Published in Big Data & Society: Fernanda Odilla and Alice Mattoni's latest article

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BIT-ACT research fellow Fernanda Odilla and the project’s PI Alice Mattoni have just published their recent research in the academic journal Big Data & Society. Their article, titled "Unveiling the Layers of Data Activism: The Organising Civic Innovation to Fight Corruption in Brazil," offers an in-depth assessment of the world of data activism and its role in combating corruption in Brazil.

Through qualitative analysis, Odilla and Mattoni delve into the critical role played by civil society and the challenges they face when harnessing technology to address issues of transparency and accountability within the realm of public governance. The heart of their research lies in the case study of "Operação Serenata de Amor" (OSA, Operation Love Serenade), a Brazilian data-enabled activism initiative dedicated to the fight against corruption by scrutinizing the expenditures of elected congressional representatives. OSA employs an innovative bot named Rosie, which autonomously collects data from the Brazilian Lower Chamber, crosschecks it with open databases, and tweets every time it detects a suspicious expenditure. Since its launch in 2016, OSA has successfully mobilized thousands of individuals with various capacities, each contributing to the cause.

The study reveals nuanced insights into the various modes of participation and organizational patterns within data-enabled activism, shedding on the challenges posed by the involvement of tech-skilled individuals with diverse motivations – not necessarily only related to curbing corruption – in a high-tech anticorruption initiative. Importantly, the article underscores the need to consider the broader communication ecology, beyond specific platforms or devices, when analyzing the organizational patterns of data-enabled activism, encompassing a range of actors, from data activists to tech workers and digital innovation enthusiasts.

Odilla and Mattoni’s findings hold immense significance for the field of corruption studies, as they unveil the dynamics and motivations behind an anti-corruption initiative conceived by tech-savvy citizens determined to employ their IT skills in the battle against political corruption and the misuse of public funds by elected congressional representatives in Brazil. The article also delves into the challenges faced by OSA's initiators, including issues related to funding issues and the sustainability of engagement. The case of OSA illustrates how early success in mobilizing technically skilled individuals may encounter difficulties in sustaining volunteer engagement needed for continued growth. This highlights the importance of bridging organizational studies with social movement scholarship to comprehensively assess data-enabled activism across various sectors, including anti-corruption efforts.

Preliminary drafts of this article were presented at the 37th EGOS Colloquium (July 2021), the 16th Organization Studies Workshop (May 2022), and the 72nd Annual ICA Conference (May 2022).

The full article can be accessed here.