The article by José van Dijck explores the ideological underpinnings of datafication, a concept that has become increasingly prevalent in society. Datafication refers to the transformation of social actions into quantified data, allowing for real-time tracking and predictive analysis. This process is driven by the belief in dataism, which posits that data is objective and can be used to predict human behavior. The article critiques the idea that metadata and data are neutral and valuable resources, arguing that they are shaped by algorithms and influenced by various interests. It highlights the interconnectedness of government, business, and academia in the datafication process, and the resulting dataveillance, or continuous surveillance of citizens through their online data. The author emphasizes the need for critical examination of the entire ecosystem of connective media, including the roles of different institutions and the trust placed in them. The article also discusses the public debate and legal challenges surrounding datafication, particularly in response to Edward Snowden's revelations about NSA surveillance.The article by José van Dijck explores the ideological underpinnings of datafication, a concept that has become increasingly prevalent in society. Datafication refers to the transformation of social actions into quantified data, allowing for real-time tracking and predictive analysis. This process is driven by the belief in dataism, which posits that data is objective and can be used to predict human behavior. The article critiques the idea that metadata and data are neutral and valuable resources, arguing that they are shaped by algorithms and influenced by various interests. It highlights the interconnectedness of government, business, and academia in the datafication process, and the resulting dataveillance, or continuous surveillance of citizens through their online data. The author emphasizes the need for critical examination of the entire ecosystem of connective media, including the roles of different institutions and the trust placed in them. The article also discusses the public debate and legal challenges surrounding datafication, particularly in response to Edward Snowden's revelations about NSA surveillance.