Managing Personal Data in the Age of Surveillance Capitalism: A Sociomaterial Reading of Mozilla's Data Detox Kit


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Hanell F.

7th European Conference on Information Literacy (ECIL), ELECTR NETWORK, 20 - 23 September 2021, pp.122-133 identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Conference Paper / Full Text
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/978-3-030-99885-1_11
  • Country: ELECTR NETWORK
  • Page Numbers: pp.122-133
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Within the logic of surveillance capitalism, individuals become objects from which raw material (data) is extracted to enable the selling of predictions of behavior. In this study, the Data Detox Kit (DDK), developed by the not-for-profit Mozilla Foundation, is viewed as a contemporary, practical example of data literacy expressed through descriptions of information activities. A sociomaterial perspective is applied to identify and analyze sociomaterial assemblages among the information activities described in the DDK. Two forms of data literacy are identified and discussed: a re-active mode, focused on removing data already gathered, and a pro-active mode, focused on preventing data from being gathered. Through the analysis it is possible to discuss the role of data in our everyday lives, including the challenging task of managing personal data online.