The Gray Area with Sean Illing How corporations got all your data
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Mar 27, 2023 
Matthew L. Jones, a historian of science and technology and co-author of "How Data Happened," delves into the long history of data from the 18th century to today. He discusses how the fascination with measurement has evolved and why advertising became intertwined with the internet. Jones critically examines surveillance capitalism and the ethical dilemmas behind data collection without consent, urging for innovative regulations and a collective push for democratic control over personal data. It's a thought-provoking exploration of the power dynamics that shape our digital reality.
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Data and Power
- Data is not a neutral tool, it's about power and authority.
- Decisions about what and who to record reflect power dynamics from the start.
Data's Birth
- The 19th century saw an aspiration to use math to understand the world.
- This was coupled with increased collection of data on people, marking a shift in social sciences.
Shift in Social Sciences
- The 19th century's focus on predictable systems influenced social sciences.
- This led to new descriptions and governance based on numerical data, transforming how we organize society.
