The Age of Surveillance Capitalism : The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power

The challenges to humanity posed by the digital future, the first detailed examination of the unprecedented form of power called "surveillance capitalism," and the quest by powerful corporations to predict and control our behavior. In this masterwork of original thinking and research, Shoshana Zuboff provides startling insights into the phenomenon that she has named surveillance capitalism. The stakes could not be higher: a global architecture of behavior modification threatens human nature in the twenty-first century just as industrial capitalism disfigured the natural world in the twentieth. Zuboff vividly brings to life the consequences as surveillance capitalism advances from Silicon Valley into every economic sector. Vast wealth and power are accumulated in ominous new "behavioral futures markets," where predictions about our behavior are bought and sold, and the production of goods and services is subordinated to a new "means of behavioral modification." The threat has shifted from a totalitarian Big Brother state to a ubiquitous digital architecture: a "Big Other" operating in the interests of surveillance capital. Here is the crucible of an unprecedented form of power marked by extreme concentrations of knowledge and free from democratic oversight. Zuboff's comprehensive and moving analysis lays bare the threats to twenty-first century society: a controlled "hive" of total connection that seduces with promises of total certainty for maximum profit--at the expense of democracy, freedom, and our human future. With little resistance from law or society, surveillance capitalism is on the verge of dominating the social order and shaping the digital future--if we let it. Table of contents INTRODUCTION 1. Home or exile in the digital future I. THE FOUNDATIONS OF SURVEILLANCE CAPITALISM 2. August 9, 2011: Setting the stage for Surveillance Capitalism 3. The discovery of behavioral surplus 4. The moat around the castle 5. The elaboration of Surveillance Capitalism: Kidnap, corner, compete 6. Hijacked: The division of learning in society II. THE ADVANCE OF SURVEILLANCE CAPITALISM 7. The reality business 8. Rendition: From experience to data 9. Rendition from the depths 10. Make them dance 11. The right to the future tense III. INSTRUMENTARIAN POWER FOR A THIRD MODERNITY 12. Two species of power 13. Big Other and the rise of instrumentarian power 14. A utopia of certainty 15, The instrumentarian collective 16. Of life in the hive 17. The right to sanctuary CONCLUSION 18. A coup from above Acknowledgements About the author Detailed table of contents Notes Index "Shoshana Zuboff, named "the true prophet of the information age" by the Financial Times, has always been ahead of her time. Her seminal book In the Age of the Smart Machine foresaw the consequences of a then-unfolding era of computer technology. Now, three decades later she asks why the once-celebrated miracle of digital is turning into a nightmare. Zuboff tackles the social, political, business, personal, and technological meaning of "surveillance capitalism" as an unprecedented new market form. It is not simply about tracking us and selling ads, it is the business model for an ominous new marketplace that aims at nothing less than predicting and modifying our everyday behavior--where we go, what we do, what we say, how we feel, who we're with. The consequences of surveillance capitalism for us as individuals and as a society vividly come to life in The Age of Surveillance Capitalism's pathbreaking analysis of power. The threat has shifted from a totalitarian "big brother" state to a universal global architecture of automatic sensors and smart capabilities: A "big other" that imposes a fundamentally new form of power and unprecedented concentrations of knowledge in private companies--free from democratic oversight and control"-- "In this masterwork of original thinking and research, Shoshana Zuboff provides startling insights into the phenomenon that she has named surveillance capitalism. The stakes could not be higher: a global architecture of behavior modification threatens human nature in the twenty-first century just as industrial capitalism disfigured the natural world in the twentieth. Zuboff vividly brings to life the consequences as surveillance capitalism advances from Silicon Valley into every economic sector. Vast wealth and power are accumulated in ominous new "behavioral futures markets," where predictions about our behavior are bought and sold, and the production of goods and services is subordinated to a new "means of behavioral modification." The threat has shifted from a totalitarian Big Brother state to a ubiquitous digital architecture: a "Big Other" operating in the interests of surveillance capital. Here is the crucible of an unprecedented form of power marked by extreme concentrations of knowledge and free from democratic oversight. Zuboff's comprehensive and moving analysis lays bare the threats to twenty-first century society: a controlled "hive" of total connection that seduces with promises of total certainty for maximum profit-at the expense of democracy, freedom, and our human future. With little resistance from law or society, surveillance capitalism is on the verge of dominating the social order and shaping the digital future--if we let it."