What is data colonialism?

Colonialism has not disappeared – it has taken on a new form. In the new world order, data is the new oil. Big Tech companies are grabbing our most basic natural resources – our data – exploiting our labour and connections, and repackaging our information to control our views, track our movements, record our conversations and discriminate against us. In 'Data Grab: The new colonialism of Big Tech and how to fight back', Nick Couldry and Ulises Mejias, founders of the concept of data colonialism, reveal how history can help us both to understand the emerging future and to fight back. Find out more about the book here. 

Read Nick Couldry's article for LSE's magazine, Research For The World here. 

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How are journalists using AI in their work?

This short animation summarises findings from JournalismAI's second global survey, in which more than 120 editors, journalists, technologists and mediamakers from 105 small and large newsrooms across 46 countries share their learnings on the use of AI and genAI.

Professor Charlie Beckett’s JournalismAI initiative launched its second global survey, in which more than 120 editors, journalists, technologists and mediamakers from 105 small and large newsrooms across 46 countries share their learnings on the use of AI and genAI.

JournalismAI is a Polis project, supported by the Google News Initiative, that aims to explore the potential of using AI technologies responsibly for journalism. It launched in 2019 to inform media organisations about the opportunities offered by AI-powered technologies and to foster debate about the editorial, ethical, and financial implications of using AI in journalism. Find out more here. 

Polis is LSE's media think-tank based in the Department of Media and Communications and aimed at working journalists, people in public life and students in the UK and around the world.

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Re-reading Habermas in the context of slavery and the slave trade

Recent discussions on “decolonizing” knowledge production have often foregrounded the importance of centering “marginal” perspectives, which is crucial but insufficient as it risks leaving the canon untouched. Jürgen Habermas’ book on the bourgeois public sphere is one of the most frequently cited and debated canonical texts in media and communication studies. Situating London’s 17th and 18th century coffee houses and newspapers in the context of slavery and the slave trade, Dr Wendy Willems argues for a critical re-engagement with canonical thinkers.

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Synthesising institutional racism, public policy, and ethnic minority media

In this film, Dr Suzanne Temwa Gondwe Harris explains how public policies in Argentina and the UK have impacted the emergence, vitality, and sustainability of ethnic minority media, arguing for media and public policies to be centred around social justice. Looking specifically at Afro-descendant communities and their media in Argentina and the Black Press in Britain, she highlights the importance of studying public policies and political strategies that are shrouded in racist ideologies and discourses that have impacted the growth of ethnic-minority led media.

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Rights of Children in a Digital Age

The digital world has brought a wealth of information, opportunities and experiences to us all - with children no exception. But with these benefits also come risks like inappropriate content and potentially dangerous situations. How do we help our kids navigate the world of apps, websites, games and social media? What are some of the issues developers of these products and spaces need to consider when they’re designing for young audiences? The research of LSE’s Professor Sonia Livingstone and Dr Mariya Stoilova help us answer these questions.

This short animated film features as as part of LSE Festival 2023: People and Change, highlighting LSE research which explores some of the major changes affecting the world.

Read more about Sonia Livingstone's research on the LSE British Politics and Policy blog here, or visit ySKILLS and 5Rights Foundation.

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Social media and the 'hierarchy of hate'

What is the link between online misinformation and hate speech and offline politics and power? In this film, Professor Shakuntala Banaji explains how different kinds of oppression across the world are deeply engaged with what’s happening online. She details the concept of a hierarchy of hate: hate and abuse on social media is directed at people because of who they are, rather than what they say, and certain identities attract far more hate online than other groups do.

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Unearthing the meaning of ‘Big, Bad, Scary’ China

How has Western media reacted to the rise of China? In this film, Professor Bingchun Meng explains how Western media tend to fall back on familiar stereotypes and dystopian imaginaries. China’s increasing economic and geopolitical presence means that Western countries are forced to deal with a country with a very different political and values system, posing many complicated questions.

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Why are some people calling for a more open radio access network (RAN) architecture?

Why are some people calling for a more open radio access network (RAN) architecture? In this film, Dr Jean-Christophe Plantin explains why there has been a move to disaggregate some of the key technology that the telecommunications industry relies on. Since 2019, when then US President Donald Trump banned US companies from using technology from Huawei, one of the main three providers of cell tower technology, there has been strong momentum to look at Open RAN. This is increasing as tech giants take a larger role in building network infrastructure.

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