Hard numbers – whether from political polls, market-research surveys, or statistical analyses – have traditionally been viewed as independent proof points detailing the habits and preferences of voters and consumers.
But David Carroll, Associate Professor/Media Design at the New School's Parsons School of Design in New York, believes individual profiling by digital behemoths like Facebook and Google, when paired with complex data-analytics solutions and granular online targeting, are turning these figures from neutral indicators of meaning into a potent source of soft power for electoral candidates and businesses alike.
"Data has become political," Carroll said at the 2017 Global Marketer...