“The increasing complexity of the world around us should be cause for political and social concern, as intelligent but unknowable software works its way through society”, writes  James Bridle in his essay on non-human intelligences. Which brings us to the heart of the ten-day festival “Spy on Me #2” and its accompanying publication. The first “Spy on Me” festival in 2018 focused on big data; the programme of the second is summed up in its subtitle, “Artistic Manoeuvres for the Digital Present”. For example, how do we deal with the fact that individual and social authority over our own data is still just theoretical, and that the everyday products of the big tech corporations obviously can’t be trusted?

“What is our relationship with alien consciousnesses?” by James Bridle

“New technologies, old discrimination” by Frederike Kaltheuner and Nele Obermüller

Festival Calendar and Imprint

(c) HAU Hebbel am Ufer, February 2020