What is Surveillance Capitalism?
- Economic system where personal data is commodified to predict and influence human behaviour.
- Coined by Shoshana Zuboff in The Age of Surveillance Capitalism (2018).
- Relies on tracking online/offline activities (clicks, searches, purchases, movements).
- Companies involved: Google, Meta, Amazon, etc.
Relevance : GS 3(Economy, Technology)
How It Works:
- Data extraction: Human experience converted into data.
- Predictive analytics: Algorithms predict behaviour, guiding user choices.
- Instrumentarian power: Control through subtle behavioural nudges (not coercion).
- Social physics (Alex Pentland): Studies human interaction patterns for behavioural prediction.
Differences from Industrial Capitalism:
- Industrial Capitalism: Focus on production, labour exploitation, efficiency.
- Surveillance Capitalism: Focus on data extraction, behavioural manipulation, user engagement.
- Users become both consumers and raw data sources.
Role of State Surveillance:
- Corporation-state collaboration: Tech firms provide data to governments.
- Data-sharing agreements often bypass democratic accountability.
- Example: States leverage private surveillance for intelligence and policing.
Impact on Privacy and Autonomy:
- Erosion of autonomy: Users’ decisions influenced by targeted content.
- Behavioural conditioning: Algorithms subtly manipulate user preferences.
- Example: Cambridge Analytica scandal (2014) – Exploited Facebook data to influence US elections.
Regulatory Challenges:
- Existing laws:
- EU’s GDPR: Data privacy focus but doesn’t curb commodification.
- India’s DPDPA: Aims for user control but lacks structural oversight.
- Obstacles:
- Corporate lobbying and political influence weaken regulations.
- Rise of tech leaders in politics protects corporate interests.
Way Forward:
- Stronger regulations: Limit data commodification, increase accountability.
- Public awareness: Encourage critical engagement with digital platforms.
- Policy focus: Move beyond data privacy to address structural exploitation.
Key Concerns:
- Loss of individual privacy and autonomy.
- Growing corporate-political nexus controlling digital ecosystems.
- Systemic fragility: Data breaches can trigger financial and information crises.
