Event overview
Dr. Ana Valdivia (King's College, London)
Event supported by the Politics Department, Goldsmiths, organised in the frame of the MA in International Relations.
Abstract: Biometric data such as fingerprints or facial images are extracted from migrants and stored in largescale information management systems to implement border controls as well as asylum policies. Yet, little is known about the historical, technical, and political context of biometrics and how this technology has evolved to the present day, driven by advances in artificial intelligence, computer science and statistics. Through digital research on Francis Galton's archives, the pioneer of biometrics in the 19th century, this presentation unveils its colonial and racial legacy from a critical technological perspective. Through a genealogical method, I will analyse the theoretical foundations of biometrics and how it has evolved through the development of computational methods such as deep learning. The presentation concludes by analysing how biometrics is implemented nowadays at the EU's borders, showing how fundamental rights are jeopardised.
Bio: Dr. Ana Valdivia is a Research Associate in Artificial Intelligence (AI) at King's College London (UK) where she explores how algorithms are impacting on non-privileged subjects from a technical, political and legal perspective. Bridging the gap between computer and social sciences, Ana's interest lies in investigating power relationships in algocracies and how governmental and non-governmental actors are fueling the future with AI. She is investigating how datafication technologies are transforming borders and migration governance at Security Flows (ERC's project led by Prof. Claudia Aradau). She developed digital methodologies to discover which algorithmic systems are used in the field of border security and to better understand asylum systems.
Contact: Martina.Tazzioli@gold.ac.uk
Dates & times
Date | Time | Add to calendar |
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15 Mar 2022 | 5:00pm - 7:00pm |
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