Try Replacing the Word Data with Surveillance
the industry jargon sounds neutral — the swap tests whether it should
how vendors describe it — the D-word
neutral · technical · fundable — nothing to fear
S1
In our
data-driven
organization we collect real-time
data
streams
S2
We store them in our
data warehouse
for instant
data
access
S3
Our
data scientists
use advanced analytics and
data processing
at scale
funding slides love these sentences — nobody flinches
replace data with surveillance ↓
after the swap — the same three sentences
ominous · creepy · hard to fund — now question the system
S1
In our
surveillance-driven
organization we collect real-time
surveillance
streams
S2
We store them in our
surveillance warehouse
for instant
surveillance
access
S3
Our
surveillance scientists
use advanced analytics and
surveillance processing
at scale
same infrastructure — suddenly it reads like a warning label
Designing Surveillance-Intensive Applications
strong words for mass surveillance infrastructure — if the swap sounds creepy, question the system, not the word