Understanding Data, Culture and Society

How should we understand the relationship between data, culture and society? In this ambitious and comprehensive textbook, Pieter Verdegem provides an accessible entry-point into a set of complex debates on current digital developments. From capitalism to subjectivity, and from labour to justice, this is an invaluable book for any scholar wanting to understand the challenges of data infrastructures and what can be done about them. -- Lina Dencik
Pieter Verdegem has written an accessible, enjoyable, and essential book. Anchored in political economy but in dialogue with neighboring disciplines, it makes a strong and provocative case for critically analyzing our everyday relations with data-driven technologies. It also illuminates recent debates on disinformation, mass surveillance, the rise of AI systems, and the gig economy. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding—and challenging—the powerful actors shaping digital technology in our contemporary societies. -- Jean-Christophe Plantin
Pieter Verdegem draws connections between concepts in technology, culture, and society with clarity and verve. Ranging from data journalism to data justice, campaigns to citizenship, this book covers all of the foundational knowledge that students need to think critically about and understand data and culture in today’s world. -- Meredith Broussard
Look no further if you need a critical and up-to-date survey of the theories, empirical analyses, and research methods developed in the burgeoning field of data and society. -- Alessandro Delfanti
This is a rich and engaging overview of the ways data and technology are not merely computational artifacts but are deeply woven into the socio-cultural fabric. A useful resource for high-level undergraduate as well as graduate courses. -- Dr. Ryan Burns