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Surveillance capitalism

An economic model that involves using personal data and human experience as raw material to predict and influence behaviour for profit

Behavioural value reinvestment cycle

previous cycle of using behavioural data to improve services without generating surplus value

Behavioural data

(to predict and influence)

data derived from individuals' online actions and interactions to create predictive insights about their future behaviour

Behavioural surplus

(to predict and influence)

the excess behavioural data collected beyond what is necessary for improving services

Behavioural futures markets

(to predict and influence)

markets that trade in predictive products derived from behavioural surplus

Commodity fictions (Polanyi, 1944)

Karl Polanyi's concept of fictitious commodities, which includes land, labour, and money, is extended by surveillance capitalism to encompass human experience

Secrecy 

the deliberate concealment of data collection practices from the public to avoid resistance and maintain control over the data

Privacy

privacy is transformed as decision rights over personal data are appropriated by corporations

Decision rights

S. C. asserts corporate control over the collection, use, and sharing of personal data, stripping individuals of their rights to manage their information.

Extraction imperative

(to predict behaviour; enhance market control)

relentless drive to extract behavioural data from every aspect of human life

Extraction architecture

(automatically!!!)

the infrastructure and technological systems designed to continuously collect and process vast amounts of behavioural data from users

Ubiquitous computing (Weiser, 1999)

(to enhance data collection and predict)

the concept of integrating computing into the environment, making technology omnipresent and seamlessly embedded in everyday life

Prediction imperative

the core objective of surveillance capitalism to predict and influence future behaviour through the analysis of behavioural data

Extension

(new areas)

the expansion of surveillance practices into new areas of life, extending the reach of data collection and influence

Depth 

(more detailed)

the increasing detail of data collected about individuals, providing deeper insights into personal behaviours and preferences

Economies of action

the economic strategies and operations focused on driving specific actions from individuals based on predictive insights derived from behavioural data

Execution architecture

the technological systems and algorithms designed to execute predictive models and influence individual behaviour based on collected data

Internet of things

a network of interconnected devices that collect and exchange data, significantly expanding the scope of data available for surveillance capitalism

Instrumentarianism

a governance system that relies on instruments and tools to monitor, predict, and modify behaviour, aligning with the goals of surveillance capitalism

Big Other

the pervasive surveillance infrastructure that observes, collects, and analyses behavioural data, exerting control over individuals

Radical behaviourism

focuses on modifying observable behaviour rather than internal states, through data-driven insights for behavioural manipulation.

Radical indifference

the disregard for individual autonomy and privacy by surveillance capitalists, who prioritise data extraction and predictive accuracy over personal rights

Observation without witness 

the practice of covertly observing and collecting data on individuals without their awareness or consent

Equivalence without equality

cata-driven models create equivalence among individuals, ignoring inherent differences and leading to biassed and unfair outcomes