Re-imagining urban social contracts for the digital age.

Across African cities, the face of state power is undergoing a shift. Teargas and riot police have not vanished, but they now operate alongside surveillance software, AI systems, and expansive data infrastructures.

On 30 April, we held our second Edgelands Community Event, and it was a great gathering! It brought together people from around the world who have encountered Edgelands in some capacity over the past four years. The evening was filled with warmth, reflection, and plenty of plans for the future.

Struck by years of violence, residents of the Medellín region exorcise grief through singing. The Coro Reconciliación thus allows victims and former combatants to unite in an unprecedented way and make their voices heard.

In an era where digital interactions shape nearly every aspect of life, how can we redefine the social contract between citizens, governments, and businesses?

How can digital security in Geneva and its invisible social contract be visualized? Cristian Duda, a reportage photographer, has been selected by Magnum Photos and the Edgelands Institute to develop a visual representation of this concept in Geneva, a main international hub.

This blog post by Sara Arango Frango invites readers to reflect on our shared sonic territory. From a social, political, urban, and intimate perspective, the Medellín-based researcher examines the effects of noise on our lives and its impact on everyday coexistence.

In this blog post, Tammie Campbell highlights the criminalization of student behavior on social media, particularly in Texas, where impulsive digital actions often lead to severe legal consequences.

On November 1-2, 2024, the Edgelands Institute participated in the Smart City Xperience hackathon organized by Open Geneva and HEG. As part of this hackathon, Edgelands proposed the challenge: "Invisible Code, Visible Impact: The Challenge of Open Source Software for Geneva's Digital Future.”