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)
Mar 25, 2025
Anita Say Chan, an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois, dives deep into the connection between eugenics and today's big tech, highlighting how past discriminatory practices impact current data collection and surveillance. She discusses the historical roots of data profiling and its discriminatory effects on marginalized groups. The conversation also touches on Hull House's influence on labor rights and the limitations of AI in capturing the richness of human communication. Chan emphasizes the need for alternative data practices rooted in social justice.
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Quick takeaways
- The podcast emphasizes the historical roots of contemporary data practices in eugenics, exposing how statistical methods were originally used to justify segregation.
- It highlights the troubling implications of the 1939 Futurama showcase, which demonstrated a vision of technological advancement tied to eugenic ideals.
Deep dives
The Historical Roots of Data Practices
The origins of contemporary data practices are deeply rooted in eugenics, as explored in the podcast. The historical figures behind eugenics, like Sir Francis Galton, used statistical methods to classify and surveil populations, believing that they could measure and control 'unfit' traits. This historical context highlights how data collection was initially employed to justify segregation and discrimination throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. By emphasizing the importance of understanding this history, the discussion underscores the risks of repeating past mistakes as society increasingly relies on data-driven technologies.
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