--Dust jacket. Shoshana Zuboff, Named The True Prophet Of The Information Age By The Financial Times, Has Always Been Ahead Of Her Time. Her Seminal Book In The Age Of The Smart Machine Foresaw The Consequences Of A Then-unfolding Era Of Computer Technology. Now, Three Decades Later She Asks Why The Once-celebrated Miracle Of Digital Is Turning Into A Nightmare. Zuboff Tackles The Social, Political, Business, Personal, And Technological Meaning Of Surveillance Capitalism As An Unprecedented New Market Form. It Is Not Simply About Tracking Us And Selling Ads, It Is The Business Model For An Ominous New Marketplace That Aims At Nothing Less Than Predicting And Modifying Our Everyday Behavior--where We Go, What We Do, What We Say, How We Feel, Who We're With. The Consequences Of Surveillance Capitalism For Us As Individuals And As A Society Vividly Come To Life In The Age Of Surveillance Capitalism's Pathbreaking Analysis Of Power. The Threat Has Shifted From A Totalitarian Big Brother State To A Universal Global Architecture Of Automatic Sensors And Smart Capabilities: A Big Other That Imposes A Fundamentally New Form Of Power And Unprecedented Concentrations Of Knowledge In Private Companies--free From Democratic Oversight And Control-- Introduction: Home Or Exile In The Digital Future -- Part I: The Foundations Of Surveillance Capitalism. August 9, 2011: Setting The Stage For Surveillance Capitalism ; The Discovery Of Behavioral Surplus ; The Moat Around The Castle ; The Elaboration Of Surveillance Capitalism: Kidnap, Corner, Compete ; Hijacked: The Division Of Learning In Society -- Part Ii: The Advance Of Surveillance Capitalism. The Reality Business ; Rendition: From Experience To Data ; Rendition From The Depths ; Make Them Dance ; The Right To The Future Tense -- Part Iii: Instrumentarian Power For A Third Modernity. Two Species Of Power ; Big Other And The Rise Of Instrumentarian Power ; A Utopia Of Certainty ; The Instrumentarian Collective ; Of Life In The Hive ; The Right To Sanctuary -- Conclusion: A Coup From Above. Shoshana Zuboff. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Text In English. The challenges to humanity posed by the digital future, the first detailed examination of the unprecedented form of power called "surveillance capitalism," and the quest by powerful corporations to predict and control our behavior. Shoshana Zuboff's interdisciplinary breadth and depth enable her to come to grips with the social, political, business, and technological meaning of the changes taking place in our time. We are at a critical juncture in the confrontation between the vast power of giant high-tech companies and government, the hidden economic logic of surveillance capitalism, and the propaganda of machine supremacy that threaten to shape and control human life. Will the brazen new methods of social engineering and behavior modification threaten individual autonomy and democratic rights and introduce extreme new forms of social inequality? Or will the promise of the digital age be one of individual empowerment and democratization? Master or Slave?... Title Page 2 Copyright 3 Table of Contents 5 Dedication 7 The Definition 8 INTRODUCTION 9 1 Home or Exile in the Digital Future 10 PART I THE FOUNDATIONS OF SURVEILLANCE CAPITALISM 31 2 August 9, 2011: Setting the Stage for Surveillance Capitalism 32 3 The Discovery of Behavioral Surplus 65 4 The Moat Around the Castle 98 5 The Elaboration of Surveillance Capitalism: Kidnap, Corner, Compete 126 6 Hijacked: The Division of Learning in Society 171 PART II THE ADVANCE OF SURVEILLANCE CAPITALISM 190 7 The Reality Business 191 8 Rendition: From Experience to Data 222 9 Rendition from the Depths 242 10 Make Them Dance 277 11 The Right to the Future Tense 310 PART III INSTRUMENTARIAN POWER FOR A THIRD MODERNITY 329 12 Two Species of Power 330 13 Big Other and the Rise of Instrumentarian Power 353 14 A Utopia of Certainty 374 15 The Instrumentarian Collective 390 16 Of Life in the Hive 417 17 The Right to Sanctuary 445 CONCLUSION 462 18 A Coup from Above 463 Acknowledgments 491 About the Author 495 Praise for "The Age of Surveillance Capitalism" 496 Detailed Table of Contents 499 Notes 505 Index 664 The challenges to humanity posed by the digital future, the first detailed examination of the unprecedented form of power called "surveillance capitalism," and the quest by powerful corporations to predict and control our behavior. In this masterwork of original thinking and research, Shoshana Zuboff provides startling insights into the phenomenon that she has named surveillance capitalism. The stakes could not be higher: a global architecture of behavior modification threatens human nature in the twenty-first century just as industrial capitalism disfigured the natural world in the twentieth. Zuboff vividly brings to life the consequences as surveillance capitalism advances from Silicon Valley into every economic sector. Vast wealth and power are accumulated in ominous new "behavioral futures markets," where predictions about our behavior are bought and sold, and the production of goods and services is subordinated to a new "means of behavioral modification." The threat has shifted from a totalitarian Big Brother state to a ubiquitous digital architecture: