Representation, Resistance and the Digiqueer: Fighting for Recognition in Technocratic Times

Digital media technologies have enabled LGBTQ+ individuals and communities to organize for rights and justice, but they can also present risks. Justin Ellis provides insights on LGBTQ+ identity formation through social media networks and platform biometrics, considering the effects of surveillance technologies on agency.

Format: Hardback
Length: 172 pages
Publication date: 16 May 2023
Publisher: Bristol University Press

Digital media technologies have played a crucial role in empowering LGBTQ+ individuals and communities to advocate for their basic rights and justice. These technologies have provided a platform for organizing, raising awareness, and mobilizing support for LGBTQ+ causes. However, it is important to acknowledge that these same technologies can also pose risks, including online and in-person harassment and assault, as well as concerns about privacy and consent.

In recent years, social media networks and platform biometrics have emerged as powerful tools for LGBTQ+ identity formation. These technologies have facilitated the creation of online communities, allowing LGBTQ+ individuals to connect with others who share their experiences and challenges. They have also provided new avenues for self-expression and advocacy, enabling LGBTQ+ individuals to share their stories and raise awareness about important issues.

However, the use of surveillance technologies in the context of LGBTQ+ identity has also raised significant concerns. Surveillance technologies can be used to track and monitor LGBTQ+ individuals, potentially leading to discrimination and marginalization. They can also be used to target LGBTQ+ individuals for hate crimes and violence, which can have devastating consequences for their physical and mental well-being.

In his book, "The Queer Digital: Surveillance, Biometrics, and LGBTQ+ Identity," Justin Ellis provides a comprehensive analysis of the effects of surveillance technologies on LGBTQ+ agency. Ellis draws on a range of sources, including case law, parliamentary debates, social and mainstream media, and LGBTQ+-tech advocacy, to explore the ways in which surveillance technologies shape LGBTQ+ identity formation.

One of the key themes in Ellis' book is the debate over gender, procreation, religion, nationalism, and tech-regulation. Ellis argues that these debates have significant implications for LGBTQ+ identity formation and that surveillance technologies can exacerbate existing tensions and conflicts. For example, surveillance technologies can be used to reinforce traditional gender norms and reinforce heteronormative expectations, which can be harmful to LGBTQ+ individuals who challenge these norms or who do not identify as heterosexual.

Ellis also considers the effects of surveillance technologies on LGBTQ+ agency. He argues that surveillance technologies can limit LGBTQ+ individuals' ability to express themselves and engage in advocacy. For example, surveillance technologies can be used to monitor LGBTQ+ individuals' online activity, which can make it difficult for them to organize and mobilize support for their causes.

In addition, Ellis explores the ways in which surveillance technologies can be used to perpetuate harmful stereotypes and misinformation about LGBTQ+ individuals. He argues that these technologies can contribute to the marginalization and discrimination of LGBTQ+ individuals by perpetuating harmful myths and stereotypes.

Overall, "The Queer Digital: Surveillance, Biometrics, and LGBTQ+ Identity" is a thought-provoking and important book that provides new insights into the effects of surveillance technologies on LGBTQ+ identity formation. Ellis' interdisciplinary approach brings together a range of perspectives and disciplines, including law, technology, and social science, to explore the complex and multifaceted relationship between LGBTQ+ identity and surveillance technologies.

In conclusion, digital media technologies have enabled LGBTQ+ individuals and communities to advocate for their rights and justice, but they can also pose risks. Surveillance technologies have the potential to perpetuate harmful stereotypes and misinformation, limit LGBTQ+ individuals' ability to express themselves and engage in advocacy, and exacerbate existing tensions and conflicts. It is important to approach the use of surveillance technologies in the context of LGBTQ+ identity with caution and to prioritize the protection and empowerment of LGBTQ+ individuals.

Dimension: 203 x 127 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529228717