Trafficking Data: How China Is Winning the Battle for Digital Sovereignty

The book Trafficking Data by Aynne Kokas explores how technology firms in the US and China gather information on citizens, putting US national security at risk. Kokas argues that US government leadership failures, Silicon Valley's disruption fetish, and Wall Street's addiction to growth have fueled China's technological goldrush, allowing Chinese firms to gather data in the US and send it back to China.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 01 November 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

From TikTok and Fortnite to Grindr and Facebook, Aynne Kokas delves into the technology firms that collect our data and how the Chinese government is leveraging this data flow for political gain. On August 6, 2020, the Trump Administration imposed a ban on TikTok in the United States, requiring the owner, Beijing-based Bytedance, to sell the company to American investors or shut it down. Legions of TikTokers were devastated at the potential loss of their beloved platform, and for what? A political grudge with China? American suitors like Walmart and Oracle tried to strike a deal with Bytedance to keep the platform operating in the US. But then something curious happened. The Chinese government refused to let Bytedance sell TikTok on national security grounds. As it turns out, the pandemic-era platform for dance challenges is a Chinese government asset.

As digital technologies and social media have evolved into organizing forces for the way in which we conduct our work and social lives, the business logic that undergirds these digital platforms has become clear: we are their product. We give these businesses information about everything—from where we live and work to what we like to do for entertainment, what we consume, where we travel, what we think politically, and with whom we are friends and acquaintances. We do this willingly, but often without a full understanding of how this information is stored or used, or what happens to it when it crosses international boundaries.

As Aynne Kokas argues, both corporations and governments traffic much of this data without our consent—and sometimes illegally—for political and financial gain.

In Trafficking Data, Aynne Kokas examines how technology firms in the two largest economies in the world, the United States and China, are collecting and analyzing our data. She highlights the ways in which these firms are using our data to target advertising, influence public opinion, and even manipulate political outcomes. Kokas also explores the ways in which the Chinese government is using this data to monitor and control its citizens, as well as to target foreign governments and organizations.

One of the most alarming aspects of Kokas's book is the extent to which our data is being collected and analyzed without our knowledge or consent. She argues that many of us are unaware of the extent to which our data is being shared with third parties, or how it is being used to target us with advertising. Kokas also points out that many of these firms are not transparent about their data collection practices, making it difficult for us to understand what information they are collecting and how they are using it.

Another issue that Kokas raises is the potential for our data to be used for malicious purposes. She argues that our data could be used to target us with cyberattacks, or to manipulate our political opinions or behavior. Kokas also points out that our data could be sold to third parties, or used to create new products or services that we may not be aware of.

Despite the concerns raised by Kokas's book, she also offers some solutions for protecting our data. She argues that we need to be more aware of the extent to which our data is being collected and analyzed, and that we need to take steps to protect our data from being shared with third parties or used for malicious purposes. Kokas also suggests that we need to demand more transparency from these firms about their data collection practices, and that we need to hold them accountable for any breaches of our data.

In conclusion, Trafficking Data is a powerful and important book that provides a detailed look at the technology firms that collect our data and how the Chinese government is leveraging this data flow for political gain. Kokas's book raises important concerns about the extent to which our data is being collected and analyzed, and the potential for our data to be used for malicious purposes. However, she also offers some solutions for protecting our data, and for holding these firms accountable for any breaches of our data. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in understanding the implications of our digital age on our privacy and security.

Weight: 588g
Dimension: 162 x 241 x 36 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197620502