The DATAGOV Lab (https://datagovlab.net) at the University of Amsterdam is happy to invite you to the launch even of the project "Governance by Data Infrastructure in the Post-Pandemic Democracy", funded by the European Research Council. Data infrastructures like digital identity systems and biometric technologies increasingly decide who is seen, sorted, and served — yet they remain largely out of public view. The DATAGOV kick-off invites you to pull these systems into the open and join a cross-sector conversation on how data-driven regulation is reshaping democracy, rights, and inequality worldwide. 🗓️ Date: March 27, 2026 🕦 Time: 9:30 - 15:30 (+drinks), tentative program available below 📍Location: Framer Framed (Oranje-Vrijstaatkade 71 1093 KS, Amsterdam) 📃 Sign up link [0] DATAGOV investigates the impact and social costs of regulatory data infrastructures: data-grabbing systems that actively shape the polity, from monitoring and automated decision-making to mediating access to public services, rights, and welfare. The project, funded by the European Research Council (ERC), takes a comparative approach investigating the European Union, Brazil, India, and South Africa, to examine how these infrastructures transform governance and what they mean for the future of democracy in an era of pervasive datafication. To start with, our empirical focus is on four technology families: biometrics, digital identity, and health and education technologies, and how these reconfigure citizenship, sovereignty, and inequality. The kick-off will feature keynote presentations, conversations, and a borrel, bringing together a diverse group of participants from academia, policymaking, industry, civil society, and the arts. The event will also leave ample time for conversation, (net)working, and enjoying each other’s company. While the program is still taking shape, we already have an exciting list of speakers who will be joining us from around the world: Louise Amoore (Durham University), Fernando Filgueiras (Brazilian Ministry of Education), Mirca Madianou (Goldsmiths, University of London), Rocco Bellanova (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), Cecilia Passanti (Université Paris Cité), Rob van Kranenburg (IEEE Standards Association), and colleagues from the UvA. This event is open to everyone free of charge. If you would like to keep up to date with our work and activities, please consider signing up to our mailing list. [1] You can also keep up to date with our activities on our website [2] and LinkedIn[3]. Sign up fast: seating is limited! [o] https://cryptpad.fr/form/#/2/form/view/bVASYCqQn1NXYq2c7lLXLya2YPousvA0lnYRg... [1] https://lists.ghserv.net/mailman/listinfo/community [2] https://datagovlab.net [3] https://www.linkedin.com/company/datagovlab/