Table of Contents
Surveillance Capitalism
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- Snippet from Wikipedia: Surveillance capitalism
Surveillance capitalism is a concept in political economics which denotes the widespread collection and commodification of personal data by corporations. This phenomenon is distinct from government surveillance, although the two can be mutually reinforcing. The concept of surveillance capitalism, as described by Shoshana Zuboff, is driven by a profit-making incentive, and arose as advertising companies, led by Google's AdWords, saw the possibilities of using personal data to target consumers more precisely.
Increased data collection may have various benefits for individuals and society, such as self-optimization (the quantified self), societal optimizations (e.g., by smart cities) and optimized services (including various web applications). However, as capitalism focuses on expanding the proportion of social life that is open to data collection and data processing, this can have significant implications for vulnerability and control of society, as well as for privacy.
The economic pressures of capitalism are driving the intensification of online connection and monitoring, with spaces of social life opening up to saturation by corporate actors, directed at making profits and/or regulating behavior. Therefore, personal data points increased in value after the possibilities of targeted advertising were known. As a result, the increasing price of data has limited access to the purchase of personal data points to the richest in society.
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Summarize this topic in 10 paragraphs. MUST include a URL links to the official website. Put a section heading for each paragraph. You MUST put double square brackets around each computer buzzword or jargon or technical words. Answer in MediaWiki syntax.
For the most current information, including finding an official website related to surveillance capitalism, I recommend visiting the works of Shoshana Zuboff, particularly her book “The Age of Surveillance Capitalism,” which is a primary source on this topic.
Introduction to Surveillance Capitalism
Surveillance capitalism is a term coined by Shoshana Zuboff, a Harvard Business School professor emerita. It describes a novel market form and a specific logic of capitalist accumulation. In this system, human experience is commodified and transformed into behavioral data, which is then used for commercial purposes, mainly in the form of targeted advertising and market manipulation. The concept underscores the practices of major tech companies like Google, Facebook, and Amazon, which collect vast amounts of data on their users' activities to build detailed profiles for better ad targeting.
Core Principles
The core of surveillance capitalism lies in its focus on capturing and controlling human behavior. Technologies such as smartphones, IoT devices, and online platforms become tools for harvesting personal data. This data is not just about what we buy or where we go but extends to our interactions, our emotions, and even our facial expressions. By analyzing this information, companies can predict and influence our future behavior, creating a cycle where data is continuously extracted for profit.
The Role of [[Big Data]] and [[AI]]
Big Data and artificial intelligence (AI) are fundamental to surveillance capitalism. They allow the processing of vast datasets to identify patterns and predict future behavior. With these technologies, companies can refine their predictions about what users will do next, leading to more effective and personalized advertising strategies. This not only increases the efficiency of ad campaigns but also raises concerns about manipulation and privacy invasion.
Privacy Implications
One of the most significant concerns about surveillance capitalism is its impact on privacy. The relentless collection and analysis of personal data often occur without explicit consent or understanding from users, leading to a profound loss of privacy. This practice challenges existing notions of consent, as the collection and use of data are typically buried in lengthy terms of service agreements that users rarely read or understand.
Economic Impact
Surveillance capitalism has reshaped the economy around the monetization of personal data. It has created enormous wealth for a small number of tech giants while raising questions about economic inequality. The ability to control and exploit personal data gives these companies unprecedented power over the market, potentially stifying competition and innovation in other sectors.
Social and Psychological Effects
Beyond economics, surveillance capitalism has profound social and psychological effects. The manipulation of behavior through targeted advertising and content can influence public opinion, voting behavior, and even democratic processes. Additionally, the constant surveillance and data extraction can lead to a sense of loss of autonomy and agency among individuals, affecting mental health and wellbeing.
Regulatory Responses
Governments and regulatory bodies have started to respond to the challenges posed by surveillance capitalism. Legislation like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the United States aim to give users more control over their data. However, enforcing these regulations and ensuring compliance by global tech companies remains a significant challenge.
Public Awareness and Resistance
Public awareness of surveillance capitalism has been growing, thanks in part to high-profile data breaches and scandals, such as the Cambridge Analytica affair. This awareness has led to increased scrutiny of tech companies' practices and a growing resistance movement that advocates for digital privacy rights, data protection, and ethical technology use.
Future Directions
The future of surveillance capitalism is uncertain. On one hand, technological advancements continue to provide new ways of collecting and analyzing data, potentially deepening surveillance practices. On the other hand, there is a growing push for more ethical approaches to technology that respect privacy and promote digital rights. The outcome will likely depend on the interplay between technological innovation, regulatory frameworks, and public advocacy.
Conclusion
Surveillance capitalism represents a significant shift in the way capitalist economies operate, with far-reaching implications for privacy, democracy, and social norms. The debate around this issue is ongoing, with scholars, policymakers, and the public grappling with how to balance the benefits of technological innovation against the need for privacy and ethical standards. As this conversation continues, it will shape the future of digital society and the role of technology within it.
- Snippet from Wikipedia: Privacy
Privacy (UK: , US: ) is the ability of an individual or group to seclude themselves or information about themselves, and thereby express themselves selectively.
The domain of privacy partially overlaps with security, which can include the concepts of appropriate use and protection of information. Privacy may also take the form of bodily integrity.
Throughout history, there have been various conceptions of privacy. Most cultures acknowledge the right of individuals to keep aspects of their personal lives out of the public domain. The right to be free from unauthorized invasions of privacy by governments, corporations, or individuals is enshrined in the privacy laws of many countries and, in some instances, their constitutions.
With the rise of technology, the debate regarding privacy has expanded from a bodily sense to include a digital sense. In most countries, the right to digital privacy is considered an extension of the original right to privacy, and many countries have passed acts that further protect digital privacy from public and private entities.
There are multiple techniques to invade privacy, which may be employed by corporations or governments for profit or political reasons. Conversely, in order to protect privacy, people may employ encryption or anonymity measures.
- Snippet from Wikipedia: Right to privacy
The right to privacy is an element of various legal traditions that intends to restrain governmental and private actions that threaten the privacy of individuals. Over 185 national constitutions mention the right to privacy. On 10 December 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR); while the right to privacy does not appear in the document, many interpret this through Article 12, which states: "No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with their privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honor and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks."
Since the global surveillance disclosures of 2013, the right to privacy has been a subject of international debate. Government agencies, such as the NSA, FBI, CIA, R&AW, and GCHQ, have engaged in mass, global surveillance. Some current debates around the right to privacy include whether privacy can co-exist with the current capabilities of intelligence agencies to access and analyze many details of an individual's life; whether or not the right to privacy is forfeited as part of the social contract to bolster defense against supposed terrorist threats; and whether threats of terrorism are a valid excuse to spy on the general population. Private sector actors can also threaten the right to privacy – particularly technology companies, such as Amazon, Apple, Meta, Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo that use and collect personal data.
Privacy: Anonymity vs Privacy vs Security, Private, Security, Cybersecurity, Data Privacy, Advertising, Right to Privacy, Privacy Rights, Self-Hosted, Anonymity-Anonymous, Security, Data Collection, You are the Product, Privacy Bibliography, Manning Privacy Series, One Nation, Under Surveillance - Privacy from the Watchful Eye, Surveillance Valley - The Rise of the Military-Digital Complex, GitHub Privacy, Awesome Privacy. (navbar_privacy - see also navbar_security, navbar_bigtech, navbar_advertising)
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