Data Justice

“The definitive book on the social, political, and economic dimensions of data.”

- Vincent Mosco, author of The Smart City in a Digital World

“An essential handbook for those invested in reclaiming our digital space.”

- Payal Arora, author of The Next Billion Users and FemLab Co-Founder

In an age of datafication, the systematic collection, analysis and exploitation of data impacts all aspects of our social lives.

Crucially, there are winners and losers in this. From access to services, to the risk of being wrongfully targeted, to our very understanding of the social world and what we think matters in it.

Data Justice is a cutting-edge exploration of the power relations that lay at the heart of our datafied lives. It outlines the intricate relationship between datafication and social justice, exploring how societies are, will, and should be affected by data-driven technology and automation.

From data capitalism and data colonialism, to data harms and data activism – this book is an expert guide to the debates central to understanding the injustices of life in a datafied society.

It is also an urgent and impassioned call to challenge and reimagine these injustices. To work collectively to achieve a fairer and more just future.

Data Justice is an essential resource for anyone working and studying across critical data studies, and anyone interested in the social consequences of big data, smart technology and AI.

Dr Lina Dencik, Dr Arne Hintz, Dr Joanna Redden and Dr Emiliano Treré are co-Directors of the Data Justice Lab at Cardiff University.