During the 8th Biennial Surveillance Studies Network Conference in Denmark, Dr. Daniel Trottier and PhD candidates Rashid Gabdulhakov and Qian Huang presented in the panel on digital vigilantism as user-led surveillance and moralising. They brought in research perspectives from Russia, China, the UK, and the Netherlands.
Research on digital vigilantism
In the panel, the scholars presented their studies on digital vigilantism. Dr. Trottier focused on media representations of user-led surveillant interventions. PhD candidate Gabdulhakov researched discourses on digital vigilantes in the Russian Media, and PhD candidate Huang conducted a study on media discourse on post-anti-corruption digital vigilantism in China.
Besides that, several other scholars from the Media & Communication Department visited and contributed to the conference. Dr. Jason Pridmore and PhD candidate Anouk Mols for instance participated in a panel on Work & Surveillance, discussing the impact of technologies such as messaging apps on work and personal life.
Theme
The theme of the Conference was Surveillance Beyond Borders and Boundaries, linking to today’s societies in which surveillance operates beyond territorial borders. Boundaries between institutions and disciplines that used to be clear are increasingly challenged by the many ways that data flows nowadays. The Surveillance Studies Network Conference can be considered one of the most important conferences for surveillance scholars.