On the basis of unregulated data capture and monopoly, digital oligopoly allows data capital to accumulate rapidly and make excessive profits through algorithms. Data colonization thus becomes a new form of colonialism, and data space becomes a new form of colony. Compared with traditional colonial relations, data colonization is characterized by soft violence and concealment in form, depth and thoroughness in exploitation content, infinity and openness in space, and deception and compulsion in means. Digital oligarchy further colludes with capitalist countries, resulting in digitized people becoming manipulated data slaves, backward and developing countries are more prone to information aggression or cultural hegemony, and cause new economic and social power imbalance, forming new imperialist hegemony. Nevertheless, digital technology should be viewed dialectically and the joint efforts of multiple agents are needed to deal with the risks of data colonization.

Editor: Zhong Yao、Zheng Yifan

From:Issues of Contemporary World Socialism.2023.No.2.