Defective Design: Power relations in the digital sphere
- Santiago José Roca Petitjean Centro Nacional de Desarrollo e Investigación en Tecnologías Libres, CENDITEL (Venezuela) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3701-3409
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Abstract
This article argues that the meaning of the concept of 'digitality' is linked to the historical consolidation of the digital sphere. Based on the contributions of the critical philosophy of technology and constructivism, the digital sphere is analyzed as a space of sociotechnical relations that incorporates power interests. It is argued that the governance policies of digital platforms are transferred to the digital ecosystem, turning it into a space of conflicting interactions and interpretations. It is explained that the values and technical parameters of the platforms are intertwined in the design, development and social appropriation of digital applications, which is illustrated with the case of online employment. It is concluded that digitality and the digital sphere are built on an ecosystem of commercial platforms, and the importance of the democratic rationalization of platforms and applications in the consolidation of a pluralistic digitality is emphasized.
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