New Books in Science, Technology, and Society

Ulises Ali Mejias and Nick Couldry, "Data Grab: The New Colonialism of Big Tech and How to Fight Back" (U Chicago Press, 2024)

Dec 21, 2024

Ulises Mejias, a communication studies professor, and Nick Couldry, a media and communications theorist, tackle the pressing issue of data colonialism in their discussion. They reveal how Big Tech exploits personal data, drawing parallels to historical colonial practices. The conversation addresses the gig economy's challenges, the perils of AI, and the ethical dilemmas arising from generative technologies. Additionally, they emphasize the importance of amplifying marginalized voices and propose frameworks for resistance to create a fairer digital landscape.

01:02:57

Episode guests

Nick Couldry

Ulises A. Mejias

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Data colonialism manifests as a new form of exploitation where Big Tech extracts personal data for profit and social control.

The gig economy illustrates the principles of data colonialism, emphasizing how workers are surveilled and commodified without informed consent.

Effective resistance against data colonialism requires a multifaceted approach that includes advocating for progressive regulations and amplifying marginalized voices.

Deep dives

The Concept of Data Colonialism

Data colonialism is defined as an emergent social order focused on the continuous extraction of information from our social lives to generate wealth and create new forms of social control. This form of colonialism extends beyond traditional notions of colonialism and encompasses how large technology companies collect and utilize vast amounts of personal data today. Personal data is extracted not just from social media interactions, but also from various applications, devices, and environments we interact with daily. The implications of this data extraction range from influencing our access to public services to determining our eligibility for loans, affecting nearly every aspect of our lives.

Intro

4min

Data Colonialism: The New Frontier

12min

Exploring the Impact of Technology on the Gig Economy

1min

Navigating the Gig Economy and Data Colonialism

19min

Early Warnings on the Limitations and Ethics of Generative AI

3min

Colonial Echoes in the Digital Age

10min

Resisting Data Colonialism

10min

In the present day, Big Tech is extracting resources from us, transferring and centralizing resources from people to companies. These companies are grabbing our most basic natural resources--our data--exploiting our labor and connections, and repackaging our information to control our views, track our movements, record our conversations, and discriminate against us. These companies tell us this is for our own good, to build innovation and develop new technology. But in fact, every time we unthinkingly click "Accept" on a set of Terms and Conditions, we allow our most personal information to be kept indefinitely, repackaged by companies to control and exploit us for their own profit.

In Data Grab: The New Colonialism of Big Tech and How to Fight Back (The University of Chicago Press, 2024), Ulises Mejias and Nick Couldry explain why postindustrial capitalism cannot be understood without colonialism, and why race is a critical factor in who benefits from data colonialism, just as it was for historic colonialism. In this searing, cutting-edge guide, Mejias and Couldry explore the concept of data colonialism, revealing how history can help us understand the emerging future--and how we can fight back.

Mention in this episode: Tierra Comun (English Version)

Ulises A. Mejias is professor of communication studies at the State University of New York at Oswego.

Nick Couldry is professor of media, communications, and social theory at the London School of Economics and Political Science and faculty associate at Harvard University’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society.

Dr. Michael LaMagna is the Information Literacy Program & Library Services Coordinator and Professor of Library Services at Delaware County Community College.

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