Algorithmic Governance under Digital Capitalism: A Critical Examination of a New Mode of Power Operation

Abstract

Algorithmic governance has emerged as a novel mode of power operation in the era of digital capitalism. Grounded in advanced technologies such as big data, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence, it exercises comprehensive governance over individuals and society through mechanisms including data extraction, personalized profiling, and behavioral prediction. From a Marxist philosophical perspective, this paper offers a systematic and critical analysis of the technological foundations, operational mechanisms, and power logic of algorithmic governance. As a key instrument of digital capitalism, algorithmic governance enhances the precision and efficiency of social governance on the one hand, while generating a range of structural problems, including algorithmic bias and discrimination on the other hand, privacy infringement and pervasive surveillance, as well as new forms of human alienation. These problems reveal the inherent contradictions of digital capitalism and demonstrate the deep penetration of capital logic into social life through algorithmic governance, thereby highlighting the existential predicaments faced by individuals in the digital age. To overcome the dilemmas posed by algorithmic governance, it is imperative to uphold a people-centered approach, accelerate the development of legal and regulatory frameworks, enhance individuals’ digital literacy, and construct a pluralistic model of collaborative governance. Only through such efforts can algorithmic governance be guided toward ethical ends and facilitate the harmonious advancement of both digital and social civilization.