Critically discuss how different ‘socio-technical imaginaries’ or narratives create and sustain the illusion that technology is merely a neutral functional tool/object that is bounded, exogenous and separate from the social. In your discussion, identify a specific contemporary digital technology and its accompanying technological narratives, and analyse these with appropriate theories and concepts from both Theme 1 (Theorising Technology/Society) & Theme 2 (Technology and Temporality).
Technology has long been portrayed as a neutral and functional tool, exogenous to societal structures and bounded in its purpose. This perspective, often sustained by socio-technical imaginaries or narratives, obscures the inherently social nature of technological development and use. These narratives construct an illusion of neutrality, portraying technology as apolitical and devoid of cultural or social implications. However, such interpretations are critically flawed, as technology is deeply embedded within social contexts, shaped by and shaping societal norms, values, and power dynamics. This paper critically examines the narratives that perpetuate the myth of technology's neutrality and boundedness, focusing on contemporary digital surveillance technology as a case study. By engaging with theories from Theme 1: Theorising Technology/Society and Theme 2: Technology and Temporality, this discussion will unpack the interdependence of technology and society and the temporal dimensions of technological narratives.
Socio-technical imaginaries, a concept developed by Sheila Jasanoff and others, refer to collectively held visions of desirable futures enabled by science and technology. These imaginaries are not merely descriptive but prescriptive, shaping policy, innovation, and public opinion. By portraying technology as a functional tool, socio-technical imaginaries sustain the illusion of neutrality, diverting attention from the power dynamics and societal influences embedded within technological systems.
For example, the narrative surrounding the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) often emphasizes its capacity to enhance efficiency, objectivity, and progress. These narratives frame AI as an external agent that delivers value without being influenced by societal biases. In reality, AI systems, such as facial recognition algorithms, reflect and amplify existing societal inequalities. Researchers have documented the disproportionate error rates in facial recognition technology for marginalized groups, demonstrating how these systems are embedded with biases originating from their design, training data, and deployment contexts (Buolamwini & Gebru, 2018).
This illusion of neutrality enables the perpetuation of inequities under the guise of technological advancement. The socio-technical imaginaries surrounding AI illustrate how narratives about technology’s neutrality serve the interests of dominant actors, reinforcing existing power structures while masking these dynamics.
The idea that technology is a neutral and exogenous tool is fundamentally challenged by theories in the sociology of technology. Key among these is Social Construction of Technology (SCOT), which argues that technological artifacts are shaped by social groups and their interests. SCOT highlights that the development of technology is not linear but contingent on negotiations among stakeholders, including governments, corporations, and communities.
For instance, the surveillance technologies used in urban spaces, such as Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, are often justified through narratives of safety and crime prevention. These technologies, however, are deeply embedded within societal structures. Scholars like David Lyon argue that surveillance practices are shaped by historical and cultural contexts, reflecting societal fears, priorities, and power asymmetries (Lyon, 2007). The proliferation of surveillance systems in urban areas disproportionately affects marginalized communities, reinforcing spatial and racial inequalities while masquerading as neutral tools for public safety.
By employing SCOT, we can see that surveillance technologies are not exogenous entities but products of socio-political processes that encode specific values and interests. This perspective counters the boundedness narrative by revealing how technology is enmeshed within the fabric of society.
The illusion of technology’s neutrality and boundedness is also sustained by temporal narratives that frame technological innovation as inevitable and linear. This perspective, rooted in technological determinism, portrays technology as an autonomous force driving societal change. Theories from Theme 2: Technology and Temporality challenge this view by emphasizing the reciprocal relationship between technology and society over time.
Modernization theory, for instance, frames technological progress as a marker of societal advancement, reinforcing the idea that technologies emerge independently and propel societies forward. However, this narrative obscures the historical and cultural conditions that shape technological trajectories. In the case of digital surveillance, the development of facial recognition technology is often linked to narratives of modern governance and efficiency. These narratives obscure the historical continuity of surveillance practices, which have long been tools of social control.
Michel Foucault’s concept of the panopticon provides a valuable lens for analyzing surveillance technology in temporal terms. The panopticon, a theoretical model of surveillance, illustrates how the mere possibility of being watched influences behavior. Contemporary digital surveillance systems, like those enabled by AI and big data, extend this concept into new temporal and spatial dimensions, embedding surveillance into everyday life in ways that appear seamless and neutral. The narrative of efficiency masks the historical lineage of surveillance as a mechanism of power, perpetuating the illusion of neutrality.
The development and deployment of digital surveillance technology, such as facial recognition systems, exemplify the socio-technical imaginaries and temporal narratives that sustain the illusion of technological neutrality. Framed as tools for security and efficiency, these systems are marketed as apolitical solutions to social challenges. However, critical analysis reveals that they are deeply entangled with societal inequalities and power structures.
Narratives of Neutrality and Efficiency
The dominant narrative surrounding facial recognition technology emphasizes its objectivity and precision. Governments and corporations promote these systems as tools for enhancing security, streamlining operations, and delivering public benefits. For example, China’s extensive use of facial recognition for public security is framed as a means of ensuring social harmony and order. However, these narratives obscure the discriminatory practices enabled by such systems, including the targeting of minority groups like the Uyghurs.
Power Dynamics and Inequalities
The deployment of facial recognition technology reflects and reinforces existing power imbalances. Scholars have documented how these systems disproportionately impact marginalized communities, amplifying racial and gender biases. For instance, studies have shown that facial recognition algorithms are less accurate for darker-skinned individuals and women, leading to higher rates of misidentification and wrongful surveillance (Raji & Buolamwini, 2019). These outcomes challenge the narrative of neutrality by demonstrating how social biases are encoded into technological systems.
Temporal Dimensions
The historical roots of surveillance provide critical insights into its contemporary manifestations. Surveillance practices have long been tools of governance and control, from colonial administration to the policing of urban spaces. The framing of digital surveillance as a novel and neutral technology ignores this historical continuity, perpetuating the myth of exogeneity. By situating digital surveillance within this temporal context, we can see how its narratives are shaped by historical and cultural conditions.
To dismantle the illusion of neutrality, it is essential to engage with counter-narratives and critical theories that highlight the social embeddedness of technology. Actor-Network Theory (ANT), for example, challenges the separation between technology and society by emphasizing the agency of non-human actors in socio-technical networks. ANT reveals how technologies are co-constructed with societal actors, challenging the boundedness narrative.
Similarly, critical race theory and feminist technoscience provide valuable frameworks for analyzing how technologies reproduce social hierarchies. These perspectives emphasize the importance of intersectionality in understanding how technological systems impact different social groups. By incorporating these theories, we can construct counter-narratives that expose the biases and power dynamics embedded within technological systems.
The narratives that portray technology as a neutral, functional tool are deeply flawed, sustained by socio-technical imaginaries and temporal constructs that obscure the social dimensions of technological development and use. By critically analyzing digital surveillance technology through theories from Theorising Technology/Society and Technology and Temporality, this paper has demonstrated how these narratives perpetuate inequalities and reinforce power structures. Challenging the illusion of neutrality requires engaging with critical theories and counter-narratives that reveal the social embeddedness of technology, paving the way for more equitable and inclusive technological futures.
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