a "Big Other" operating in the interests of surveillance capital. Here is the crucible of an unprecedented form of power marked by extreme concentrations of knowledge and free from democratic oversight. Zuboff's comprehensive and moving analysis lays bare the threats to twenty-first century society: a controlled "hive" of total connection that seduces with promises of total certainty for maximum profit -- at the expense of democracy, freedom, and our human future. With little resistance from law or society, surveillance capitalism is on the verge of dominating the social order and shaping the digital future -- if we let it. Title Page......Page 2 Copyright......Page 3 Table of Contents......Page 5 Dedication......Page 7 The Definition......Page 8 INTRODUCTION......Page 9 1 Home or Exile in the Digital Future......Page 10 PART I THE FOUNDATIONS OF SURVEILLANCE CAPITALISM......Page 31 2 August 9, 2011: Setting the Stage for Surveillance Capitalism......Page 32 3 The Discovery of Behavioral Surplus......Page 65 4 The Moat Around the Castle......Page 98 5 The Elaboration of Surveillance Capitalism: Kidnap, Corner, Compete......Page 126 6 Hijacked: The Division of Learning in Society......Page 171 PART II THE ADVANCE OF SURVEILLANCE CAPITALISM......Page 190 7 The Reality Business......Page 191 8 Rendition: From Experience to Data......Page 222 9 Rendition from the Depths......Page 242 10 Make Them Dance......Page 277 11 The Right to the Future Tense......Page 310 PART III INSTRUMENTARIAN POWER FOR A THIRD MODERNITY......Page 329 12 Two Species of Power......Page 330 13 Big Other and the Rise of Instrumentarian Power......Page 353 14 A Utopia of Certainty......Page 374 15 The Instrumentarian Collective......Page 390 16 Of Life in the Hive......Page 417 17 The Right to Sanctuary......Page 445 CONCLUSION......Page 462 18 A Coup from Above......Page 463 Acknowledgments......Page 491 About the Author......Page 495 Praise for "The Age of Surveillance Capitalism"......Page 496 Detailed Table of Contents......Page 499 Notes......Page 505 Index......Page 664 The challenges to humanity posed by the digital future, the first detailed examination of the unprecedented form of power called "surveillance capitalism," and the quest by powerful corporations to predict and control our behavior. Shoshana Zuboff's interdisciplinary breadth and depth enable her to come to grips with the social, political, business, and technological meaning of the changes taking place in our time. We are at a critical juncture in the confrontation between the vast power of giant high-tech companies and government, the hidden economic logic of surveillance capitalism, and the propaganda of machine supremacy that threaten to shape and control human life. Will the brazen new methods of social engineering and behavior modification threaten individual autonomy and democratic rights and introduce extreme new forms of social inequality? Or will the promise of the digital age be one of individual empowerment and democratization? The Age of Surveillance Capitalism is neither a hand-wringing narrative of danger and decline nor a digital fairy tale. Rather, it offers a deeply reasoned and evocative examination of the contests over the next chapter of capitalism that will decide the meaning of information civilization in the twenty-first century. The stark issue at hand is whether we will be the masters of information and machines or its slaves. "Shoshana Zuboff, named "the true prophet of the information age" by the Financial Times, has always been ahead of her time. Her seminal book In the Age of the Smart Machine foresaw the consequences of a then-unfolding era of computer technology. Now, three decades later she asks why the once-celebrated miracle of digital is turning into a nightmare. Zuboff tackles the social, political, business, personal, and technological meaning of "surveillance capitalism" as an unprecedented new market form. It is not simply about tracking us and selling ads, it is the business model for an ominous new marketplace that aims at nothing less than predicting and modifying our everyday behavior--where we go, what we do, what we say, how we feel, who we're with. The consequences of surveillance capitalism for us as individuals and as a society vividly come to life in The Age of Surveillance Capitalism's pathbreaking analysis of power. The threat has shifted from a totalitarian "big brother" state to a universal global architecture of automatic sensors and smart capabilities: A "big other" that imposes a fundamentally new form of power and unprecedented concentrations of knowledge in private companies--free from democratic oversight and control"--Résumé de l'éditeur Zuboff tackles the social, political, business, personal, and technological meaning of "surveillance capitalism" as an unprecedented new market form. It is not simply about tracking us and selling ads, it is the business model for an ominous new marketplace that aims at nothing less than predicting and modifying our everyday behavior-- where we go, what we do, what we say, how we feel, who we're with. She shows that the threat has shifted from a totalitarian "big brother" state to a universal global architecture of automatic sensors and smart capabilities, free from democratic oversight and control--Adapted from publisher info