ABSTRACT

Data constitutes resources with built specific representations of both reality and of ourselves, and these representations inform our decisions and actions. The digital revolution prompted by the rise of computational power is not, in our opinion, something that is meant to take us to the Moon, replace human beings with androids or robots, create sci-fi scenarios such as in The Matrix, or program a Person of Interest like machine. Computational power is neither conceived from a material standpoint nor from a relational one, nor even in metaphysical terms. Although computational power has been a long time in coming, it cannot simply be said that it belongs to a given historical moment; on the contrary, this power can now be conceived of as a vector of history. Computational power does not supplant previous forms of power such as economic, political, legal, social or informational. Instead, it lends those forms of power new tools and means of expression.