Rights and Technology group
Overview
Our interdisciplinary鈥痝roup interrogates digital transformations from a justice, equity and human rights lens. It includes a diverse mix of scholars working in law鈥痑nd鈥痵ociety, anthropology, sociology, architecture, computer science, political science, media studies, global sustainability,鈥痑nd鈥痯ublic health.鈥�
Vision
The vision for this鈥痝roup鈥痠s local鈥痑nd鈥痝lobal, with 鈥渙ne foot in the field鈥痑nd鈥痮ne in the library鈥�. We aim to institutionalise work on鈥痳ights鈥痠n the digital age in collaboration with a transnational community of鈥痳ights鈥痵cholars, researchers,鈥痯ractitioners鈥痑nd鈥痵tudents who work together to imagine (and create) the digital transformation 鈥渙therwise鈥�.
As a group we are interested in exploring a variety of issues including the influence of commercial actors on welfare systems and human rights], the need to create spaces for morevoices beyond the global North on human rights and tech governance, the potential鈥痑nd鈥痩imitations of human鈥痳ights鈥痠n the face of these challenges,鈥痑nd鈥痭ew models of鈥痳ights-based, deliberative, participatory approaches to tech governance.
Activities
Research: Our research is represented by a wide variety of expertise in the group including in digital health governance, data justice, transitional justice, digital rights, digital cultures, gender and labour rights, participatory governance鈥痑nd鈥痳esearch methodologies and access to justice.
Knowledge exchange: We envision sharing research and collaborating in developing new toolswith civil society, communities, governments, funding agencies鈥痑nd鈥痠nternational organisations in the West Midlands鈥痑nd鈥痓eyond. We have ongoing collaborations with partners, including the consortium and new MOUs signed by CIM with WHO鈥痑nd鈥疷NDPLink opens in a new window.
Policy and public engagement: Our work engages in public debates in the United Kingdom and globally, through sharing research, convening, and policy impact.
Collaborative Outputs
Articles
Our first collaborative output is a piece in that explored the digital transformation of health in the UK and the influence of the defence firm Palantir. The piece raises concern around sovereignty, institutional dependency and rising inequality that is being exacerbatedbecause of this deal.
Workshop
In the Winter term 2026/2027, we will be organising a workshop which explores theorizing human rights in the digital age. Stay tuned for updates.
Contact
If you are interested in joining the group, or finding out more, please reach out to the convenors Prof. Meg DavisLink opens in a new window and Dr. Siddharth de SouzaLink opens in a new window.
Members
| Meg Davis (Convenor) | Mwende Lio | |
|
Siddharth de Souza (Convenor) |
Michael Dieter | |
| Serena Natile | ||
| Derya Ozkul | Tanya Goyal | Kavin Narasimhan |
| Molly Pugh-Jones | Sharifah Sekalala | Celine Tan |
| Nerea Calvillo Gonzalez | Pramiti Parwani | |
Selected Current Research
| Research Lead | Research Title | Research Type |
| Law, Technology and Development Circle |