Who Tracks Who? A Surveillance Capitalist Examination of Commercial Bluetooth Tracking Networks

Abstract: Object and person tracking networks powered by Bluetooth and mobile devices have become increasingly popular for purposes of public safety and individual concerns. This essay examines popular commercial tracking networks and their campaigns from Apple, Samsung and Tile with reference to surveillance capitalism and digital privacy, discovering the hidden assets commodified through said networks, and their potential of turning users into unregulated digital labour while leaving individual privacy at risk.