Digital colonialism in global AI governance: addressing power imbalances and protecting Indigenous self-determination

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dc.contributor.authorKavanagh, Elenaen
dc.contributor.funderEuropean Research Councilen
dc.contributor.funderHorizon 2020en
dc.date.accessioned2026-03-31T14:46:36Z
dc.date.available2026-03-31T14:46:36Z
dc.date.issued2026-03-30
dc.description.abstractDigital colonialism refers to the reproduction of colonial patterns of domination through digital technologies, data infrastructures, and AI. This contribution examines how digital colonialism is reflected in the emerging governance of AI, why it threatens global equity and cultural resilience, and why it is a significant concern for AI safety. Indigenous communities have particular risks when their land-based knowledge and cultural expressions are digitized and integrated as data into AI systems without Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). The contribution argues that addressing digital colonialism requires governance frameworks deriving from Indigenous peoples’ right to self-determination, as exemplified by inclusive governance in the context of the Arctic. The contribution recommends that states, international institutions, corporations and civil society adopt and strengthen meaningful mechanisms of participation that bring together different knowledge systems and multiple ways of knowing into global AI governance.en
dc.description.statusPeer revieweden
dc.description.versionPublished Versionen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.citationKavanagh, E. (2026) 'Digital colonialism in global AI governance: addressing power imbalances and protecting Indigenous self-determination', in Nadibaidze, A. and Lingevicius, J. (eds.) Geopolitics of AI governance: actors, norms and trends. Odense: Center for War Studies, University of Southern Denmark, pp. 35-42. https://portal.findresearcher.sdu.dk/en/publications/geopolitics-of-ai-governance-actors-norms-and-trends/en
dc.identifier.endpage42en
dc.identifier.journaltitleGeopolitics of AI governance: actors, norms and trendsen
dc.identifier.startpage35en
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10468/18678
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherCenter for War Studies, University of Southern Denmarken
dc.relation.ispartofhttps://portal.findresearcher.sdu.dk/en/publications/geopolitics-of-ai-governance-actors-norms-and-trends/en
dc.relation.projectinfo:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/H2020::ERC::ERC-STG/852123/EU/Transforming Norms Research through Practices: Weaponised Artificial Intelligence, Norms, and Order/AUTONORMSen
dc.rights© 2026, Center for War Studies.en
dc.subjectDigital colonialismen
dc.subjectColonial patterns of dominationen
dc.subjectDigital technologiesen
dc.subjectData infrastructuresen
dc.subjectAIen
dc.subjectFree, Prior and Informed Consenten
dc.subjectFPICen
dc.subject~Law - Reports~en
dc.titleDigital colonialism in global AI governance: addressing power imbalances and protecting Indigenous self-determinationen
dc.typeReporten
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