New Books in Communications 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 Ali Mejias, a professor of Communication Studies, teams up with Nick Couldry, a media theorist from the London School of Economics. They discuss the concept of data colonialism, linking it to historical exploitation practices. The conversation highlights how tech giants extract personal data, emphasizing the ethical concerns of surveillance and AI biases. They also dive into the gig economy, examining its dual nature as an opportunity yet a source of worker exploitation. Finally, they propose innovative strategies for resistance and address the urgent need for educational reform.
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Data Colonialism: A Historical Perspective
- Data colonialism is not just about social media, but encompasses AI, crypto, and the Internet of Things.
- It's a continuation of a 500-year history of colonial extraction and dispossession, intersecting with capitalism.
The Four X's of Data Colonialism
- The four X's of historical colonialism—explore, expand, exploit, exterminate—apply to data colonialism.
- Big tech companies explore data territories, expand their reach, exploit users, and aim to erase alternative ways of living.
Lyft and the Gig Economy
- Nick Couldry shares an experience with Lyft where the driver suggested paying cash to avoid Lyft's 42% surge pricing cut.
- This highlights how data territories like Lyft give absolute control to platform owners, exploiting both users and workers.
