Big Data Revolution, Surveillance and Social Media: A Danger to Democracy?

Abstract

Companies, security agencies and political organizations use big data analyses in many ways to improve the forecasting and control of behavior. If one relates these developments to core elements of democratic decision-making, such as forming opinions on the basis of personal autonomy, the self-determined demarcation between the private and public spheres and the role of the public media, far-reaching cuts and changes become apparent. The social and political consequences of the mass collection and use of personal data have hardly been addressed from a democratic theoretical perspective. The article illustrates current surveillance practices and discusses their complex, sometimes contradictory consequences with regard to the basic conditions of democratic decision-making.