Surveillance capitalism is the phrase Shoshana Zuboff coined to describe the business model of collecting personal information online and using these data as a way to generate revenue. Her entire model is explained in her book of the same name. Understanding surveillance capitalism is the answer to the question “Why are they providing me this service for free”? The topic is about collecting online user data to target ads, but also about the effort to increase time spent online in order to collect more information. So the concerns are not only with the collection of information, but also with the techniques used to increase the commitment of time including gamification techniques and a focus on emotion rather than careful facts.
I highly recommend her book, but in case you don’t want to commit to a lengthy read or purchase a book, the TWIT network Triangulation program offers an hour-long interview with Shoshana and a free way to listen to most of her core arguments.
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