The Role of Data in the Surveillance Capitalist Argument

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Data is really key to kind of the whole surveillance capitalism argument right that these companies are really spying on us so that they can collect this data that's valuable for their business models. So much of this industry has caught up in a world of fraud and and fakery and so they have to really constantly be like selling the data and verifying that data and making the case that that data is authentically what it is. I think actually the accuracy of the data almost doesn't matter what matters is the fact that that company is able to produce receipts and authentication metrics and all these other things that say it's real.

Paris Marx is joined by Daniel Joseph to discuss why advertising is central not just to the tech economy, but modern capitalism itself, and how the business models of companies are increasing shaped by serving ads and collecting data to inform them.

Daniel Joseph is a Senior Lecturer of Digital Sociology at Manchester Metropolitan University. He’s also written for a number of publications, including Briarpatch Magazine, Motherboard, and Real Life Magazine. Follow Daniel on Twitter at @DanjoKaz00ie.

Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Follow the podcast (@techwontsaveus) and host Paris Marx (@parismarx) on Twitter, and support the show on Patreon.

The podcast is produced by Eric Wickham and part of the Harbinger Media Network.

Also mentioned in this episode:

Daniel wrote about how advertising and the need to create audiences is much more central to the tech economy than is often discussed.
Shoshana Wodinsky explained why so many companies are getting into advertising, including hotel chains, retailers, and more.
Unity faced criticism for merging with IronSource, a known advertising malware distributor.
After reporting a subscriber decline earlier this year, Netflix launched an ad-supported tier in October.
Companies like Apple and Uber are expanding their efforts to increase advertising revenue.
Ramon Lobato wrote Netflix Nations: The Geography of Digital Distribution.

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