Nina da Hora

Nina da Hora (born 1995) is an Afro-Brazilian activist and computer scientist known for her research on algorithmic racism and her efforts to democratize access to technology making its operation transparent with an accessible language. Hora is a fellow at the Center for Technology and Society at Fundação Getúlio Vargas or (FGV).

Early life and education
Ana Carolina Silve das Neves da Hora better known as Nina da Hora was born in Duque de Caxias outside of Rio de Janeiro (state). She was raised by five female teachers, including her mother, aunt, and grandmother.

She is a digital computer science graduate from Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo in Rio de Janeiro. In 2024 she is studying for her master's degree at Campinas University.

Career
Hora is a computer scientist at Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo, and researcher in the topics of Ethics in Artificial intelligence, technology and cyber defense. Hora began to document stories about black scientists, the initiative of which ended up giving rise to a podcast, Ogunhê in 2021. Additionally, Hora serves as an inspiration for the inclusion of black people, people from the periphery and, of course, women and LGBTQIA+ people in technology. As an Anti-racism hacker Hora proposes democratizing access to technology making its operation transparent with an accessible language.

Hora is currently a member of the Security Council Advisory board for the popular Social media TikTok in Brazil South America. She is also part of Tire meu rosto da sua mira (Get my face out of your sight, in English) a movement against the use of facial recognition technology which they believe reinforces systemic racism in Brazil.

Research
Hora created the Institute da Hora. This research group is made up of people of Afro and Indigenous decent, and its mission is to make technology accessible to marginalized people of African and indigenous descent in Brazil.

Recognition
In 2021, Hora was included in Brazilian Forbes Under 30 list for bringing light to algorithmic racism. Algorithm racism is a continuation of the racism that already structures our society, but it is enhanced by computational tools. In 2017, the topic came up for Hora when she was working at a robotics startup. While working on a facial expression recognition project, she realized that the system did not work with her, the only black person on the team.

In 2024, Hora was selected for Ford Global Fellowship from the Ford Foundation.