Hi all! Please join us this Wednesday for the third panel in Big Data & Society's spring '26 colloquium on the theme of Constructing Data Alternatives: *The Technopolitics of Interoperability* *Wednesday, March 4* *15:30–17:30 GMT / 11:30 AM–1:30 PM ESTuky.zoom.us/j/84084505304 <http://uky.zoom.us/j/84084505304>* *Panelists:* Nina Amelung, University Institute of Lisbon Can E Mutlu, Acadia University Annalisa Pelizza, University of Bologna Nanna Bonde Thylstrup, University of Copenhagen *Description:* Database interoperability is a powerful ambition in public policy. It promises the benefits of the digital without technical resistance, the advantages of services’ harmonization without the hurdle of seamless integration or the results of data flows’ coordination without the imposition of full data unification. Additionally, AI and algorithmic systems rely on interoperability to provide access to vast datasets from different databases. Building on BD&S special theme <https://journals.sagepub.com/page/bds/techno-politicsofinteroperability> on 'the techno-politics of interoperability', we ask how technological systems are re-appropriated for political ends and how political visions are inscribed into seemingly mundane infrastructures; how interoperability becomes the focus of political struggles; and how interoperability puts into question established notions, such as state and data sovereignty, privacy or data governance. Best, Linda -- *Linda Huber, she/her* *NB: I have recently graduated from the University of Michigan **School of Information and started a new role as Postdoctoral Fellow in Social Justice & Technology at Swarthmore College. I am in the midst of transitioning away from this email address, and can also be found at puellaludens1@gmail.com <puellaludens1@gmail.com>, or lhuber1@swarthmore.edu <lhuber1@swarthmore.edu>. * *Member, Platform Economies Research Network <https://platformeconomies.net/>* *Fellow, Institute for the Cooperative Digital Economy <https://platform.coop/about/icde/>* *+1 773 575 7783*