Consensual Servitude and Virtual Property

Abstract

With the rise of the Internet, virtual property arises as a specific case of intangible property. The understanding of virtual property benefits from an Original Institutional Economics perspective. From Thorstein Veblen’s viewpoint, the most pervasive form of exploitation of consumptive users of digital platforms is the extraction of digital data/content that harms various aspects of well-being, even though online services/experiences may also have positive effects on welfare. By extracting raw material in the form of personal data/content, agents’ individuality that pertains organically to them becomes consensually owned by others. Providers of platforms conceal this Veblenian exploitation mark by providing services/experiences for “free” in exchange for consensual data-servitude. From John R. Commons’ outlook, I find that disparities in legal rights and duties, disparities in liberties, and exposures between customers and suppliers of platforms tend to favor providers and negatively influence dimensions of well-being of users.