Reclaiming Data - Skill Sharing 3: !Mediengruppe Bitnik

Unreal Data — Real Effects

Data has become the raw material of social environments and automated data collection is an intrinsic component of most technological systems and devices. Our interactions with technology generate data that in turn influences our world: our devices tell us how well we have slept, predict where our favourite restaurants will be and what products we will like. Data shape our news feeds, determine which borders we are allowed to cross, and the jobs we can successfully apply for.

This workshop offers a critical and performative approach to digital rating practices and looks specifically at how online reviews shape our perception of place: We explore the the history, impact, and political dimension of systems that rate geographical place – from the first travel guides of the 19th century to today’s data-driven platforms like Google Maps. We examine the materiality of this data, its specific textures and aesthetics. As part of the workshop, participants will install a browser extension that only displays 1-star reviews – a shift in perspective that reveals everyday life through the lens of the disappointment of others.

Key info:

— Date: Saturday, 13 June 2026, 10:00–11:30

— Venue: Flutgraben e.V., Am Flutgraben 3, 12435 Berlin

— Capacity: 15 participants

— Admission: free, registration required

— Language: English

— Please bring your own laptop. The workshop includes installing a browser extension.

https://koerber-stiftung.de/projekte/ecommemoration/reclaiming-data/

Reclaiming Data is a two-day symposium and exhibition on 12 and 13 June 2026 at Flutgraben e.V. Berlin. It brings together artists, researchers, journalists, and cultural institutions around the question of how digital archives, data sets, and generative systems shape what is remembered. Three Skill Sharing Sessions accompany the symposium, each held in a small group (max. 15 participants). Please choose one session per registration.