Evgeny Morozov
Capitalism’s New Clothes
Shoshana Zuboff's new book on “surveillance capitalism” emphasizes the former at the expense of the latter
The Baffler, 2019
What's inside?
“Surveillance capitalism” is a captivating phrase. What’s its history, and why does it matter?
Recommendation
What works and what doesn’t in Shoshana Zuboff’s tome The Age of Surveillance Capitalism? Writing for left-wing magazine The Baffler, science historian Evgeny Morozov evaluates Zuboff’s writing through the lens of rigorous critical inquiry. In his long article, he considers the book on its own merits; in terms of how its proclamations stand up against political, economic and cultural theories; and in comparison with Zuboff’s other books. Morozov brings an authoritative, well-informed (occasionally humorous) voice that’s an excellent complement to the book. His review is also a fascinating stand-alone analysis, appropriate for anyone interested in how the concept of surveillance capitalism applies to the intersection of capitalism, IT and privacy.
Summary
About the Author
Evgeny Morozov, PhD, authored The Net Delusion: The Dark Side of Internet Freedom and is a contributing editor at The Baffler.
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