In this episode of Beyond the Algorithm, host Cora (virtual host) asks a profound question: What is data, really — and what do we trade when we give it away for convenience? Exploring the hidden philosophy behind digital life, Cora reveals how data is not neutral but deeply human — a reflection of our choices, emotions, and identities. Through powerful real-world examples like the Strava heat map leak, Target’s pregnancy prediction, and Cambridge Analytica, she exposes how seemingly harmless information becomes a tool of prediction and control. Drawing on thinkers such as Foucault, Kant, Arendt, and William James, the episode connects technology to timeless questions about freedom, dignity, and agency. Listeners will discover how the “convenience trade” — giving up privacy for ease — shapes not only business and politics, but culture and selfhood. Key insight: Protecting data isn’t just about security — it’s about protecting who we are. #GfAev #GesellschaftFürArbeitsmethodik #Brigitte E.S. Jansen