Exiting the captaverse: digital resistance and its limits pre and post the Covid-19 pandemic

Szakolczai, J. M. (2023) Exiting the captaverse: digital resistance and its limits pre and post the Covid-19 pandemic. Criminology and Criminal Justice, (doi: 10.1177/17488958231184695) (Early Online Publication)

Abstract

The term ‘data’, ubiquitous in the Digital Age, etymologically refers to a piece of information ‘given’ (datum). In this article, I argue that the term ‘capta’ would be more accurate, since information is often taken from us. Capturing information replicates normative elements of abuse, surveillance, control and harm becoming central and problematic within the emergence of the ‘onlife’. I illustrate my argument via an ethnomethodological consideration of my attempt to resist the unwilling capture of personal information. Since 2016, I have engaged in what I call an ‘offlife’ existence, phasing out all devices and platforms that covertly capture personal data. However, my experiment has proven problematic, impractical and has even been perceived as being anti-social, especially in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. In the conclusion of this article, I consider the problematics of engaging in some form of resistance to data collection.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Early Online Publication
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Szakolczai, Dr Janos Mark
• Authors: Szakolczai, J. M.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Sociology Anthropology and Applied Social Sciences
• Journal Name: Criminology and Criminal Justice
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• ISSN: 1748-8958
• ISSN (Online): 1748-8966
• Published Online: 14 July 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 The Author
• First Published: First published in Criminology and Criminal Justice 2023
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License