{"id":33,"date":"2023-12-19T22:38:05","date_gmt":"2023-12-19T22:38:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.palni.org\/writingfordigitalmedia\/?post_type=chapter&p=33"},"modified":"2024-02-03T17:48:01","modified_gmt":"2024-02-03T17:48:01","slug":"surveillance-capitalism","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.palni.org\/writingfordigitalmedia\/chapter\/surveillance-capitalism\/","title":{"raw":"Surveillance Capitalism","rendered":"Surveillance Capitalism"},"content":{"raw":"

Take a second to consider the standard manila folder\u2014not the folder icons on your computer. We\u2019re going old school for just a moment to consider the actual<\/em><\/span> folder with its simple, clean design and distinctive color. It has a tab that peeks out on the side so that you can label the contents of the folder and therefore easily organize and retrieve information, which is especially helpful if you have a lot of different types of information spread across multiple folders.<\/p>\r\n

It\u2019s a pretty simple concept, but information wasn\u2019t always organized this way, and as we\u2019ll discuss in this chapter, this type of data collection isn\u2019t always beneficial to everyone. In fact, it seems fitting that the manila folder is often considered a symbol of imperialism and oppression. Invented in the United States in the early nineteenth century<\/span><\/a><\/span>, manila paper originally came from a type of banana tree called acaba, which grew predominantly in the Philippines. When the United States colonized the Philippines, it took control of the acaba trade to ensure that it\u2014not the Filipinos\u2014would profit (Lui). The U.S. used the wood for a variety of purposes, including manila envelopes and paper.<\/p>\r\n

In its most basic form, surveillance is about collecting information about people so it can be easily retrieved and analyzed. Before filing cabinets were invented in 1890, information was written in ledger books or in loose bundles of paper, which made information less accessible because it was difficult to find specific information. The filing cabinet<\/span><\/a><\/span> revolutionized record management practices by making it possible to quickly retrieve a single document (Bristow). Soon, filing cabinets were a must in businesses across the country, and large storage facilities emerged with the singular purpose of securing large amounts of data. In other words, filing cabinets became foundational to the way that institutions managed systems\u2014and people. They were used to document identities, relationships, events, and transactions.<\/p>\r\n

Now think about all of the folders out there somewhere that contain information about you\u2014medical records, academic transcripts and other test scores, employment evaluations, bank information, credit scores, tax records. It\u2019s obvious why privacy has become such an important issue. Everyone has personal information stored in files across various institutions. Sometimes we don\u2019t even know these files exist. Rarely do we know all of the information that the files contain or how the information was collected. It\u2019s a form of institutional power because it increases our visibility (and vulnerability). Individuals are provided opportunities\u2014or not\u2014based on the information in their files. Data collection also has the power to control behaviors. Think about standard employment practices that require workers to clock in and out, that mandate an annual employee evaluation, that put surveillance cameras in parking lots and workstations, or that require random drug testing. These are all ways of monitoring and managing the behaviors of employees, of creating systems of rewards and punishments based on the information in a person\u2019s file.<\/p>\r\n

The digital age of computers, web browsers, and cloud-based computing and data storage expanded data collection practices. It\u2019s even easier to store and retrieve vast amounts of personal data. It\u2019s also possible to collect all kinds of user information without the users\u2019 explicit knowledge. That\u2019s what \u201ccookies<\/span><\/a><\/span>\u201d do. When you visit a website and it requires you to \u201caccept cookies,\u201d a code is embedded in your browser\u2019s software that allows the website to collect information about your online activities and to recognize your computer when you revisit the site (Google, \u201cHow Google\u201d). Information about your preferences, profile information, browsing history, past purchases, and even your navigation path and time spent on individual pages is collected. Cookies also allow websites to track your activities across the internet, even when you aren\u2019t on that specific website. A robust user profile is developed about you\u2014your interests, activities, and identifying information\u2014all so that companies can create targeted ads and online experiences that will increase your chances of buying certain products and services.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"213\"]\"Cartoon CCTV Surveillance Notice<\/a>, by Amityadav8, on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)<\/a>[\/caption]\r\n

The term \u201csurveillance capitalism\u201d refers to this collection of personal data for the purpose of financial gain or some other benefit related to power and control. In the introduction of Surveillance Capitalism<\/em><\/span>, Josh Lauer and Kenneth Lipartito define surveillance capitalism as a<\/p>\r\n

broad range of strategies and techniques, both formal and informal, that commercial actors\u2014including lenders, merchants, employers, managers, service providers, and others\u2014deploy to observe, record, predict, and control human behavior and relationships. The targets of such commercial surveillance typically include clients and customers, borrowers and buyers, staff and laborers (free and unfree), markets and competitors (5).<\/p>\r\n

It\u2019s a broad definition because surveillance is so prevalent throughout our daily lives. We\u2019re reminded in many parking lots, stores, schools, and government buildings that we are being recorded. Cameras also exist at many intersections and toll booths to ensure that people follow the rules. Many people have cameras on their doorbells and inside their homes so they can monitor the activities of visitors or maybe even their own pets or family members and prevent negative behaviors. Then there are the smartphones, smart watches, and GPS apps that track your location throughout the day. Our Siris, Alexas, and Google Assistants are listening devices that record our dialogue<\/span><\/a><\/span>, which can be reviewed by tech companies themselves or third-party contractors (Metz). There is even some fear that our devices are listening to our conversations when we aren\u2019t using them. For instance, this study<\/span><\/a><\/span> examined 81 different Internet of Things devices and found that many of them surreptitiously transmit information to tech companies like Netflix, Amazon, and Google, even when the device isn\u2019t being used (Ren et al.).<\/p>\r\n

Advancements in digital technology have made it easier than ever for organizations to secretly collect information, which has created a number of privacy concerns. This chapter explores the history of surveillance capitalism, identifies common surveillance practices, and examines how surveillance is often used not only to predict<\/em><\/span> but also to control<\/em><\/span> human behaviors. The chapter ends with basic guidelines for protecting your private information.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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Learning Objectives<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n

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