Surveillance Capitalism
Surveillance capitalism is an economic system centered on the commodification of personal data with the core purpose of profit-making. It involves the large-scale extraction and analysis of user data from digital platforms to predict and influence human behavior, primarily for targeted advertising and market manipulation. This concept critiques how technology companies transform private human experiences into behavioral data for commercial gain.
Developers should understand surveillance capitalism to build ethical, privacy-conscious applications and comply with regulations like GDPR or CCPA. It's crucial for roles in data privacy, cybersecurity, or product development where user trust and legal compliance are priorities. Knowledge of this concept helps in designing systems that minimize data exploitation and promote transparency.