Surveillance Capitalism Revealed: Tracing The Hidden World Of Web Data Collection

TL;DR

This paper uncovers the mechanisms of Surveillance Capitalism by analyzing web traffic to reveal data harvesting practices, emphasizing the need for better data protection and transparency in digital privacy.

Contribution

It provides detailed analysis of personal data transfer during web navigation, revealing specific data types and algorithms involved in data harvesting practices.

Findings

Identification of data types exchanged during web browsing

Evidence of sophisticated data harvesting algorithms

Strategies proposed for improving data protection and transparency

Abstract

This study investigates the mechanisms of Surveillance Capitalism, focusing on personal data transfer during web navigation and searching. Analyzing network traffic reveals how various entities track and harvest digital footprints. The research reveals specific data types exchanged between users and web services, emphasizing the sophisticated algorithms involved in these processes. We present concrete evidence of data harvesting practices and propose strategies for enhancing data protection and transparency. Our findings highlight the need for robust data protection frameworks and ethical data usage to address privacy concerns in the digital age.