September 24, 2025 — “Predatory Data” — Interview with Anita Chan

2025-09-24

The author of the book, Predatory Data: Eugenics in Big Tech and Our Fight for an Independent Future, Anita Chan is a Professor in the School of Information Sciences and Department of Media and Cinema Studies at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Today, she joins us to discuss the relationships between Big Data, eugenics, Big Tech, techno-fascism, AI in science, and more. It's an enlightening conversation, and an especially urgent one given how hard Big Tech is attempting to co-opt our...

The author of the book, Predatory Data: Eugenics in Big Tech and Our Fight for an Independent Future, Anita Chan is a Professor in the School of Information Sciences and Department of Media and Cinema Studies at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Today, she joins us to discuss the relationships between Big Data, eugenics, Big Tech, techno-fascism, AI in science, and more. It's an enlightening conversation, and an especially urgent one given how hard Big Tech is attempting to co-opt our culture.

We also share our “Discoveries of the Week,” including a rediscovery of a classic technique for teaching. (Hint: It still works.)

Show Notes

Predatory Data book: https://www.ucpress.edu/books/predatory-data/paper?ref=the-geyser.com

Interview with Olivia Guest and Iris van Rooij: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-6amys-196264a

Music provided by Provoke the Truth — https://provokethetruth.net/

Platypus Pups video: https://youtu.be/ZEl5RJiiLbk

“Disrupted Science” t-shirt: https://crowdmade.com/collections/petty-larceny-merch/products/petty-larceny-disrupted-science-t-shirt-black

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