Shoshana Zuboff, professor emerita at Harvard Business School and EPIC Board member, recently released “The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power.” The book took seven years of extensive research to finish and speaks to what data monetization has become. “It’s a parasitic form of Capitalism, “Zuboff says. “It’s about us…but not for us.”

“It’s a parasitic form of Capitalism. It’s about us…but not for us.”

In an interview with NPR’s On Point, Professor Zuboff explains how data collected from apps intended for one purpose is often used for behavioral research and sold to third parties, such as Pokemon Go —  the surge in popularity was exploited by the app developers to link restaurants and other venues seeking patronage. Suddenly, catching a Pokemon would lead players right into establishments in the hopes that some of these Pokemon catchers would stick around for food and drinks.

Even though that seems relatively harmless – even a clever marketing strategy, the question Professor Zuboff ponders is… where is the line drawn?

listen to the entire OnPoint segment below.

For more information visit www.epic.org.