dataDouble Browser Extension: An Art Project by Roopa Vasudevan
"dataDouble" is an art project by Roopa Vasudevan that aims to shed light on how our identities are simplified and distorted through data collection. Inspired by the concept of the "data double", which refers to the digital traces we leave behind in our interactions with technology, this browser extension translates a user's browsing data into a visual representation of how they are perceived by those who extract their information.
Upon installation, the extension locally collects the user's browsing data, which is not sent to any external server or collection process. Users are also prompted to upload a photo of themselves, which is then manipulated using image manipulation techniques that correspond to the type and amount of data collected. After 14 days of use, users can download the altered portrait of their "data double".
As more data is accumulated, the resulting image becomes a distorted version of the individual user, representing the reduced and flattened version of themselves that is used to create the segmented online experiences we have today. However, by using a portrait as a starting point, the project aims to inject humanity back into a process that often strips it away, giving users a voice in the process.
