Coding Dissent: Art, Technology, and Tactical Media [video] (media.ccc.de)

In a recent talk, media artist Helena Nikonole explored the intersection of art, technology, and activism, emphasizing the potential of art as a platform for infrastructural critique and counter-action against digital authoritarianism. Her presentation introduced a forthcoming HackLab initiative aimed at fostering collaboration among artists, hackers, and activists to create open-source tools that can disrupt systems of surveillance, propaganda, and ideological warfare. Nikonole's work highlights how artistic interventions—ranging from wearable technologies for off-grid communication to AI-driven sabotage of propaganda—can serve as powerful methods of civil disobedience. This initiative is significant for the AI/ML community as it encourages the development of ethical, transparent technologies that challenge the status quo of surveillance capitalism. By situating art within the realm of technical critique, Nikonole advocates for a reimagining of how creative practices can contribute to resilience and collective agency in the face of oppressive digital infrastructures. The HackLab invites collaboration from diverse stakeholders, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary approaches to address pressing socio-technical issues. As the line between art and activism blurs, such initiatives could redefine the role of creativity in shaping technology for social good.