Surveillance capitalism is an economic system where personal data is collected, analyzed, and sold to predict and manipulate human behavior, primarily for profit.
Companies like Google, Meta, and Amazon track every online action (clicks, searches, purchases) and even offline movements to mine data for targeted advertising and behavior prediction.
This concept describes how behavior is subtly shaped through predictive algorithms and recommendations, guiding users toward actions benefiting corporations rather than personal autonomy.
Unlike traditional capitalism, which focuses on tangible goods, surveillance capitalism commodifies human experience (data) to influence consumer behavior, making users both consumers and raw data sources.
Governments use private companies for intelligence and control, merging private profits with state interests, often at the cost of individual privacy.
Extensive data collection and algorithmic predictions condition users' behavior, subtly shaping their decisions to benefit tech giants, thereby eroding personal autonomy and individual choice.
Example - Cambridge Analytica: The 2014 scandal showed how harvested personal data can influence elections and political processes, demonstrating the risks of unchecked data exploitation.
Current regulations (e.g., EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA)) fail to address the fundamental issue of commodifying personal data and are often influenced by corporate lobbying, limiting their effectiveness.
Surveillance capitalism can affect democratic processes by manipulating public opinion through targeted political ads, undermining personal freedoms and fair elections.
As technology evolves, it’s crucial to critically engage with digital platforms and push for stronger privacy protections to safeguard personal autonomy and freedom.
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