Lei Nelissen | Lei Nelissen
Contributing to a fairer internet and giving people more control over their online data: that’s what design-technologist Lei Nelissen aspires to do. He develops digital products that raise users’ awareness of the impact of technology and data. ‘By better understanding the mechanisms at work, it becomes easier to create the frameworks for the kind of society we want to live in.’ That is why, this year, he is working on an installation that renders manipulation visible.
During his training, Nelissen focussed on the General Data Protection Regulation. He created an app that retrieves personal data and gives users insight into which of their personal data are being processed. ‘If you know which data is being used for what purpose, you can exercise your right to have those data removed.’ In practice it turns out that companies are often not well prepared to deal with such requests. ‘I requested my data from Tikkie, and eventually received them on a USB stick delivered by a courier. Suppose that lots of people started doing this? Many companies obey the rules of the law, but are not prepared in practical terms.’ It shows how legal approaches can clash with technological reality.
This year Nelissen is examining how interfaces and algorithms steer behaviour. ‘A cookie banner with a huge accept button requiring you to click ten times to refuse them is a form of manipulation.’ Just like the endless pushing of content. ‘Many people assume malicious intent, but these are systems that recklessly optimize for your attention. Growth is the only metric that matters.’ One of the most important themes regarding algorithms is the human role, Nelissen explains. ‘The fallibility of algorithms can be traced to human motives. This means that we need to hold the people who create algorithms to account, but also that we can design those algorithms based on what we do find important.’
Making this complexity comprehensible is a challenge. ‘I am seeking creative ways to strike the right balance between depth and ease of understanding.’ His latest experiment is a tangible installation: a physical ‘recommender system’ with sliders that allow visitors to adjust the algorithm. ‘That way, people immediately experience the difference, allowing them to step outside their bubble.’ With his work, Nelissen not only wants to make technology transparent but also to contribute to societal debates and legislation. ‘Companies often use the law to estimate the risks, while it can help us to build the society we want.’ He will spend the coming months working towards the Dutch Design Week, where his installation invites reflection and discussion. It is the next step in his ambition: to design technology that does not manipulate people, but connects them.
Text by Priscilla de Putter
