Images of Resistance: Thinking about Computer Vision AI in Surveillance Capitalism through Images of Marielle Franco
Images of Resistance: Thinking about Computer Vision AI in Surveillance Capitalism through Images of Marielle Franco
Abstract
This article examines the ambivalent dynamics of activism in social media and online platforms. Made up of Brazilian researchers from areas such as Communication, Visual Arts and Design, Anthropology, Computer Science and Engineering, our group analysed 213,083 images shared on Instagram that are part of the hashtag #MariellePresente, an online political manifestation that arose in response to the assassination of Brazilian councilwoman Marielle Franco in 2018, an unsolved case. After collecting images with a Python programming language script, we used two Computer Vision/Artificial Intelligence tools to read them (Google Cloud Vision and YOLO Darknet). The results show the capi- talistic logics inscribed into these technologies and also shed light on the role played by both online activism and data analysis tools. Thus, the consequences of the shift of political movements online became apparent: by helping activism to find its audience, online platforms simultaneously subject its cause to demands of 21st century digital capitalism (Zuboff 2019; Srnicek 2017; Bruno 2013; Crary 2013; Beiguelman 2020).
Citation
Copy Citation
BibTex
Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as:
Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial No Derivatives 4.0 Generic
Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial No Derivatives 4.0 Generic
Keywords:
Marielle FrancoComputer VisionActivismSocial Media