Tracked and Traced: You are the Product in the World of Surveillance Capitalism

Episode Description

How much is your data worth to a company like Facebook? Who profits off of your daily life? WDET’s Russ McNamara tries to find out who owns our data, and if it’s safe — which takes him down a surveillance capitalism rabbit hole. Plus, Antajuan and Natasha are joined by two guests: Tech entrepreneur Tim O’Reilly, founder of O’Reilly Media and author of “WTF: What’s the Future and Why It’s Up to Us”; and Rob Johnson, president of the Institute for New Economic Thinking and host of the podcast “Economics and Beyond with Rob Johnson.” After publishing this episode, Securus Technologies contacted WDET, their comments are reflected in this version of the story.

Connect

More about Tracked and Traced

You are being surveilled. In the street, at home, on your phone. Police, governments, and corporations are collecting more data than ever before in the name of safety and security. Tracked and Traced asks: Is it worth it? Is it working? Hosted by Natasha T Miller and Antajuan Scott and featuring original reporting from WDET, this 10-episode series takes an in-depth look at how surveillance technology affects you. Join us as we watch the watchers. New episodes released every other week. Tracked and Traced is a production of WDET, Detroit’s NPR Station, and Science Gallery at MSU. Supported by the Pulitzer Center, the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, and MSUFCU.