#techandpower

Power and Privacy Online 

What role do private corporations play in expanding state surveillance according to Surveilled? 

Surveilled emphasizes that private tech corporations are key players in enabling mass surveillance, often doing the government’s data collection for them. As one expert in the film states, “Private companies collect our data more efficiently than the government ever could” (O’Neill & Peltz, 2020). This cooperation creates a surveillance ecosystem where data from social media, phones, and apps is monetized and shared, sometimes without users’ knowledge or consent. The film critiques the lack of transparency and regulation, showing how surveillance capitalism incentivizes companies to exploit personal data. It raised urgent ethical concerns about privacy, civil liberties, and democratic accountability. 

How does Ronan Farrow’s investigative approach in Surveilled enhance the audience’s understanding of surveillance’s personal consequences?

Ronan Farrow’s storytelling in Surveilled humanizes the abstract concept of surveillance by focusing on individuals affected by it. Through intimate interviews, he reveals the psychological toll it takes - especially on whistleblowers, journalists, and activists. One subject shares, “They knew where I went, who I talked to - it felt like I was being hunted” (O’Neill & Peltz, 2020). Farrow’s compassionate yet persistent style highlights how surveillance erodes trust, silences dissent, and breeds fear. By embedding himself in these stories, Farrow connects broader political systems to personal experiences, helping viewers grasp the emotional and societal stakes of living under constant digital scrutiny. 

How do virtual hair blogs function as spaces of resistance and self-affirmation for Black women in the face of dominant institutional beauty standards? 

Virtual hair blogs operate as a counter-space to institutionalized oppression by affirming the natural Black body and fostering community. As Lee explains, “hair blogs operating as a virtual homeplace have become a site of affirmation, a space to discuss issues of concern, provide support, elevate spirits and also resist hatred” (Lee, 2015, p. 93). These spaces challenge dominant aesthetics by “allow[ing] Black women to (re)formulate their own ideas of the body” (Lee, 2015, p. 92). In resisting the erasure and disciplining of Black hair, these blogs act as healing environments, empowering users to celebrate and normalize natural hairstyles despite external pressures to conform. 

To what extent can ethnic online communities (EOCs) balance the tension between profit-making and cultural empowerment, and what risks emerge when profit is prioritized over purpose? 

Ethnic online communities face a critical dilemma: commodifying identity for financial gain often compromises cultural authenticity and empowerment. As McLaine notes, “Profit and community make curious bedfellows” (p. 234) and the push for market share can result in “homogenizing and ignoring differences” (McLaine, 2001, p. 236). Sites like BlackPlanet.com may generate ad revenue, but metrics like “page views” or “time on site” cannot fully capture meaningful engagement. Ignoring cultural specificity to appeal broadly may alienate users these platforms aim to serve. Thus, sustainable EOCs must prioritize culturally relevant content and user empowerment alongside financial viability.  

How does the Gamergate movement reveal deeper issues of gender and privilege in online spaces, beyond its stated concern for ethics in game journalism? 

The Gamergate movement, while outwardly about ethics in game journalism, was largely a reaction to shifting demographics and the challenge to white male dominance in gaming culture. Hathaway notes, “They ‘just want to play games,’ without complicating things by discussing how those games portray women and minorities” (Hathaway, 2014). This resistance to change reflects a discomfort with confronting privilege, as projects like Anita Sarkessian’s critiques “pierced that bubble of privilege” (Hathaway, 2014). The movement’s core was not ethics, but a backlash against inclusivity and evolving gamer identities. 

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Hathaway, J. (2014, October 10). What is Gamergate, and why? An explainer for non-geeks. Gawker.

Lee, L. (2015). Virtual Homeplace: (Re)Constructing the Body through Social Media. 

McLaine, S. (2001). Ethnic Online Communities: Between Profit and Purpose. In D. Gauntlett (Ed.), Web.Studies: Rewiring Media Studies for the Digital Age. Arnold Publishers.