Mirca Madianou

Rethinking Humanitarianism | The aid sector’s techno-colonialism problem Experts unpack AI and new tech in crises, the fallback on “techno-utopian” solutions, and the risk of “techno-colonialism” and why it matters.

I enjoyed the conversation with @tammam.bsky.social Rana Sweis and Nathaniel Raymond for @newhumanitarian.bsky.social on tech & AI in the aid sector - I spoke about my recent book 'Technocolonialism' out with @politybooks.bsky.social www.politybooks.com/bookdetail?b... @mediacomgold.bsky.social

So is my 18-year old. Also not my doing!

Migrant Futures Doctoral Studentships The Graduate School is pleased to announce the call for two fully-funded Migrant Futures Doctoral Studentships

📣 2 x PhD studentships @goldsmithsuol.bsky.social
funded by the Migrant Futures Institute: 1st studentship open to ALL subjects for UK applicants of migrant / refugee background. 2nd open to UK / international applicants on migration-related topic. ⬇️ @mediacomgold.bsky.social Please repost!

On Wednesday 4th Feb 16:00 I'll be giving a talk on Technocolonialism, based on my recent book with @politybooks.bsky.social, at the University of Manchester. If you're in town, it would be so great to see you! @mediacomgold.bsky.social Details below:

Look forward to this - thank you for inviting me!

Prof. Dr. Mirca Madianou (Goldsmiths, university of London): Technocolonialism: when technology for good is harmful Abstract With over 300 million people in need of humanitarian assistance and with emergencies and climate disasters becoming more common, AI and data are being

Next Tuesday 27th, I'll be visiting Bremen to give a lecture based on my book 'Technocolonialism: when technology for good is harmful' www.politybooks.com/bookdetail?b... - details below. If you are in town and would like to meet, let me know! @mediacomgold.bsky.social @politybooks.bsky.social

Congratulations- looks brilliant!

On my way to the UK's Internet Governance Forum to speak on Digital ID - drawing on my research in refugee camps where such systems are piloted ukigf.org.uk/events/uk-ig... I wish our exhibition w/ drawings by Karen refugees was still on: the drawings express issues w/ Digital ID better than I can!

After Technocolonialism A panel discussion about the book 'Technocolonialism: when technology for good is harmful' with Helen Kennedy, Jo Littler, Mirca Madianou, Andrea Medrado and Nirmal Puwar.

'After Technocolonialism' - a book panel @mediacomgold.bsky.social to discuss 'Technocolonialism: when technology for good is harmful' published by @politybooks.bsky.social with Helen Kennedy, @andreamedrado.bsky.social Nirmal Puwar & @jolittler.bsky.social November 26th, 5-7pm, all welcome! ⬇️

Reimagining Digital ID Reimagining Digital ID, a new exhibition supported by Goldsmiths’ Migrant Futures Institute (MFI) showcases the artwork of Karen refugees living in camps along the Thailand–Myanmar border.

I was interviewed by @goldsmithsuol.bsky.social about the exhibition 'Reimagining Digital ID' with drawings by Karen refugees from the Thailand-Myanmar border. Exhibition will officially open during conference on November 8th and will run until Nov 27th, details ⬇️ @mediacomgold.bsky.social

Photos from the Reimagining Digital ID exhibition with drawings by Karen refugees, Kingsway corridor, RHB, Goldsmiths, University of London

Photos from the Reimagining Digital ID exhibition with drawings by Karen refugees, Kingsway corridor, RHB, Goldsmiths, University of London

Photos from the Reimagining Digital ID exhibition with drawings by Karen refugees, Kingsway corridor, RHB, Goldsmiths, University of London

The exhibition Reimagining Digital ID with artwork by Karen refugees is now open @mediacomgold.bsky.social @goldsmithsuol.bsky.social Through drawings & poems Karen refugees express their experiences with biometric systems and imagine alternative futures www.gold.ac.uk/calendar/?id...

Reimagining Digital ID: Learning from the South | REDID Project A one-day symposium on Digital ID in Global South, refugee and UK contexts, including exhibition launch of drawings by Karen refugees at the Thai-Myanmar border

Last chance to register for the 'Reimagining Digital ID' event @mediacomgold.bsky.social @goldsmithsuol.bsky.social Join the www.redid.net team and other researchers, designers, digital human rights and migrant rights groups to discuss implications of digital ID systems. All welcome, details below ⬇️

Reimagining Digital ID: Learning from the South | REDID Project A one-day symposium on Digital ID in Global South, refugee and UK contexts, including exhibition launch of drawings by Karen refugees at the Thai-Myanmar border

Speakers continued: Mallika Ballakrishnan @migrantsorganise.bsky.social @sarahalsherif.bsky.social Julia Tinsley-Kent, Sana Farrukh @privacyinternational.org and of course REDID team members Charlotte Hill and Hayso Thako. All welcome but you must register: www.redid.net/events-1/lon...

