The paper takes into exam the current literature about Big Data and data capitalism, from the perspective of the critical internet theory. Particular attention will be placed to the ideas of data exploitation and raw data, which will prove to betray a form of digital fetishism: in short, the focus on the final results of the production process, rather than on the social relations by which the very same process is fueled.
We will discuss four main arguments. The first one is the over-emphasizing of the novelty with the previous stages in the evolution of capitalism, which will require the retrieval of the critical theories of post-industrial and post-Fordist society. The second, and related aspect, is the under-estimation of the role played by human labor, bases on the idea of synthetical data taking over, which is the clearest example of what Marx defined fetishism. Additionally, we will argue that the current discourse around the surveillance capitalism is falling short, as it does not reckon the already existing evidence of capitalism exploiting human life, as laid out in the Italian operaismo, and namely by Mario Tronti and Antonio Negri. Marx’s distinction between labor time and production time will be eventually put forward as an overarching explanation of exploitation in the age of Big Data and digital platforms.

Authors:
Andrea Miconi, IULM University, Italy

About the Presenter(s)
Professor andrea miconi is a University Associate Professor/Senior Lecturer at IULM University in Italy

See this presentation on the full schedule – Sunday Schedule

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