algorithmic-governance

The introduction chapter of Eli Pariser's "To Save Everything, Click Here" critiques Silicon Valley's ambitious drive to solve global problems through technology, emphasizing a shift from mere innovation to a focus on amelioration and efficiency. It envisions a near-future where self-tracking devices, algorithmic governance, and gamification reshape human behavior, politics, culture, and crime prevention, highlighting both the utopian aspirations and the potential dystopian consequences of such a frictionless, data-driven society. Pariser expresses skepticism not about the feasibility of these technological futures but about their desirability and the implications of entrusting human complexity to algorithmic control.

Chapter 7, titled "Galton’s iPhone," explores the cultural and philosophical implications of self-quantification and data-driven self-monitoring in contemporary society. It traces historical antecedents like Francis Galton's biometric studies and Horace Fletcher's health obsessions, linking them to modern practices such as quantified self-movements, pervasive personal data collection, and the rise of algorithmic governance. The chapter critically examines the promises and pitfalls of living a data-managed life, including privacy concerns, the commodification of personal information, and the ethical challenges of quantification.