Newsletters > Newsletter n. 1

- 60 Days to INDL 8
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Only 60 days until INDL 8!


Dear participants,


Only 60 days to go until the start of INDL 8 "CONTESTING DIGITAL LABOR: RESISTANCE, COUNTER-USES, AND NEW DIRECTIONS FOR RESEARCH"


It's going to be a great time in Bologna, and the organizing committee is really looking forward to you coming.


Below, you’ll find updates on the program, keynotes, venues, directions, accommodation, and registration.


Remember: Registration ends on August 20, 2025, so don't forget!


Here's a brief overview of the program:

Keynote Speaker

Sarah T. Roberts (UCLA, US) “The Hydra of Artificial Intelligence: Labor Devaluation and Erosion of Human Agency”

Professor at UCLA (Gender Studies, Information Studies, Labor Studies). She is the faculty director and co-founder of the UCLA Center for Critical Internet Inquiry (C2i2), co-director of the Minderoo Initiative on Technology & Power, and a research associate of the Oxford Internet Institute. Her book, Behind the Screen: Content Moderation in the Shadows of Social Media (Yale University Press, 2019), was released in paperback with a new preface in 2021, and in translation in French (2020) and in Mandarin (2023).

Maria Luz Rodríguez Fernandez (Universidad de la Castilla La Mancha, Spain): “Property rights and monetisation of the personal data of platform workers”

Professor of Labour Law at the University of Castilla-La Mancha (España) and leads the research for the European project GDPoweR - Recovering workers data for the negotiate and monitor collective agreements in the platform economy. She has worked for the International Labour Organisation as a Senior Specialist in Labour Market Institutions and has prepared the global report ‘Decent work in the platform economy’ for this organisation. She is the author of over 200 publications, the latest of which is her book Labour Law and Decent Work in the Platform Economy (Routledge 2025). She is considered one of the leading experts in research on the impact of technology on work and social protection, particularly in relation to workers' digital rights and work in the platform economy.

Sandro Mezzadra (University of Bologna): “Beyond resistance. Digital Labor, Social Cooperation and Infrastructural Struggles”

Professor of Political Theory, Università di Bologna, Department of Arts, Italy. Among his books: Border as Method, or, the Multiplication of Labor (with Brett Neilson, 2013), The Politics of Operations. Excavating Contemporary Capitalism (with Brett Neilson, 2019), Bolivia beyond the Impasse (with Michael Hardt, 2023), The Rest and the West. Capital and Power in a Multipolar World (with Brett Neilson, 2024).

Panelists

The second day of the conference will feature a special panel on unions and digital workers, featuring local union leaders in conversation with global activists

Joan Kinyua (Data Labelers Association)

President of the Data Labeler Association, Joan Kinyua is a digital rights activist focusing on empowering individuals and communities by ensuring their voices are heard in conversations about AI policies, digital labor, and the future of work.

Felipe Corredor Álvarez (Riders x Derechos)

Felipe Corredor Álvarez is a former Deliveroo rider in Barcelona, he co-founded and serves as spokesperson for the activism platform Riders x Derechos, working hand in hand with unions denouncing the dangers of uberization and pushing for improvements in labor regulation. He is also part of the Observatory of Work, Algorithm and Society (TAS), which analyzes the impact of algorithmic management on labor rights, pushing for lawsuits and regularization of workers. He holds a PhD in Social Psychology from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and lectures at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya.

Conference Venues

Santa Cristina “della Fondazza” - P.za Giorgio Morandi, 2

Originally a monastery of the Camaldolese nuns, this venue was renovated at the end of the 15th century. Its large quadrangular cloister is richly decorated and there's a fresco of the Crucifixion from the school of Lorenzo Costain the refectory. After its restoration in 2004, it is now part of the University of Bologna. Here we will hold parallel sessions, plenary session, and coffee breaks in its breathtaking cloister.

Palazzo Hercolani - Strada Maggiore 45

Built at the end of 18th century by the architect Angelo Venturoli, it is part of the University of Bologna since 1973 hosting the School of Social and Political Sciences. This late-Baroque palace will host some of our parallel sessions.

DAMA Tecnopolo Data Manufactury - Via Stalingrado 84/3


Built in 2024 on the venue that was the city's tobacco manufacture, it represent one of the main international hub for Big Data and Artificial Intelligence. Access to this data center is normally restricted. So we thought, why not break the rules and fill it with researchers, workers, and union leaders for the second day of our conference?

Special Event

City Tour “Bologna and its Social Movements”

INDL 8 will also offer you the opportunity to take part in an alternative city tour. Bologna is renowned for its rich history of activism and political movements. Thanks to the collaboration with the Archivio Storico dei Movimenti (Historical Archive of Social Movements), we will organize a city tour that will take us through some of Bologna's most significant sites linked to its countercultural heritage.

Accomodation

Bologna has only recently become a popular tourist destination. B&Bs and apartments, which are more common than hotels, are therefore the most common accommodations. We recommend booking your stay as soon as possible, as Bologna can get busy, especially in September when many events will crowd the city.


Accommodations in the following neighborhoods are within walking distance of the conference venues:

  • Santo Stefano

  • Galvani

  • University/San Vitale

  • Quadrilatero

  • Murri


Here are some nearby hotels:

Hotel San Donato

Hotel Accademia

Hotel Corona d’Oro

Hotel University

Albergo Rossini


B&B online booking services include:

Airbnb

Booking

Wonderful Italy (when booking from 8-14 September, use the code"INDL" for 15% off).


Directions

Bologna is well connected with the main transport infrastructures and can be easily reached by plane, train or car

By Plane

The main international airport serving the city is Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ). To reach the city centre from the airport, you have three main options:

  1. Marconi Express Monorail
    A fast and convenient monorail connecting the airport to Bologna Centrale railway station in just 7 minutes.
    Ticket price: €12.80


  2. Bus Line Q
    Runs every 30 minutes, with a standard urban fare of €2.30. It connects the airport to key locations in the city, including the Maggiore Hospital, and—during early morning and late-night hours—Bologna Centrale railway station.


  3. Taxi
    Taxis are available directly outside the terminal. The ride to the city centre takes around 15–20 minutes and costs approximately €15–€20.
    You can also book a taxi by phone (051 4590 / 051 372727) or via apps such as Btaxi, ItTaxi, or InTaxi.

By Train

Bologna Centrale is one of Italy’s main railway hubs. High-speed trains—Frecciarossa, Italo, and EuroCity—arrive frequently from major cities: Rome (~2 hours), Florence (~40 minutes), Milan (~1 hour), Venice (~1 hour 30 minutes)


You can purchase tickets through Trenitalia and Italo. Please notice ticket fare will increase over time, so make sure you book your train in advance.


The station is located very close to Bologna’s city center. From the main exit, you can walk down Via dell’Indipendenza and reach Piazza Maggiore, the city’s central square, in about 20 minutes. Alternatively, several bus lines stop in front of the station (Piazza Medaglie d’Oro) and can take you to most parts of the city. A taxi hub is also available in the same square.

Bologna is centrally located in northern Italy and is well-connected by major highways (autostrade). Tolls are calculated based on distance. Payment options are in Cash, Credit/debit card, Telepass (for faster toll booth access) You can check estimated toll costs at the website of Autostrade.

Don’t Forget to Register!

INDL 8 is free of charge for participants. However, registration is mandatory. Please click here and follow the instruction to register. You have time until August 20, 2025.


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