While people sleep, t_h_e_ _st_a_t_e_ amazon dreams was a meetup with Cassie Thornton that addresses the use of smart technologies in imprisoning and monitoring.

What role does prison play in our dreams? Are prisons your worst nightmare? What is there to be afraid of? These were some of the questions that were asked in this meetup that addressed the use of smart technologies in imprisoning and monitoring, as well as analysing prediction algorithms used by new technologies and shopping giants like Amazon. The activity raised awareness about the use of smart technologies and prediction algorithms, which opened up new perspectives of how algorithms manipulate the population, and especially young people. It helped to increase agency and awareness in knowing what lies behind the online realities that shape the everyday life of young people.

Cassie Thornton (UK) is an artist and activist who makes a ‘safe space’ for the unknown, for disobedience, and for unanticipated collectivity. In her newest work, she turns towards the development of experimental techniques for healing the social and biomedical wounds that result from surviving smash and grab capitalism.