Abstract

Just as previous industrial revolutions relied on resources like coal and oil, the digital revolution has sparked an insatiable demand for its own resource—personal data. Rather than open-pit mines, data extraction depends on proliferating devices that do their digging by embedding themselves ever deeper into our lives and societies. This drive for data has led to modes of extraction that cause environmental pollution and what could be termed ‘social pollution’, which causes damage to societies and individual lives. This chapter utilizes the concept of extractivism to highlight the socio-cultural damage done by data extractive systems in Europe and around the world.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe European Digital Economy : Drivers of Digital Transition and Economic Recovery
Editors Judyta Lubacha, Beata Mäihäniemi, Rafał Wisła
Number of pages18
PublisherRoutledge
Publication date22 Dec 2023
Pages186-203
ISBN (Print)978-1-032-58459-1
ISBN (Electronic)978-1-003-45016-0
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 22 Dec 2023
MoE publication typeA3 Book chapter

Publication series

NameRoutledge Open Business and Economics
PublisherRoutledge

Fields of Science

  • 5203 Global Development Studies
  • Data
  • Extractivism
  • Social media

Cite this