5 ms·

This misnomer again? Certain companies monetizing user data has very little to do with capitalism and can barely characterize our age. Stop the dumb hate.

chungus_khan 7y ago
How exactly does it have little to do with it? They aren't just doing this because they feel like it, they are doing it because it is immensely profitable, especially in the advertising industry. It is a feature of capitalism that where there exists demand for something and a profitable way of doing it is discovered, industry will arise to reap those profits.
- dandare 7y ago
  > They aren't just doing this because they feel like it, they are doing it because it is immensely profitable Capitalism is an economic order, not a business model. > It is a feature of capitalism that where there exists demand for something.... If we live in the age of surveillance capitalism because some companies spy on users for profit, then we also live in the age of strawberry-harvesting capitalism, because some companies harvest strawberries for profit.
  - infinitezest 7y ago
    > If we live in the age of surveillance capitalism because some companies spy on users for profit, then we also live in the age of strawberry-harvesting capitalism, because some companies harvest strawberries for profit. Seems like the major difference here is scale. The scale of surveillance encompasses pretty much everything. Communication, travel, bodily characteristics, the sale and purchase of strawberries, etc etc. I think it's definitely a defining characteristic of our age.
  - dredmorbius 7y ago
    Multiple ages can coexist. Much as multiple people, religions, philosophies, states, governmental forms, or economic systems. You may wish to reconsider your objections.
AnimalMuppet 7y ago
The term is useful, in that it distinguishes this (surveillance capitalism) from surveillance by governments, which (until recently) was the usual form.
- dandare 7y ago
  How are private companies synonym for capitalism? Capitalism is an economic order (characterized by the private ownership of the means of production and their operation for profit). Would you say we live in the age of rocket ship capitalism because rockets used to be the domain of governments? Overloading the term Capitalism may sound sensational, but it is not useful in explaining the issue.
  - AnimalMuppet 7y ago
    > How are private companies synonym for capitalism? > Capitalism is an economic order (characterized by the private ownership of the means of production and their operation for profit). I think you answered your own question. > Overloading the term Capitalism may sound sensational, but it is not useful in explaining the issue. We're not. We're using surveillance as an adjective to modify capitalism, and thereby creating a new term.
pizzazzaro 7y ago
Okay. Name an internet company that neither directly participates in gathering, selling, analyzing user data, nor stands in explicit opposition to it. Nor uses such services that do this. The fact is? Even traditional retailers are getting in on this game - starting with grocers and their "discount" cards. Then there's store credit cards. You'll find capitalist firms also exist to aggregate this data into a clear Capitalist analog to the Chinese "Social Credit" system. I was about to point to an example... But you seem like the type who might enjoy the free advertising. Just because the initial goal isnt to elicit compliance to a repressive government regime? Doesnt mean government is the only source of repression. And this also doesnt stop repressive governments from subpoena-ing the data as well.

chungus_khan 7y ago

How exactly does it have little to do with it? They aren't just doing this because they feel like it, they are doing it because it is immensely profitable, especially in the advertising industry. It is a feature of capitalism that where there exists demand for something and a profitable way of doing it is discovered, industry will arise to reap those profits.

dandare 7y ago
> They aren't just doing this because they feel like it, they are doing it because it is immensely profitable Capitalism is an economic order, not a business model. > It is a feature of capitalism that where there exists demand for something.... If we live in the age of surveillance capitalism because some companies spy on users for profit, then we also live in the age of strawberry-harvesting capitalism, because some companies harvest strawberries for profit.
- infinitezest 7y ago
  > If we live in the age of surveillance capitalism because some companies spy on users for profit, then we also live in the age of strawberry-harvesting capitalism, because some companies harvest strawberries for profit. Seems like the major difference here is scale. The scale of surveillance encompasses pretty much everything. Communication, travel, bodily characteristics, the sale and purchase of strawberries, etc etc. I think it's definitely a defining characteristic of our age.
- dredmorbius 7y ago
  Multiple ages can coexist. Much as multiple people, religions, philosophies, states, governmental forms, or economic systems. You may wish to reconsider your objections.

AnimalMuppet 7y ago

The term is useful, in that it distinguishes this (surveillance capitalism) from surveillance by governments, which (until recently) was the usual form.

dandare 7y ago
How are private companies synonym for capitalism? Capitalism is an economic order (characterized by the private ownership of the means of production and their operation for profit). Would you say we live in the age of rocket ship capitalism because rockets used to be the domain of governments? Overloading the term Capitalism may sound sensational, but it is not useful in explaining the issue.
- AnimalMuppet 7y ago
  > How are private companies synonym for capitalism? > Capitalism is an economic order (characterized by the private ownership of the means of production and their operation for profit). I think you answered your own question. > Overloading the term Capitalism may sound sensational, but it is not useful in explaining the issue. We're not. We're using surveillance as an adjective to modify capitalism, and thereby creating a new term.

pizzazzaro 7y ago

Okay. Name an internet company that neither directly participates in gathering, selling, analyzing user data, nor stands in explicit opposition to it. Nor uses such services that do this. The fact is? Even traditional retailers are getting in on this game - starting with grocers and their "discount" cards. Then there's store credit cards. You'll find capitalist firms also exist to aggregate this data into a clear Capitalist analog to the Chinese "Social Credit" system. I was about to point to an example... But you seem like the type who might enjoy the free advertising. Just because the initial goal isnt to elicit compliance to a repressive government regime? Doesnt mean government is the only source of repression. And this also doesnt stop repressive governments from subpoena-ing the data as well.