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SURVEILLANCE CAPITALISM: An Overview

Atty. Grace Salonga,

MAD - Executive Director

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What is Surveillance Capitalism?

It is the collection, mining and accumulation of user’s information to predict and shape their behavior.

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This term was coined by Soshana Zuboff in 2004 and was the subject of her book published in 2009.

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Point of Origin

  • Google was founded in 1998
  • Its mission: organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful

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  • Model of Operation: Behavioral Value Reinvestment Cycle

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Dotcom Crash – Existential Threat to TechCos�

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Surveillance Capitalism Business Model

In 2003, “Generating User Information for Use in Targeted Advertising” was patented by Google

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-this led to the creation of UPI or User Profile Information.

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DANGERS of SURVEILLANCE CAPITALISM

  1. Abuse of power – due to concentrated control of data collection and information distribution

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  • Impunity – arising from lack of regulation of big tech’s business model and therefor lack of accountability

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  • Decline of Democracy and disregard of Human Rights – arising from the distribution of disinformation, information operations and propaganda at such scale and speed

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Roadmap to Address the Problem

  1. Education of the Public
  2. Passing of Regulations and Laws
  3. Civic Engagement – esp. support to journalists, truth-tellers and sources of credible information

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Thank you!

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