Data Empire: The Power of Information to Organize, Control, and Dominate

The book Data Empire: The Power of Information to Organize, Control, and Dominate by Rupika Risam examines the long history of data and information in the formation of power, from recordkeeping in ancient civilizations and colonial systems to digital surveillance and the algorithmic state. Its central argument is that data is not merely a tool for recording reality, but has historically served as a mechanism for organizing societies, exercising control, and consolidating dominance.