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Paper long abstract:

New developments in information and communication technologies (ICTs) enable powerful institutions to not only accumulate an abundance of data about humans but also to create algorithms and mechanisms for interpretation of big sets of data into high quality information in order to identify movements, preferences, political attitudes and aspirations of individual persons, social groups and communities.

New developments in feminist research and politics hold that it is not by identity politics but by overcoming identity politics that a basis for solidarity in feminist and anti-racist politics and research may be created.

This paper tries to combine epistemological and methodological questions about how to do empirical research in this highly contested field of ICTs with cosmopolitical (Stengers) feminist solidarity and ethico-political questions (Barad): What is the meaning of solidarity in these contested fields? What is the meaning of knowledge? What kind of knowledge production may be of help for whom and where and when? What about the relation of the subjects and (potential human) objects of research in such a global (research) environment?

The paper will draw on an action research project recently completed by an international network of feminist migrant grass roots organisations.