Digital Humanitarianism and the Ethical Dilemma of Data Colonialism

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@article{1710860,
      author = {Om Dayashankar Upadhyay},
      title = {Digital Humanitarianism and the Ethical Dilemma of Data Colonialism},
      journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
      year = {2025},
      volume = {9},
      number = {3},
      pages = {1256-1269},
      issn = {2456-8880},
      url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1710860.pdf},
      abstract = {The rapid digitization of humanitarian practices has transformed how aid organizations respond to crises, gather information, and deliver assistance. This phenomenon, often referred to as digital humanitarianism, encompasses the use of data-driven technologies such as artificial intelligence, biometrics, satellite imaging, and crowdsourced platforms to facilitate emergency response and long-term humanitarian support. While these tools have generated efficiencies and offered novel possibilities for global aid, they have also intensified concerns about data colonialism. Data colonialism refers to the extraction, commodification, and control of personal and community data by powerful entities?often located in the Global North?without adequate consent or equitable distribution of benefits. This paper critically examines the ethical dilemmas that arise when humanitarian data practices replicate colonial patterns of resource extraction and domination. It argues that the current reliance on digital infrastructures dominated by Western corporations and institutions risks perpetuating inequalities under the guise of aid. By interrogating case studies, analyzing theoretical frameworks, and situating digital humanitarianism within the broader history of colonial knowledge practices, this study highlights the urgent need for ethical safeguards, community-driven data governance, and decolonial approaches to humanitarian technology. The findings underscore that while digital humanitarianism carries transformative potential, its legitimacy depends on dismantling extractive data relations and ensuring that vulnerable populations retain agency over their information.},
      keywords = {Digital Humanitarianism, Data Colonialism, Ethics, Decoloniality, Humanitarian Aid, Surveillance},
      month = {September},
  }