Abstract

Surveillance capitalism is the dominant business model of the internet, built on collecting as much data as possible about as many people as possible doing as many things as possible so as to algorithmically predict and modify human behaviour for profit. However, it is just one of the forms of internet-enabled surveillance which makes use of machine learning to create and amplify information asymmetries and so create new ways of attempting to influence behaviour. This talk will explore surveillance capitalism and will discuss its relationship with political microtargeting and state surveillance practices, identifying these as interrelated and overlapping forms of internet-based power which seek to control the individual in our emerging digital world.