7amleh and Birzeit University Launch New Book on AI, Surveillance, and Digital Power

June 23, 2026,  7amleh - The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media, in collaboration with Ibrahim Abu-Lughod Institute of International Studies at Birzeit University, launched today the book “Digital Domination: AI, Surveillance, and Digital Power in Palestine and Beyond”, bringing together five original research papers produced through the first cohort of the Maryam Abu Daqqa Fellowship, a research initiative established by 7amleh to advance critical knowledge production on artificial intelligence, surveillance, digital power, and Palestinian digital rights.

The book critically examines the entanglement of artificial intelligence, surveillance technologies, digital infrastructures, and corporate power in shaping contemporary systems of violence, domination, and control in Palestine and beyond. Through the five research papers, the book demonstrates how innovative technologies increasingly underpin military operations, systems of surveillance, humanitarian governance, information manipulation, and the global political economy of ‘security’ technologies.

Named in memory of Palestinian journalist Maryam Abu Daqqa, who was murdered by Israel in Gaza on 25 August 2025 while documenting Palestinian life under siege, occupation, and genocidal war. The book is dedicated to her memory and to the hundreds of Palestinian journalists, media workers, writers, photographers, and storytellers who have been killed while documenting injustice, preserving collective memory, and defending the public’s right to information.

Following a highly competitive selection process that attracted nearly 140 applications, the fellowship brought together five researchers from Palestine and the wider region under the academic mentorship of Dr. Mtanes Shihadeh, whose guidance supported the development of the research throughout the program.

The book brings together five scholarly contributions that examine the intersections of artificial intelligence, surveillance, digital governance, and systems of power and domination. Islam Al-Khatib traces the emergence of Israel as a global cyber power and examines how surveillance technologies tested on Palestinians are refined and exported internationally through deeply integrated military, intelligence, and private-sector networks. Arees Bishara examines how technological innovation transformed Israel’s occupation into a digital form of settler colonialism, linking tech development to ongoing systems of domination and violence. Sarah Fathallah examines how Palestinian speech has been transformed into an object of algorithmic surveillance, demonstrating how voice itself has become a mechanism of capture, profiling, and control. Melody Sepahpour analyzes Google advertising as an infrastructure for state-linked information influence, demonstrating how digital advertising platforms can shape narratives and public understanding during moments of political crisis. Rawan Yousef examines the growing use of artificial intelligence and digital systems within humanitarian operations in Gaza, exploring how these technologies increasingly shape aid delivery, data governance, and humanitarian decision-making under conditions of siege, surveillance, and infrastructural destruction.

“Artificial intelligence and surveillance technologies are actively shaping the realities of Palestinians and communities worldwide. Through these five scholarly contributions, the fellows examine how digital technologies are increasingly embedded in systems of control, militarization, and domination. This book reflects the importance of independent research in exposing these dynamics and supporting efforts to advance digital rights, accountability, and justice,” said Jalal Abukhater, Policy Manager at 7amleh and Coordinator of the Maryam Abu Daqqa Fellowship.

“The publication of this book is an important contribution to the critical examination of how artificial intelligence and surveillance technologies affect populations in our region and beyond. It is highly relevant to students and researchers working on issues related to militarization, artificial intelligence, and digital domination. At Birzeit University, we are very proud of our partnership with 7amleh, and are confident that this work will serve as a valuable resource for researchers, academics, and students.” said Dr. Basil Farraj, Director of the Ibrahim Abu-Lughod Institute of International Studies at Birzeit University.

The book will be officially launched today at Birzeit University as part of a public discussion on artificial intelligence, surveillance, and digital power in Palestine and beyond.

Through the Maryam Abu Daqqa Fellowship, 7amleh reaffirms its commitment to strengthening independent knowledge production on Palestine, supporting emerging researchers, and advancing critical scholarship that confronts structures of digital domination while contributing to global discussions on technology, human rights, justice, and accountability.

To view the book, visit this link.