At the mercy of the objects, we study

Epistemic consequences of proprietary digital research infrastructures

Datos Bibliográficos

ID6443372
AutoresSofie Flensburg (0000-0002-3022-5708, University of Copenhagen), Signe Sophus Lai (0000-0002-7903-7994, University of Copenhagen), Jacob Ørmen (0000-0003-4807-8395, University of Copenhagen)
Año2025
Volumen27
Número4
Páginas1928-1944
Fecha de publicación2025-04-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaNew Media & Society (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1461-4448 • E-ISSN: 1461-7315
EditorialSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/14614448251314397
OpenAlexW4409106821
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas4
Referencias citadas38

This article asks how our capacities to conduct critical research on digital power are influenced by depending, empirically and methodologically, on powerful market actors controlling the underlying research infrastructure. Building on discussions at the intersection between digital methods, political economy and infrastructure studies, we zoom in on three cases of widely used commercial data tools and repositories for academic studies. Mapping out their methods and applications, we ask of each case: Who owns and offers it? What is (not) measured? And, how is it mobilized in existing research? We thereby explore how they each contribute to the construction of knowledge by setting the standards for measuring, monitoring and ultimately regulating digital power. We conclude that the constructions of digital research infrastructures should be placed at the centre of our investigations – as objects of analysis and as research findings in and by themselves

Data science · Epistemology · Sociology · Computer Science · Ethics and Social Impacts of AI · Philosophy · Research Data Management Practices · Scientific Computing and Data Management