New Books Network
Anita Say Chan, "Predatory Data: Eugenics in Big Tech and Our Fight for an Independent Future" (U California Press, 2025)
Mar 25, 2025
Anita Say Chan, an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois, dives into her book exploring the unsettling ties between historical eugenics and today's tech landscape. She discusses how big data practices reflect biases from the past, impacting marginalized communities. Chan critiques STEM education's neglect of these legacies and advocates for alternative data practices that empower vulnerable groups. She also highlights historical activism that reshaped research norms, urging us to confront and reshape our relationship with technology and surveillance.
01:17:10
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Quick takeaways
- The historical roots of eugenics have significant implications for contemporary data practices, fostering systemic biases in algorithmic discrimination.
- Emerging methodologies in data justice challenge traditional surveillance practices by promoting transparency and community engagement for societal benefit.
Deep dives
The Impact of Predatory Data Practices
Big data and its collection have transformative potential, but they also raise significant concerns. The surveillance facilitated by big data often leads to algorithmic discrimination, with historical roots tracing back to eugenics practices. These early implementations of statistical methods aimed to monitor and control populations based on perceived traits of unfitness. As a result, the repercussions of predatory data mechanisms extend beyond mere analytics, influencing contemporary societal structures and biases.
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