Data, Tech & Black Communities (DTBC) Newsletter
(January Issue)
Welcome to the January issue of the DTBC newsletter! The DTBC is a diverse, multidisciplinary Community of Impact (COI) that is bound together by a shared interest in ensuring that data and data-centric technologies work for the enhancement of Black lives, rather than to curtail or surveil them.
This newsletter exists to keep this Community of Impact informed of our work and about key data and technology news affecting Black communities.
What have we been up to?
DCMS Consultation
In autumn, the government sought agreement for its proposal to sacrifice our data rights on the altar of ‘innovation’ through its Green/White paper Data: A New Direction. Read our blog post on why data rights are particularly important for Black communities and how you can get involved. The government is trying to erode our data rights and protections. We must resist.
We are expecting the AI strategy to be launched later this year, and we would love your help in crafting a response because if the Data: A New Direction consultation was anything to go by, we expect the government will be going minimal on protecting our human rights (which they are trying to dismantle through another consultation).
Education Event
We held an event with a 2-point agenda:
to share more details about the upcoming year-long project exploring the impact of digital poverty (which is broader than digital exclusion) and the growing use of EdTech in schools, on Black children in the UK.
to discuss the growing collection and use of children’s biometric data in British schools, using the case of the nine North Ayrshire schools that attempted to introduce facial recognition technology for checking if kids were eligible for school dinners as a jumping off point.
We had some technical challenges which meant not everyone who registered was able to join us but we managed to have a good discussion amongst those who were able to join. You can find the presentation and minutes of that meeting here.
Community growth - membership
We want to see this community grow and serve its members. Doing so in a sustainable way takes intentionality and effective governance. To that end, the (3-person) DTBC team has begun work on a draft governance proposal for our community. We’ll be sharing it and seeking feedback by early March. Please keep a lookout and get involved!
How data and data-centric technologies are showing up in our world
Below are some stories which have made us stop and think. These and other news and research articles and blog posts can all be found on our curated Raindrop page. Please tell us about stories that you’ve found interesting!
🧑🏿🎓Education
Following some Scottish schools trying to use Facial Recognition in their canteens, the House of Lords has been discussing the growing problem of schools unnecessarily collecting children’s biometrics data.
There is very little oversight of the use of EdTech in UK schools. The government is now proposing some sort of certification scheme to address this issue. We’ll be tracking this.
Despite DfE’s mishandling of the Learners Records Service which allowed gambling companies access the records of millions of school leavers, the Secretary State is seeking more indiscriminate power over children’s data through the new Skills and Post-16 Education bill.
👨🏿💻Employment & Enterprise
Gig workers, and the unions that represent them like IWGB, are on the front line when it comes to fighting against the erosion of workers’ rights. Following changes ushered in by the Uber drivers’ Supreme Court victory, platforms like Just Eat have started using outsourcing companies to get around the rules.
The UK’s Centre for Data, Ethics and Innovation (CDEI) released guidance for the use of data-driven tools in recruitment. This continues the trend of non-binding ‘industry-led guidance’ instead of legislative worker protection. Contrast this with the position taken by New York City which requires algorithms used for hiring and promotions to be subject to an audit.
🦸🏿♀️Crime & justice
Facial recognition technology (FRT)- will it ever go away? In 2020 we all gave a fist punch in the air when Liberty and Ed Bridges won their case against South Wales Police’s use of FRT. But it’s 2022 and South Wales Police is back with a new FRT app to identify wanted individuals. Just as worryingly, they’re not going to collect any data about race making accountability harder.
The stripping back of our rights. This handy summary by Gal-dem tracks the flood of government consultations, bills and amendments aimed at reducing our ability to protest, complain and live without fear of deportation. We’re responding and resisting as much as we can, and if you have the energy, so should you. It can be something as small as signing an online petition, or writing to your MP or gathering with others (like us) to discuss collective action.
🧘🏿♂️Health
Health Minister Sajid Javid announces a review of health tech bias- can we expect something better? Our last newsletter highlighted the higher error rates of oximeters when used to measure oxygen levels for people with darker skin but this is just one example of a bigger problem. The health minister has taken notice, and we expect the review findings to be out at the end of January. We will keep you posted!
👨🏿🌾Environment
Climate justice is racial justice. A study published by the London Mayor’s Office has found that communities which have higher levels of deprivation, or a higher proportion of people from a non-white ethnic background are exposed to higher rates of pollution. This position hasn’t changed since the last study conducted in 2013. Whilst data is important in shining a light on racial injustice, by itself, it’s not enough to create change.
If you want to know if the place you live is affecting your health, check out this handy tool created by Centric Lab.
🤳🏿What are we watching/listening to?
We have been hooked on the latest BBC’s 28-Up, a series that has followed a group of 7 years old over the last 21 years, providing snapshots into what it’s like growing up in Britain today.
We have also been following the Elizabeth Holmes trial via the Bad Blood and The Dropout podcasts. Interesting insights into corporate tech culture, who gets funded and the role (and failings!) of regulators.
🙌🏿What’s bringing us joy this month?
We look forward to see (and, where possible, support) Timnit Gebru’s new organisation Distributed AI Research Institute (DAIR)
Nani Jansen Reventlow has left the Digital Freedom Fund and has set up Systemic Justice which will work with communities and local lawyers to bring about change on racial, social and economic justice issues through the courts. They’re still investigating how best to support the needs of activists, movements and organisations working in these areas. You can support this effort by completing their brief questionnaire.
Just the illustrative covers from this Thread of 40 Books covering Black Joy, History, Culture and more, provides comfort for the eyes.
Can we get the Junkunoos to chase away all the consultations (and the damaging legislative upheaval they are designed to justify) the government is planning to bombard us with this year?
What made you smile recently?
We kept returning to this beautifully curated TikTok video (by way of Twitter!)
💪🏿Get involved
The right to privacy: Digital Data. The UK Parliament Science and Technology Committee issued a call for evidence on data sharing/ protection/ privacy and ethics. The deadline is 28th January.
Do you work in an educational institution that’s thinking about using biometric data, or does your child attend one? If so, you might want to have a read of DefendDigitalMe’s briefing pack on Biometrics in Schools.
Get in touch!
We hope you enjoyed our second newsletter. We promise to get more succinct unless you prefer our little summaries. Either way, if you have thoughts, news to share with us, or want to get involved in any way do get in touch: data-tech-black-communities@protonmail.com
We’ll be hitting your inbox in three months’ time!