Digital Imperialism & Marginalized Labor w/ Chibundo Egwuatu

Content Warning: On this episode of AnthroPuzzled, we speak with Chibundo Egwuatu, a sociocultural anthropology PhD researcher and a systems strategist, organizer, and policy analyst focused on marginalized populations who live and work extralegally. With a background in human rights research and a special interest in tech futures, Chibundo examines how digital infrastructures shape the lives of those navigating multiple forms of precarity, surveillance, and enclosure across both physical and virtual terrains. Chibundo explains the concept of digital imperialism, highlighting the political and material infrastructures behind the internet and how sex workers' experiences reveal broader patterns of control, policing, and technological power. She discusses her path into anthropology, her interest in feminized labor, and how witnessing sex worker communities shaped her research trajectory. The conversation explores sex work as labor, SESTA/FOSTA, pandemic-era digital economies, and how marginalized communities navigate "streets" that morph across platforms, policies, and physical spaces. Chibundo also reflects on advocacy, coalition building, and the pushback she receives for studying taboo subjects. Listen now to learn more about digital anthropology, feminized labor, and how anthropologists engage with sensitive and politically charged topics.