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Mapping Deathscapes: Digital Geographies Of Racial And Border Violence

Neil Parker

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Published in Katie L Acosta

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The digital realm has emerged as a critical platform for the expression and negotiation of racial and border violence. Through online platforms, individuals and groups engage in practices that reinforce existing power structures, perpetrate hate speech, and perpetuate discrimination. This article explores the digital geographies of racial and border violence, examining how online spaces become contested landscapes where struggles over identity, belonging, and power unfold.

Digital Technologies and Racialization

Digital technologies have become central to the processes of racialization, shaping how individuals are perceived, categorized, and treated within society. The proliferation of social media, search engines, and surveillance systems has amplified the reach and impact of racial discrimination.

Racial Profiling and Surveillance: Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter have been used by law enforcement agencies to conduct racial profiling and target individuals based on their perceived race. Algorithms used by search engines and social media websites often perpetuate racial biases, leading to discriminatory results.

Mapping Deathscapes: Digital Geographies of Racial and Border Violence

by Katie L. Acosta

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	9864 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	285 pages

Cyberbullying and Hate Speech: Online platforms have become fertile ground for cyberbullying and hate speech, directed specifically at marginalized racial groups. Anonymous online spaces allow individuals to engage in harassment and spread hateful messages without facing direct consequences.

Digital Borders and Migration Control

Digital technologies have also played a significant role in reinforcing and creating new borders and barriers for migrants and refugees.

Virtual Walls: Governments have implemented digital infrastructure, such as surveillance cameras and biometric identification systems, to establish virtual walls along borders. These technologies are used to monitor and deter undocumented migration, often with devastating consequences.

Online Detention and Deportation: Digital surveillance and data-sharing systems have facilitated the online detention and deportation of migrants and asylum seekers. Individuals can be flagged and tracked based on their online activity or social media posts, leading to their arrest and removal from a country.

Resisting and Dismantling Digital Violence

While digital technologies can be used to perpetuate racial and border violence, they can also be leveraged as tools for resistance and dismantling these harmful practices.

Digital Activism: Online platforms have become platforms for activism and organizing against racial and border injustice. Social media campaigns, online petitions, and virtual protests have mobilized global support for movements like Black Lives Matter and No More Deaths.

Digital Sanctuary: Some online spaces have become virtual sanctuaries where marginalized individuals can find support and protection from offline violence. Online forums, closed groups, and encrypted messaging apps provide safe spaces for vulnerable communities to connect and organize.

Critical Digital Literacy: Empowering individuals with critical digital literacy skills is essential for combating digital violence. By understanding how digital technologies can perpetuate racial and border biases, individuals can challenge and disrupt these practices.

The digital geographies of racial and border violence are complex and ever-evolving, shaped by the interplay of technology, power structures, and the ongoing struggles for social justice. Digital technologies have both amplified existing forms of violence and created new avenues for resistance. Understanding these digital landscapes is crucial for developing strategies to dismantle racial and border violence and create a more just and equitable society.

Mapping Deathscapes: Digital Geographies of Racial and Border Violence

by Katie L. Acosta

4.6 out of 5