The Our Data Bodies project is a three-year, mixed method, participatory research project explores the nature and experience of digital privacy and “data rights” of adult low-income people in the United States. A team of grassroots organizations collaborates with principal investigators to conduct qualitative, participatory action research in three cities and a nationally representative survey.
The project is coordinated by a five-person team, including LSE's Dr Seeta Peña Gangadharan, concerned about the ways in which communities’ digital information is collected, stored, and shared by government and corporations. Based in marginalized neighborhoods in Charlotte, North Carolina, Detroit, Michigan, and Los Angeles, California, the team looks at digital data collection and human rights, work with local communities, community organizations, and social support networks, and show how different data systems impact re-entry, fair housing, public assistance, and community development.
View the Our Data Bodies project website.
Dr Seeta Peña Gangadharan
Interests and expertise: communication rights and technologies; data profiling; surveillance; privacy; data and discrimination; democratic communication; digital inclusion; media justice; public participation in comms/tech policy
- Petty, T., Saba, M. and Lewis, T., Gangadharan, S.P. and Eubanks, V. (2018) Reclaiming our data: interim report, Detroit. Our Data Bodies. See here.
This work is made possible in part by a grant from Digital Trust Foundation. The Digital Trust Foundation was set up by Facebook after losing a class action lawsuit. DTF funds projects that promote online privacy, safety, and security.