Datafication, data justice and the ngos in Turkey

Datafication refers to the process of collecting and transforming previously unmeasured and unrecorded aspects of people's social practices into data for various purposes, using new information and communication technologies. Datafication has turned real-time monitoring, known as "dataveilance," into an ordinary phenomenon in everyday life. Under this surveillance, human life is commodified, and data-driven monitoring now focuses on predicting what individuals will do tomorrow, rather than solely tracking their actions. In this context, datafication applications have positioned digital data within a new kind of social, economic, political, and ideological structure of the era we live in, resulting in the emergence of a datafied society. As seen in certain international examples, these applications are legitimized through the discourse of security and contribute to the formation of digital control and surveillance societies. Negative consequences of datafication have become more visible, particularly with the Covid-19 pandemic in Turkey. The regulations implemented by the state, along with the accelerating datafication practices taking on new forms and institutions every day, have increased the frequency of daily violations not only in terms of data security but also regarding citizens' freedom of communication and privacy. In light of this, the aim of this thesis is to examine the Turkish experience of datafication based on the views and opinions of NGOs operating in the field of information and new media. Throughout the thesis, which consists of three main sections, the historical development of datafication in the world and Turkey, the prominent trends, and the concepts and terms revealed in studies focusing on datafication within new media research are examined. The historical and political development of datafication systems in Turkey has been addressed and discussed, and the proposed solutions by NGOs in this field have been evaluated from the perspective of "data justice." Based on the findings of the study, although there is awareness of datafication among NGOs, the main theme of anti-datafication activities is hindered in the field of new media in Turkey due to existing unjust and unlawful practices. Therefore, it is concluded that efforts towards data justice against datafication in Turkey should comprehensively address the injustices occurring in various fields, expand and consolidate the struggle in a societal sense, and be approached collectively. Key Words: Datafication, Datafied Society, Dataveliance, Non-Governmental Organizations, Data Justice