Conference Summary “Digital Colonization and Epistemic Resistance: Digital Competences and Media Education 4.0”

The international and interdisciplinary conference organized by the Media Research Centre and the Methodological Forum of Young Media Scholars at the Institute of Polish Philology, University of the National Education Commission in Kraków, was held online between 19 and 22 November 2025. The event brought together a wide community of researchers, creating a space for an in-depth, multifaceted discussion on the challenges of contemporary digital reality.

The central theme of the conference was the phenomenon of digital colonization, understood as a set of new forms of dependency, surveillance and power asymmetry arising from the dominance of global technology platforms. Speakers analysed current technological processes, emphasizing that the infrastructural advantage of major corporations increasingly resembles postcolonial logic, while user data has become a resource subject to intensive extraction.

Another key axis of discussion was the idea of epistemic resistance, defined as the ability to critically and consciously interpret technologies and the mechanisms that shape access to information and the production of social knowledge. In this context, particular attention was given to Media Education 4.0, which—beyond technological skills—also involves social, cultural and political sensitivity. Participants underscored that education grounded in critical thinking can serve as an effective tool against epistemic domination.

The conference devoted considerable attention to issues such as disinformation, digital exclusion, algorithmic dominance, data sovereignty and the impact of technology on democratic institutions. Presenters also explored alternative models of data and infrastructure governance, highlighting the potential for creating more equitable and transparent information ecosystems.

The programme featured thematic panels on, among others, postcolonial critiques of technology, algorithmic justice, inclusivity in digital education and the role of artificial intelligence in learning processes. Discussions also addressed next-generation educational tools—including adaptive systems, augmented reality and AI-based solutions—examining their potential to foster critical competences and counteract technological inequalities.

The conference served as a dynamic platform for dialogue, bringing together academic, educational, technological, artistic and activist communities. The diversity of perspectives and the wide range of topics discussed gave the event an inspiring character and opened new avenues for research collaboration—both international and intergenerational.

Over nearly twenty hours of sessions, almost forty speakers presented their work, representing various regions of Europe—including Sweden, Spain, Slovakia and Portugal—as well as the United States. The international composition of participants underscored the global nature of the issues discussed and demonstrated that questions of digital dependency and information sovereignty are universal, crossing national and continental boundaries.

We sincerely thank all participants for their engagement, intellectual contributions and research passion.