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Data has become a central resource shaping political economies, extracted through digital infrastructures that operate across borders and often reinforce existing inequalities. This talk examines the fragmented nature of data governance and argues for centering governance on data itself, rather than solely on platforms, algorithms, or industry compliance. Drawing on the concept of data colonialism, it frames current practices as extractive systems that commodify human life. The talk introduces autonomía(s)—collective agencies—as a counter-narrative and praxis for comunalidad, or communal ways of being. By embedding autonomía(s) within participatory assemblies, it reimagines governance as a design process that fosters collective action, critical reflection, and relational frameworks grounded in shared needs rather than market-driven logics.
Pamela Gil-Salas is a doctoral researcher at the Umeå Institute of Design, exploring how design can enable democratic engagement with digital technologies. With a background in architecture, urbanism, and sustainable design, her research focuses on participatory approaches to data governance and digital sovereignty, guided by feminist and decolonial perspectives. As a Marie Curie Fellow, she investigates how community-centered frameworks can challenge extractive data-driven systems and promote collective agencies. Her interdisciplinary work bridges theory and practice, reimagining governance frameworks that might enable more just digital futures.
