Visualising autonomy
As society rapidly digitises, its reliance on digital services and vendors increases. In the last fifteen years, organisations in the Netherlands have increasingly moved to cloud services. Most of these cloud services are provided by "hyperscalers": gigantic technology companies that provide hundreds of services. Nearly all of these companies are US-based.
In a time with growing geopolitical tensions, such dependency on a small number of tech companies could prove dangerous. In June of last year, a US executive order disabled e-mail and document access to the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague. This showcases that foreign governments are increasingly willing to weaponise such dependence.
Are we autonomous yet? tracks which vendors about 10.000 organisations in the Netherlands are using for their e-mail and web hosting. In this way, it visualises digital dependency for individual organisations, sectors and the Netherlands as a whole.
What does dependency mean to you?
Dependence can affect society in so much more ways than just through e-mail and webhosting. During this Dutch Design Week, we invite visitors to visualise their own dependence. Along with visitors, we will co-create a map that showcases their personal dependence, based on their own living environment.
This visualisation is a starting point for asking the question: “what does digital dependence mean to you”? Together, we will explore which aspect of your daily life matter most when looking at use you can and cannot control.
Towards a better understanding of digital autonomy
Your input is valuable as we work further on creating an understanding of what digital autonomy means. This exhibition is the kick-off for a year-long collaboration between Studio Falkland, journalistic collective Vers Beton and data journalist Sytze Simonse. Based on your input, we will investigate organisations in Rotterdam to explore and uncover further dependencies.
During this project, we will also work with SIDN Labs, a research institution at the forefront of internet infrastructure. Your input will be used to research dependencies in internet protocols and infrastructure itself.
During the coming year, we will update our online platform with new data, new visualisations, new investigations and new stories that explain, highlight and showcase digital autonomy.
