Fudan-Arab Lecture Series No.17

复旦—Arab讲座系列第17期

Title/题目: 

Smart Cities and Digital Public Infrastructure in Brazil

巴西的智慧城市与数字公共基础设施

Speaker/主讲人: 

Asst. Prof. Jess Reia, University of Virginia

Jess Reia助理教授 弗吉尼亚大学

Host/主持人: 

Asst. Prof. Yunxiong LI, Fudan IGPP

李蕴雄助理教授 复旦全球公共政策研究院

Time/时间: 

12:00-13:00, March 5th, Wednesday, 2025

2025年3月5日 周三 12:00-13:00

Venue/地点: 

Room 805E, 8th Floor, West Sub-building of Guanghua Towers

光华楼西辅楼8楼805E会议室

https://www.wjx.cn/vm/exjJHnF.aspx#

主讲人介绍/ The Speaker：

Jess Reia is an Assistant Professor of Data Science at the University of Virginia, a Visiting Scholar at Fudan University in Shanghai, and a Non-Resident Fellow at the Center for Democracy & Technology in Washington, D.C. Before joining UVA, Reia was appointed Mellon Postdoctoral Researcher at McGill University and BMO Fellow at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Montreal in Canada. Reia held a two-year mandate in the night council in Montreal, providing guidance on data collection and open data practices for the nighttime economy. From 2011 to 2019, Reia worked at the Center for Technology & Society at FGV Law School in Rio de Janeiro, leading projects on technology policy and urban governance in Latin America and BRICS.

讲座内容/ Abstract:

Far from a utopia imagined decades ago, the global smart cities agenda is a reality in various municipalities. However, the actual deployment of so-called smart tech is often based on "technosolutionist" -- technological shortcuts aimed at addressing complex, long-lasting problems --approaches. By looking at the international and local markets that provide smart solutions, we can learn about digital sovereignty, democratic processes, and the relations between state and non-state actors. In this talk, Dr. Reia will explore the " smart-washing " phenomenon in Brazil's urban digital infrastructures, a trend characterized by the increasing privatization of urban services and the pervasive use of artificial intelligence. The study critically examines how these developments lead to the commodification of public spaces and services, exacerbating social inequalities. It features case studies and policy frameworks, highlighting the implications of technosolutionism and advocating for more transparency in urban digital governance with lessons for other Global Majority countries.