Inaugural lecture (lecture 2)

Inaugural lecture - lecture 2:

Francqui Chair - Francqui Foundation

"Governing by Data Infrastructure: Power and Control in the Data-Driven State"

Digital infrastructures that collect, process, and circulate data have become central to how societies are governed. From digital identity systems to algorithms that determine welfare allocation and biometrics that manage populations, these infrastructures no longer merely support administrative functions—they actively shape how power is exercised and distributed. This inaugural lecture explores governance by data infrastructure as a defining feature of the data-driven state, where political power is embedded in data, code, platforms, and standards. It maps the key actors—governments, corporations, and citizens—and examines the emerging tensions around control, accountability, and legitimacy as governance becomes increasingly data-centric. By tracing how data infrastructures configure both the possibilities and limits of democratic action, the lecture sets the conceptual foundation for the series’ broader inquiry into citizenship, sovereignty, and inequality in the data-driven state.

You can register for the Inaugural Lecture until December 10, 2025