Hyper-Exploitation in the Hacker Movement

Yılmaz Alışkan's book explores how capitalist exploitation of digital media and open-source communities can lead to the hyper-exploitation of free time and creativity, with technology companies benefiting from community-generated knowledge without compensation.

Format: Unspecified
Length: 202 pages
Publication date: 15 November 2023
Publisher: Lexington Books

In his book, Yılmaz Alışkan delves into the capitalist exploitation of digital media, shedding light on how free time and creativity can be ruthlessly exploited within open-source communities. Alışkan specifically focuses on open-source hardware communities, where dedicated hackers generously donate their time and creativity to develop open technology. However, what begins as a selfless act of collaboration soon turns into a hyper-exploited commodity, as capital accumulates at an alarming rate. While paid workers may still face exploitation, Alışkan argues that open-source workers are subjected to an even greater level of exploitation, as they receive no compensation for their labor.

This book serves as a revealing exposé, unveiling how the time and activities of volunteers in open-source communities are ripe for capitalist exploitation. It blurs the line between leisure and work time, often disguised by assertions that such labor is "fun" or aligns with volunteers' personal interests or values. Scholars specializing in communication, digital media, sociology, and labor studies will find this book of immense interest, as it offers valuable insights into the complex dynamics of exploitation in the digital age.

Weight: 494g
Dimension: 239 x 160 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781666918434