About Carissa Véliz

Privacy as a Fundamental Right and Collective Good

Carissa Véliz positions privacy as essential for human dignity, shielding individuals from abuses of power and enabling democratic societies. She describes personal data as a 'toxic asset' that concentrates power in the hands of big tech and governments when commodified [1][5][9][10]. Privacy is not merely individual but a collective good, akin to clean air, damaged by cumulative surveillance [3][12]. Véliz warns that smartphones and internet use threaten privacy through constant data collection, urging immediate action before irreversible harm [3].

Critique of the Data Economy

Véliz calls for abolishing the data economy, which she labels a 'ticking time bomb' profiting from personal data extraction [5][10][12]. This system gives excessive power to corporations and states, undermining personal control and ways of life [9][10]. She highlights re-identification risks, where anonymized data can be traced back to individuals, amplifying surveillance dangers [1]. Simple steps like using privacy tools (e.g., Proton services) are recommended for individuals [8][9].

Surveillance, Power, and Democracy

Surveillance via data enables power imbalances, linking directly to democratic erosion [1][2][6]. Véliz connects privacy invasions to broader societal control, including financial privacy debates like the Panama Papers, questioning super-rich entitlements [11]. In the AI era, she stresses privacy's heightened importance amid expanding digital surveillance [13].

AI Ethics, Prediction, and Governance

Véliz critiques AI's predictive pretensions as 'bullshit,' arguing it cannot truly forecast due to infinite variables and inherent limitations [2][15]. Her book Prophecy traces prediction from ancient oracles to modern AI, framing surveillance and prediction as technology's 'original sins' [2]. She advocates ethical guardrails, better tech design, and divergent global AI policies [1][13].

Valuing the Analogue and Practical Solutions

In a digital age, Véliz cherishes analogue life for its privacy-preserving qualities, noting many teenagers cannot imagine privacy [16][17]. She promotes practical resistance: ending data reliance, policy reforms, and tech that prioritizes dignity [1][12].

Broader Contributions

Véliz has published key works like Privacy is Power (ending data economy), The Ethics of Privacy and Surveillance, and Prophecy [2][5][6][15]. Recognized as a TED Fellow, she engages public discourse via podcasts, articles, and interviews [1][2][4][7].