Technopolitics is there, invisible, vigilant, the invincible defender of the digital environment. In the COVID-19 era, it's constant; its influence, its breath, is constant in our coconuts. Because every time we buy through Amazon, we remove from its chain value a local vendor/vendor, giving a hegemonic place, unconsciously not noticing the powerful algorithm that forms in black data-opolies boxes.
The post-COVID-19 society that has become hyperconnected and viralized, in the hands of artificial intelligence, has chained us and condemned us. Is there an alternative? What is more, of necessity, when the new Data Governance Act, published yesterday by the European Commission, focuses on the altruistic exchange of data. Maybe as we take size of this new model of digital, pandemic and algorithmic citizenship, we should look for alternatives strategically, before it's too late. There is no more unfair gap than society and the economy that is not digitally self-shaping. Self-organisation, on the other hand, cannot be a matter for a few. Data and algorithmic tear our day to day in the field of this ongoing connectivity.
"The demand for rights is fine, but they will only affect if they are accompanied by possible and viable alternatives"
How does artificial intelligence already affect our cities? How can we restore the supply, data and algorithms of digital technologies, infrastructures and services in a democratic way between citizens and our cities?
Among them, we can address the enumeration and claim of digital rights, together with many other international and European cities and territories, as a first step. This is the starting point:
(i) the right to forget the Internet; (ii) the right to disconnect/unplug; (iii) the right to digital ownership; (iv) the right to protected personal integrity of technology; (v) the right to freedom of expression online; (vi) the right to ownership of the digital identity; (vii) the right to transparent and prudent use of algorithms on the Internet;
Behind the rights, alternatives should come. The demand for rights is fine, but it will only affect if they are accompanied by possible and viable alternatives. The challenge is to build an alternative to regulations, manifestos, along with letters. Because who are we waiting for?
Digital rights? Yes, thank you.