Knowing You, Knowing Me: Privacy and Beyond in the Social Media Age

Abstract

Social media is said to be a social and attention machine. Yet the Cambridge Analytica Scandal reveals the extent and power of social media as a machine for surveillance capitalism. Through analyzing the scandal, this presentation points out the inadequacy of a privacy regime that is based primarily on participants’ consent. More alarming is the re-use of data to predict and influence citizens’ decision in various spheres. It argues that we need a regulatory regime to guard against the use of the proxy data selves or the “digital persona” that may overtake and redefine the fate and life of our real selves.