Algorithmic Sabotage Research Group %28asrg%29 Work Page
This stream examines how marginalized communities already engage in algorithmic sabotage as a survival mechanism. For example, how gig economy workers might manipulate GPS data or task-completion metrics to game an algorithm that otherwise penalizes them.
The group focuses on activities of mutual aid and collective care as a challenge to the "reductive optimizations" of corporate technology. Practice-Led Research: Their work includes exploring strategies like data poisoning
—the consolidation of power and structural injustice through AI and automated systems.
The group's mission is rooted in the belief that the first step of technology is political, not technical. Their work centers on: Dismantling Necropolitical Tech algorithmic sabotage research group %28asrg%29
The intersection of algorithmic resistance with global social movements and ecological preservation efforts.
This involves the development of tools and techniques for laypeople to resist algorithmic surveillance. This includes the creation of:
For further reading, explore the ASRG’s publications and projects: This involves the development of tools and techniques
: Proponents view the manifesto as a vital response to "algorithmic precarity," encouraging users to treat digital platforms as a "terrain of struggle". Drop #17. Manifesto On Algorithmic Sabotage
Protecting creative intellectual property and rendering mass-scraping unprofitable.
The ASRG is closely associated with . Schmieg, a Berlin-based artist, educator, and researcher, has been instrumental in framing the discourse around algorithmic sabotage. His work often scrutinizes the invisible labor and hidden logic of platforms like Amazon, Google, and Facebook. a Berlin-based artist
: A collaborative project focused on conceptualizing sabotage as a means to counter necropolitical technologies and structural injustices. Practical Sabotage Tools :
Another practical avenue explored by the group involves identifying corporate crawlers and locking them into endless computation traps. When a scraper hits a site armed with these defense protocols, it is served infinite lines of gibberish text or massive, slow-loading data files. This burns processing power and drives up server costs for AI companies, turning passive websites into active zones of friction. Notable Publications and Collaborative Outputs