Naslov
Algorithmic Capitalism, Surplus Value Accumulation and the Redistribution of Digital Wealth

Autori
Bilić, Paško

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
Communication, Capitalism, and Social Change: Policy, Practice, Praxis / Panagiotopolou, Roy ; Surugiu, Romina ; Allmer, Thomas ; Bilić, Paško - Zagreb : Institut za razvoj i međunarodne odnose (IRMO), 2018, 27-27

ISBN
978-953-6096-83-1

Skup
Mid-term conference communication, capitalism and social change: policy, practice, praxis (ESA RN18)

Mjesto i datum
Zagreb, Hrvatska, 06.09.2018. - 08.09.2018

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
Algorithms, surplus value, digital wealth

Sažetak
Recent years have seen a surge of academic interest in studying the biases of algorithms and automation (e.g. Diakopoulous, 2014 ; Napoli, 2014 ; Helberger, 2016 ; Tambini, 2016 ; Pasquale, 2017). The focus is mostly on political bias, much less on the algorithmically-enabled capture of digital advertising investments worldwide. On the other hand, critical political economy of communication perspectives emphasize the economic dimension of data flows, including the commodification of internet users’ everyday lives (Prodnik, 2014) ; exploitation of digital labour (e.g. Fisher, 2015 ; Fuchs, 2010 ; Fuchs and Sevignani, 2013) ; as well as accumulation of surplus value by processing information and metadata (Pasquinelli 2009 ; 2015). In this presentation, I will connect these fields together in what can, provisionally, be labelled a critique of algorithmic capitalism. Alphabet Inc. (Google) and Facebook capture more than half of the total digital market value in most European countries. The exact share depends on the size of the respective internet population, internet advertising per capita and the size of the national digital advertising market (Winseck, 2017). I argue that such systemic, digital advertising drainage provides a clear example of a ‘market failure’ (Bator, 1958 ; Pickard, 2013 ; 2016) in which the market inefficiently produces and allocates communication. Ultimately, it results in poor quality news and impoverished democracy. To support the thesis, I will analyse digital advertising capture by Google and Facebook in European countries in the past two years based on market reports, IAB benchmark reports and other sources. I will also provide theoretical and normative directions for criticizing algorithmic capitalism and for demanding democratic distribution of digital wealth.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Sociologija

POVEZANOST RADA