Promises and pitfalls of crowdsourcing based on COVID-19 digital archives in Latin America

Ein Beitrag zur Digital History 2023: Digitale Methoden in der geschichtswissenschaftlichen Praxis: Fachliche Transformationen und ihre epistemologischen Konsequenzen, Berlin, 23.-26.5.2023.

Abstract: This paper reflects on crowdsourcing by analyzing the creation of digital archives regarding the COVID-19 pandemic in Latin America. In doing so, the paper contributes to existing literature by demonstrating empirical evidence that highlights two important shortages in the crowdsourcing literature within the humanities – namely issues of representation and digital preservation. Both aspects relate to global inequality, which is why the Latin American scope is so important for understanding these deficiencies. The first part of the paper debates the stakes of crowdsourcing within the humanities. Additionally, it problematizes the guidelines and principles previously used to evaluate crowdsourcing’s outcomes in the field of born-digital archives regarding unpredictable and disruptive events. The second part of the paper briefly presents the COVID-19 archives in Latin America as an applicable case study, which is especially important when it comes to debating representation, diversity, and preservation of born-digital records.