thought-provoking. His upcoming book, “The Secret Life of Data,” and the foundational paper “The Carrier Wave Principle,” promise to be influential works in this field.
Looking ahead, the next AOIR conference is set for October 30 to November 2 in Sheffield, hosted by the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University. This event will undoubtedly continue the tradition of insightful and forward-thinking discussions. The call for proposals opens January 2024.
