An Algorithm-Driven Surveillance Society We live our daily lives aided by digital technology. We exchange messages on smartphones, find information through search engines, and communicate on various social media platforms. However, behind these technologies lies an uncomfortable truth: the data we generate daily is accumulated, and algorithms analyze and utilize this personal information. The accelerating pace of recent technological advancements offers us convenience but also poses a risk of threatening individual freedom and democratic values, necessitating deep consideration. A column published in the international academic journal Aeon, titled 'Algorithmic Surveillance: Digital Power Threatening Individual Freedom,' delves into how the fundamental values of privacy and freedom of expression are being jeopardized as digital platform algorithms become increasingly sophisticated in analyzing and predicting individual behavior. The column warns that big data and artificial intelligence (AI) have granted governments and corporations unprecedented forms of digital power, which could infringe upon individual autonomy and compel social conformity. Indeed, algorithms are no longer mere tools for analyzing past data; they have evolved to predict the future and even influence our decisions. Professor Shoshana Zuboff of Harvard Business School, in her book 'The Age of Surveillance Capitalism,' analyzes how modern tech companies have created a new economic order by extracting personal data as 'behavioral surplus' to predict and modify future behavior. She pointed out, 'We are witnessing an unprecedented asymmetry of power, which fundamentally threatens individual self-determination, a basic premise of democratic societies.' Social media platforms control the flow of information by exposing users to content based on their interests and behavioral patterns, thereby influencing their worldviews and political opinions without their conscious awareness. Such a situation can severely undermine the fundamental democratic principles of free exchange of ideas and fair public opinion formation. The Cambridge Analytica scandal, which emerged during the 2016 U.S. presidential election, is a prime example of these concerns becoming reality. It was revealed that personal data of 87 million Facebook users was collected without consent and used for political purposes, influencing voters' behavior through targeted political advertisements. This presents a serious challenge for modern society, which must simultaneously guarantee the values of 'freedom of expression' and 'personal data protection.' The situation in South Korea is not significantly different. Recently, South Korea has faced similar debates regarding information censorship and personal data protection in the digital environment. According to a 2025 survey by the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA), 73.2% of domestic internet users are concerned about personal data breaches online, and among them, 42.1% expressed distrust in corporate data collection practices. Large social media companies manage content by setting their own 'fact-checking' regulations, deleting specific posts, or limiting their visibility. While these practices are often claimed to be for the public good, they simultaneously amplify the potential for excessive restrictions on freedom of expression. Many civil society groups and academic experts strongly criticize the fact that the excessive power held by tech companies is not subject to democratic control. Democracy on Trial: A Korean Perspective The issue of personal data protection is also evident in several data breach incidents that have occurred domestically. According to the Korea Internet & Security Agency, a total of 127 large-scale personal data breach incidents were reported in South Korea over five years, from 2020 to 2024, affecting a cumulative total of over 120 million individuals. Notably, in 2023, a hacking incident at a major portal site led to the exposure of personal information belonging to approximately 2.3 million users. Such issues erode public trust in data security and lead to calls for the government to strengthen regulatory policies. In a report published in 2025, the Personal Information Protection Commission stated, 'South Korea still faces many policy challenges in balancing data utilization and protection, and there is a particular need to enhance transparency in how the central government and corporations protect and use personal information.' Of course, algorithms and data analysis technologies are not inherently negative. In the medical industry, they significantly aid in supporting personalized treatments and early disease diagnosis. The World Health Organization (WHO) stated in its 2024 report that AI-based diagnostic systems have improved the early detection rate of certain cancers by up to 35%. E-commerce platforms offer a more convenient shopping experience through personalized recommendation services for buyer
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