Summary of Shoshana Zuboff on surveillance capitalism | VPRO Documentary

00:00:00 - 00:45:00

Shoshana Zuboff discusses the dangers of surveillance capitalism, in which companies collect data on consumers in order to extract behavioral surplus. She points out that some companies, like Nest, have built microphones into their security systems without informing consumers, which can be used to extract data without the consumer's consent. The video discusses how the rise of surveillance capitalism has led to the accumulation of vast amounts of data by corporations, which can be used to monetize users' personal information. It also discusses how this data can be used to track users' movements and activity, and how it is likely to be used to further consolidate power in the hands of those in the industry.

• 00:00:00 Shoshana Zuboff discusses the concept of surveillance capitalism, which she defines as a system in which businesses collect and use personal data to track and target customers. She warns of the dangers of allowing companies such as Google and Facebook to have such extensive access to our data, and urges us to be careful about how much information we share online.
• 00:05:00 Behavioral surplus refers to the data streams that are filled with rich predictive data, which allow companies to predict what users will do. This is what is called "behavioral surplus," and it is a big part of surveillance capitalism. Big tech is able to glean a lot of valuable information from residual data, such as photos and posts on Facebook.
• 00:10:00 Facebook has been experimenting with ways to manipulate people's emotions and behaviors through subliminal cues and other techniques.
• 00:15:00 Shoshana Zuboff, a renowned critic of surveillance capitalism, discusses the origins of Pokemon Go and its role in facilitating real-world economies of action. Zuboff argues that the game is a large-scale experiment in behavior automation, designed to engineer consumer behavior and keep users complacent.
• 00:20:00 Shoshana Zuboff discusses the dangers of surveillance capitalism, in which companies collect data on consumers in order to extract behavioral surplus. She points out that some companies, like Nest, have built microphones into their security systems without informing consumers, which can be used to extract data without the consumer's consent.
• 00:25:00 The video discusses how the rise of surveillance capitalism has led to the accumulation of vast amounts of data by corporations, which can be used to monetize users' personal information. It also discusses how this data can be used to track users' movements and activity, and how it is likely to be used to further consolidate power in the hands of those in the industry.
• 00:30:00 The primary economy in which most people live is based on gathering data to create behavioral surplus that can be used to drive profits. However, Google's acquisition of the ability to create the Android phone led to a wider understanding of surveillance capitalism, in which companies like Facebook use data to manipulate users. In 2018, a whistleblower warned about the methods used by Cambridge Analytica, a political marketing company, based on data from Facebook users.
• 00:35:00 The video discusses the case of Facebook users suing the company for access to data that was obtained by Cambridge Analytica. Facebook's lawyer argued that since users share information with so many others, they have no expectation of privacy.
• 00:40:00 Shoshana Zuboff, a professor at Harvard Business School, discusses how surveillance capitalism has created a situation in which individuals are dependent on technology companies for their safety and privacy. She suggests that individuals resist surveillance capitalism by using a VPN and using a computer that is not connected to the internet.
• 00:45:00 Shoshana Zuboff explains how surveillance capitalism is a new form of capitalism that relies on collecting and analyzing data on citizens. The law is not yet able to keep up with this form of capitalism, which is why we need to strengthen regulations.