Our political spheres are riven with micro-targeted political advertising that degrades the possibilities and incentive for shared, respectful debate. We are producers as well as consumers of data when we record our physical, and sometimes our spiritual, exercise on smartphone apps. The algorithms which identify us, granting us access to state and corporate provision, are not objective but often deeply discriminatory against people of colour and those lower on socio-economic scales.
Eric Stoddart speaks and teaches widely in the area of how theology and religion in general might respond to our surveillance culture. He is Associate Director of the Centre for the Study of Religion & Politics at the University of St Andrews, Scotland and jointly coordinates the research-focused Surveillance and Religion Network.