Dhaksh Raj Sooriya

Dhaksh Raj Sooriya

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A step-by-step guide: How to institutionalise white supremacy in your non-profit

A step-by-step guide: How to institutionalise white supremacy in your non-profit

A DIRECT TRANSMISSION FROM YOUR WHITE COLONISER ANCESTORS [read this in white voice] PREAMBLE Thank you for tuning in—we have been waiting for you. Contrary to popular belief, white people commune with ancestors too. Albeit, it is infinitely harder when your foundational beliefs system assumes that the body and

The 'human rights industry': An interview with Shyamla Eswaran

The 'human rights industry': An interview with Shyamla Eswaran

This interview was recorded and delivered as part of an undergraduate course called POLS113 Human Rights at the Political Science Department of Australian National University. The purpose of this session was to provide support to students seeking a career advise in human rights, social justice and related fields. This conversation

Lecture: Colonialism, Capitalism and Human Rights

Lecture: Colonialism, Capitalism and Human Rights

This was delivered as part of an undergraduate course called POLS113 Human Rights in the Political Science Department of Australian National University (that thankfully encouraged a critical analysis of international human rights discourse and practice, and the space to voice perspectives that are not often accepted in the field). Introduction

Aurora Ball 2023 Speech - Combating Anti-trans Disinformation

Aurora Ball 2023 Speech - Combating Anti-trans Disinformation

Transcript of a speech delivered at the Aurora Ball on 24 June 2023. Good evening everyone! What an honour it is to be here with you all tonight and thank you Sam for your beautiful remarks. I too would like to pay my respects to the Gadigal People of the

The Digital Border - Oxford University

The Digital Border - Oxford University

Transcript of an interview about the digital border with from Dr Anthea Vogl, the Associate Co-Director of Border Criminologies at the Oxford University Faculty of Law. Anthea: Please introduce yourself... Dhaksh: Hello everyone, Vanakam. My name is Dhaksh. I’m joining you today from the land of the Gadigal people

8th Digital Intimacies Conference - Resisting Digital Surveillance in India

8th Digital Intimacies Conference - Resisting Digital Surveillance in India

This is a transcript of a conference presentation delivered at the 8th Digital Intimacies Conference was held by the Centre for Global Indigenous Futures on December 1st and 2nd 2022 at Macquarie University on the Wallumattagal Campus, North Ryde, Sydney. Introduction Hello everyone, Vanakam. I would like to acknowledge the

Race Matters - History, Unwoven: The Complex Threads of a Sri Lankan Uprising [Ep 116]

Race Matters - History, Unwoven: The Complex Threads of a Sri Lankan Uprising [Ep 116]

Below is a transcript of a poem read on this episode of the Race Matters podcast (listen here). It is a meditation on grief, displacement of Tamil peoples, data, and surveillance in colonial borders. This podcast episode, produced by Shareeka Helaluddin, looks at Sri Lanka, and the ongoing economic and

Tech Won't Save Us Podcast - How Australia Used Tech Against Welfare Recipients

Tech Won't Save Us Podcast - How Australia Used Tech Against Welfare Recipients

This podcast discusses Australia’s robodebt scandal where automated decision-making was used against welfare recipients, and how exploitative AI implementations are being deployed by governments in social welfare. ‎Tech Won’t Save Us: How Australia Used Tech Against Welfare Recipients w/ Dhakshayini Sooriyakumaran on Apple Podcasts‎Show Tech Won’t

Resisting Robo-governance

Resisting Robo-governance

This opinion piece raises a red flag on the issue of robodebt and how the government is expanding similar AI experimentation across the social welfare sector. It was published by Probono Australia on 8 July 2021 here. The Morrison government is fighting to keep documents about robodebt from public view.

Tattoo #2 - A Dedication to my Tamil Ancestors

Tattoo #2 - A Dedication to my Tamil Ancestors

This tattoo (done by an artist named Horihii based in Sydney on Gadigal country) is dedicated to my அம்மம்மா (Ammamma, maternal grandmother). It is an image of her weaving a basket from the dried leaves of a Palmyra tree in Jaffna. It is a reminder of the resourcefulness

Surveillance Tech Panel at Virtual Progress 2020

Surveillance Tech Panel at Virtual Progress 2020

This speech was given on a panel about surveillance tech at the Centre for Australian Progress' conference which was delivered virtually due to COVID. Hi everyone. I am joining you from the unceded lands of Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. I would also like to pay my respects

Report on Race, Borders, and Digital Technologies - Expert Input

Report on Race, Borders, and Digital Technologies - Expert Input

For the 2020 thematic report to the General Assembly, the UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance (Professor E Tendayi Achiume) examined how digital technologies were deployed in the context of border enforcement and administration to reproduce, reinforce, and compound racial discrimination. My

Al Jazeera - Surveillance will not save us from COVID19

Al Jazeera - Surveillance will not save us from COVID19

The use of tech-based surveillance to fight the virus can exacerbate the suffering of the most vulnerable communities. This opinion piece was published on Aljazeera.com on 21 May 2020 here. As COVID-19 continues to devastate the world, a growing number of countries are opting to use invasive surveillance methods

Dear அம்மம்மா

The following short essay is part of a project called 'Dear அம்மம்மா' (Ammamma, or maternal grandmother) by Tamil Survival Stories (@tamilsurvivalstories). The project paid tribute to our grandmothers, mothers and sisters and involves wearing saris that have been passed down in our families. Published by Tamil