The growing intersection of death and technology is an intriguing topic shaping academic discourse globally, though probably obscured by the tendency of overlooking matters of death. But the 7th International Symposium of the Death Online Research Network (DORS#7) is poised to deepen its exploration.
The symposium, titled "Digital Death: Transforming History, Rituals, and Afterlife," took place between October 3rd and 5th, 2024, at the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Helsinki. One could say that in today’s digitally saturated world, the question is no longer just about how we die, but about how we continue to "live" online. How are these new practices are reshaping human rituals? How is mourning interpreted in this new sphere of reality? Can we even reshape the concept of immortality?
One of the central themes of DORS#7 is the evolving relationship between the living and the dead in a digital society. As digital legacies (social media profiles, data, and memories) continue to exist long after physical death, society grapples with how to manage and memorialize these remnants. The panel discussions explored different subjects such as how digital platforms serve as new spaces for grief and remembrance, and how posthumous communication technologies challenge traditional boundaries between life and death.
One could consider that the symposium was particularly timely, as new technologies like artificial intelligence and digital archiving are improving exponentially and introduce the possibility of “immortality” in the digital realm. However, as we attempt to extend our presence beyond death, important ethical questions arise: Who controls these digital legacies? How do we responsibly manage the data left behind? And at what environmental and societal costs?
Among the highly anticipated sessions is the opening keynote by Dr. Tamara Kneese (Project Director of Data & Society Research Institute's AIMLab), titled Platform Necropolitics and the Case for AI Abolition. Kneese presented her vision on how tech companies control digital legacies, reshaping the way we memorialize the dead. She critiques the exploitative nature of generative AI systems, which mine data from the deceased to build models, often with harmful consequences for both human dignity and the environment.
Our second keynote was delivered by Professor Patrick Stokes (Associate Professor in Philosophy at Deakin University), discussed Deathbots and Bereavement Hallucinations. With the rise of AI chatbots designed to simulate conversations with the dead, Stokes helped us understand the ethical dilemmas of “deathbots.” He explores concepts such as “bereavement hallucination” and whether such technologies could accurately mimic the presence of the deceased, and potentially complicate the grieving process for the living.
DORS#7 featured an eclectic mix of scholars from various disciplines and regions, creating a collaborative environment for deep academic engagement. The conference stands out for its interdisciplinary approach, bringing together researchers from media studies, philosophy, digital humanities, and sociology, among others. As Patrick Stokes, a keynote speaker, noted, though interdisciplinarity can be challenging, with researchers often siloed within their own fields, when these disciplines come together, the results can be “incredibly illuminating, […] When we look at the world through multiple lenses together, what we see can be both revelatory and startling”.
For many participants, this symposium created a great atmosphere of collaboration, Tamara Kneese noted, “the conference was great because you have a chance to talk to everyone and get to know them a bit informally, which helps foster a collaborative atmosphere”.
This three-day conference offered a rich and diverse program where we covered a wide range of topics, from the commodification of death to innovative practices in memorialization. Some examples include:
- In the panel about “Digital Afterlife - Industries, Innovation and the Dead” discussions focused on the professionalization of the digital afterlife industry, as well as the growing phenomenon of "digital labor" performed by the deceased. We also heard additional theoretical presentations that provided a critical overview of the political economy of the tech industry and how it shapes experiences of digital death and mourning.
- Regarding the “Dark Side of Digital Death”, this session critically explored the darker aspects of digital death, such as "death porn" and the ethical dilemmas surrounding digital necromancy. Some reflections were also made on the role of social media on the mediatization of death, for example, how emerging trends in Tik Tok are also contributing to financially profit from grief.
- Other relevant discussions happened in parallel paper sessions. Some discussed AI, Avatars, and Digital Immortality. They included a forward-looking discussion on how AI technologies and avatars in the metaverse offer new forms of digital reincarnation, challenging our notions of mortality and selfhood.
Additionally, there were some special workshops for postgraduate students and early-career researchers to foster collaboration and mentorship, further enriching the scholarly community.
Beyond its academic contributions, DORS#7 was designed to facilitate informal networking and collaboration. It allowed participants to connect on a personal level, ensuring that everyone left with not only new ideas but also meaningful professional relationships. “It was fantastic to meet new friends and put faces to scholars whose work I have long admired,” Tamara Kneese commented, highlighting the close-knit yet open atmosphere of the event.
The symposium also featured a space for collaboration between science and art, with a special sound installation, How We Are (Un)Becoming, by artists Dalida María Benfield, Chris Bratton, Ali Akbar Mehta, and Ou Ning. This immersive installation offered a creative exploration of death, identity, and digital transformation, connecting the academic discourse of the presentations with artistic interpretations of these complex themes.
As we continue to live more of our lives online, the question of what happens to our digital selves after death becomes increasingly important. DORS#7 offered the opportunity to push the boundaries of how we think about death, mourning, and remembrance in the digital age. It was refreshing that independently of whether you were a scholar, student, or practitioner, the DORS symposium offered a space to explore how death is being redefined by technology, and how society can ethically navigate this. Hopefully the series of symposiums can continue to be such a space to see all our attendees and many more for the next one!