New Books in Critical Theory Anita Say Chan, "Predatory Data: Eugenics in Big Tech and Our Fight for an Independent Future" (U California Press, 2025)
Apr 17, 2025
Anita Say Chan, an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois, delves into her groundbreaking book, exploring the unsettling links between big tech, data privacy, and eugenics. She argues that today's data practices continue the historical marginalization of vulnerable groups. Chan contrasts 'predatory data' with 'pluralist data,' revealing how community-led initiatives can empower those often overlooked. The discussion highlights the significance of ethical technology use, particularly in governance and education, advocating for a more equitable future.
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Nature of Predatory Data
- Predatory data aggressively extracts maximum data without consent or clear purpose.
- It disproportionately harms marginalized populations by enforcing racialized, patriarchal power structures.
Eugenics Roots of Data Practices
- Sir Francis Galton, founder of eugenics and statistical regression, pioneered biometric data methods in the 19th century.
- Early eugenics targeted Chinese immigrant women as racial contaminants to justify exclusion laws.
Eugenics' Deep Influence on Data Science
- Eugenics was widely embedded in U.S. research and policy by the 1920s with strong influence on immigration and sterilization laws.
- Statistical methods taught today in data science originated in eugenicist practices.
