Datafication and implicated networks of demobilization: social movement demobilization in datafied societies

ABSTRACT

An increasing number of social movements have taken the form of connective action achieved through datafication structures in the absence of central coordinating social movement organizations. Social movement demobilization in digitally-mediated connective action remains a relatively understudied area. Drawing together social movement studies and communication studies, we introduce the theoretical framework of ‘implicated networks of demobilization’ (INsD) to explore the dynamics and implications of datafication for social movement demobilization. Based on examples from the Anti-Extradition Bill movement in Hong Kong and the 2020 George Floyd protests in the United States, we theorize that the connective action embedded in the datafication structure confronts three demobilizational dynamics: implicated data, materiality, and epistemic dynamics. These dynamics imply that connective action mobilization in datafied societies faces constraints pertaining to state-level network oppression, potential threats imposed by the material datafication structure, and the spread of digital knowledge of self-protection. The INsD framework contributes to understanding the interactive data-mediated dynamics between the state and activists in connective action.

KEYWORDS:

• Demobilization
• connective action
• datafication
• data politics
• Anti-ELAB movement
• George Floyd protests

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. It is noteworthy that whether the dynamics exist and become prevalent depend on contextual factors such as whether there exists a well-developed datafication structure in which both the state and activists could draw on to suppress or sustain claim-makings.

2. The “ANTIELAB Research Data Archive” is an open access database created by the Journalism and Media Studies Centre at the University of Hong Kong. It extracted and stored data about “Mobilization Map,” “Teargas Map,” and the movement posters from the movement-related Telegram channels. The dataset, however, is now set to private. For a description of the data archive, see https://antielabdata.jmsc.hku.hk/about-us/

3. Lee et al. (2019) made the survey data about the demographics of protesters available online.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Chi Kwok

Chi Kwok is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Government and International Affairs at Lingnan University in Hong Kong. His current research interests include political economy, corporate power, the gig economy, and workplace justice. His work has appeared in journals such as, among others, Journal of Social Philosophy, Philosophy & Social Criticism, Review of Social Economy, and Information, Communication & Society.

Ngai Keung Chan

Ngai Keung Chan is an Assistant Professor at the School of Journalism and Communication at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. His research examines the intersection of platform governance, algorithms, and service work. His work has appeared in such journals as New Media & Society, Information, Communication & Society, Surveillance & Society, Space and Culture, and Media and Communication, among others.