Abstract
Feminist theories have extensively debated consent in sexual and political contexts. But what does it mean to consent when we are talking about our data bodies feeding artificial intelligence (AI) systems?
Highlights
This paper is part of Feminist data protection, a special issue of Internet Policy Review guest-edited by Jens T
Feminist theories have extensively debated consent in sexual and political contexts. What does it mean to consent when we are talking about our data bodies feeding artificial intelligence (AI) systems? This article builds a feminist and anti-colonial critique about how an individualistic notion of consent is being used to legitimate practices of the so-called emerging Digital Welfare States, focused on digitalisation of anti-poverty programmes
Under weak notions of consent that are enforced in data protection legislations, artificial intelligence (AI) systems are making automated decisions in our houses, and in governments, and the consequences can go way beyond privacy concerns
Summary
“Alexa, do you do things without my consent?”, a friend asked her virtual assistant. “Sorry, I’m not sure about that”, Alexa answered. Can we shift the individualistic and neoliberal meaning of consent that is being applied to technologies to a feminist approach towards consent that takes power relations into account and, as such, could work as one tool to help us challenge the notion of Digital Welfare States?. In most poverty management systems that are being gradually deployed by the public sector worldwide, there is no margin of maneuver for opting out of data collection and processing These systems profilings are likely to have ethical, political and practical implications on how people will be treated or will access rights. Focused on the extensive digitalisation of anti-poverty programmes, this article contributes to building a feminist and anti-colonial critique of how an individualistic notion of consent (or a universalistic view of public interest) is being used to legitimate practices of control and exclusion in the emerging Digital Welfare States. These assumptions represent a problem for feminism in the context of colonialism, as the
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
