Big Data as Governmentality in International Development: Digital Traces, Algorithms, and Altered Visibilities

Mikkel Flyverbom, Anders Koed Madsen, Andreas Rasche

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningpeer review

Abstract

Statistics have long shaped the field of visibility for the governance of development projects. The introduction of big data has altered the field of visibility. Employing Dean's “analytics of government” framework, we analyze two cases—malaria tracking in Kenya and monitoring of food prices in Indonesia. Our analysis shows that big data introduces a bias toward particular types of visualizations. What problems are being made visible through big data depends to some degree on how the underlying data is visualized and who is captured in the visualizations. It is also influenced by technical factors such as distance between mobile phone towers and the truth claims that gain legitimacy.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftThe Information Society
Vol/bind33
Udgave nummer1
Sider (fra-til)35-42
Antal sider8
ISSN0197-2243
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2017

Emneord

  • Big data
  • International development
  • Governmentality
  • Knowledge production
  • Algorithms

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