Speakers include: @kerenweitzberg.bsky.social @silviahedley.bsky.social @margchee.bsky.social Andreas Hackl @deryaozkul.bsky.social @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social Sanjay Sharma, Kim Snooks

Reimagining Digital Identity An exhibition of drawings by Karen refugees at the Thailand-Myanmar border.

Given recent announcement about Digital ID in the UK, the symposium is perfect opportunity to learn from research in Global South contexts where such systems have long been piloted. The event will also launch the art exhibition with drawings by Karen refugees and how they imagine a fair ID system

📣 Registration is open for our event Reimagining Digital ID @mediacomgold.bsky.social @goldsmithsuol.bsky.social w/ findings from our www.redid.net project and talks by colleagues working on implications of Digital ID in Global South, migrant & refugee contexts explore.gold/digital-id All welcome! ⬇️

this is so depressing, but it explains quite a lot...I don't remember the rate ever being so low.

Great to see ✨3 ✨ @mediacomgold.bsky.social books at the @politybooks.bsky.social stand at #aoir2025 ‘Democratic Delusions’ by Natalie Fenton, @kat-hig.bsky.social’ ‘Believability’ and my own ‘Technocolonialism: when technology for good is harmful’

🔥🔥🔥

How wonderful to be back at Rio for #aoir2025 - giving paper 2 this morning on the infrastructural violence of digital ID room 8g @ 9am

Very happy to be in Tallinn for the Beyond Borders @ecreadmm.bsky.social conference to give the keynote on 'Resisting Technocolonialism' - drawing on my recent book and new project 'Reimagining Digital ID': how Karen refugees use art to recast ID systems www.redid.net @mediacomgold.bsky.social

Media and Instability - MeCCSA PGN Conference 2025 Join us for the 2025 MeCCSA PGN Conference and delve into research at the intersection of media and instability.

Our wonderful PhD students are organising the MECCSA PGN conference this year @mediacomgold.bsky.social on Friday September 12th - if in London join us! www.gold.ac.uk/calendar/?id...

Technocolonialism – digital control and refugee resistance in humanitarian settings - LSE Review of Books Mirca Madianou's Technocolonialism explores how digital technologies used in humanitarian contexts perpetuate colonial legacies.

NEW✨ @madianou.bsky.social's Technocolonialism @politybooks.bsky.social explores #digital control – from biometric surveillance to extractive #AI systems – and refugee resistance in #humanitarian settings.

Review by Josué García Veiga 👇

🚨 New member book alert!
In Technocolonialism, IAMCR member Mirca Madianou @madianou.bsky.social exposes how AI & "tech for good" can deepen global inequality & digital exploitation.
🔗 iamcr.org/books-madian...
#DigitalColonialism #TechForGood #AIJustice

Look forward to our talk ‘Rethinking Digital ID among Karen refugees’ 16:00, The Hive B1 35 - with Charlie Hill #iamcr2025 #iamcr25

Still buzzing from our redid.net event & exhibition @ Chiang Mai U - but the project moves to #IAMCR2025 #IAMCR25 conference with *2 talks* on Monday 13 July: 08:30 on Visual Participatory Research & 16:00 on Reimagining Digital ID in refugee camps. If in Singapore, join us
@mediacomgold.bsky.social

Reimagining Digital Identity: Research Insights and Exhibition | REDID Project The Chiang Mai event will showcase our visual participatory methods, with a particular focus on artwork created by participants.

Our ‘Reimagining Digital ID’ exhibition & conference are happening this Saturday 12 July @ Chiang Mai Univ. So proud to showcase the artwork of our refugee participants as they reimagine digital systems. Full schedule: www.redid.net/events-1/cmu... @mediacomgold.bsky.social

Migrant Futures Postdoctoral Fellowships Goldsmiths is pleased to announce the call for two Migrant Futures Postdoctoral Fellowships, part of a major grant from the Oak Foundation to establish the Migrant Futures Institute at Goldsmiths.

📣 2 x postdoc opportunities @ the Migrant Futures Institute, Goldsmiths, U of London. 1st award open to all subjects for applicants who are migrants / refugees; 2nd award needs to focus on migration. Please read eligibility criteria carefully, deadline 18 August: www.gold.ac.uk/research/cen...

Very proud to share our project website 'Reimagining Digital Identity systems among Karen refugees in Thailand'. www.redid.net The site is in S'gaw Karen & English - we wanted to foreground the language of our participants as our research is primarily for them, not just English-speaking audiences

Thank you for the thoughtful review and for engaging with the book so closely!