Ubiquitous computing and increasing engagement of private companies in governmental surveillance

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Ubiquitous computing¹—privatization and globalization of data processing

Technological and societal progress have led to significant changes in electronic data collection and processing—both in quantity and in quality. All aspects of daily life are increasingly affected by electronic and often automatic processing of digital information. A driving factor is the Internet connecting most computers worldwide. The digitalization of communication, the global proliferation of social networks, e-commerce, the Internet of Things or comprehensive Big Data analyses are just a few examples of innovations affecting most people. There is a universal reliance on such innovations to communicate and to conduct personal and business transactions. This has led to a great dependency of individuals as well as society as a whole on the use of information technology systems—not least regarding the exercise of fundamental rights. This goes hand in hand with the collection of content and meta-data,² leading to a global infrastructure prone to surveillance.³