Surveillance Capitalism (by Shoshana Zuboff)

Surveillance capitalism, a term coined by Shoshana Zuboff, refers to the practice where companies collect, analyze, and profit from personal data gathered from users. This data-driven model often operates without individuals' informed consent, shaping behaviors and influencing decisions through targeted advertising and personalized services. Essentially, personal information is treated as a commodity, leading to concerns about privacy, autonomy, and the power dynamics between individuals and large tech companies. Surveillance capitalism raises critical questions about the ethics of data use and the impact of pervasive monitoring on society.