Control and surveillance in digital capitalism: an analysis of blockchain technologies and their business implementation

Abstract The article discusses how the new information and communication technologies (NICTs) interrelate with the control and surveillance of systems through the case study of blockchain technologies. Initially, considering the debates in the sociology of work and the resources for a qualitative methodology, we analyze how blockchain technologies arise due to the economic crisis and the need for regulation of the post-2008 crisis markets. In the first part, we look at the surveillance and market control dimensions that emerged in this context. In the second part, we discuss the emergence of the crypto-assets market led by Bitcoin and, mainly, the technological dimension of the blockchain network. We understand that, although there is an attempt to analyze Bitcoin as a financialization of capital, the measurement of technical advantages and disadvantages in the creation of the blockchain network is a substantial factor and of significant impact on the decision-making of companies in the most varied fields. The last part of the article points out, through the quantitative analysis of reports and surveys, a meeting of the operability offered by blockchain technology and the expectation of implementation of this technology in various business sectors, elucidating the competitive advantages listed by them. We seek, then, to understand how implementing these new technologies deepens the dimensions of control and surveillance of production chains.

摘要
本文以区块链（blockchain）技术为案例研究对象，探讨新型信息通信技术（New Information and Communication Technologies，NICTs）与系统管控及监控之间的相互关联。起初，本文结合劳动社会学领域的相关研讨与质性研究方法的支撑条件，分析区块链技术因2008年金融危机及后危机时代市场监管需求而兴起的逻辑。
第一部分聚焦于此背景下催生的监控与市场管控维度。
第二部分探讨以比特币（Bitcoin）为核心主导的加密资产市场的兴起，重点剖析区块链网络的技术维度。本文认为，尽管已有研究尝试将比特币解读为资本金融化的产物，但对区块链网络构建过程中的技术利弊进行评估，是影响各领域企业决策的关键且极具影响力的实质性因素。
本文最后一部分通过对各类报告与调研数据的量化分析，指出区块链技术所提供的可操作性与各商业领域对该技术的落地预期高度契合，并阐明了企业所列举的竞争优势。由此，本文旨在探究此类新技术的落地应用如何深化生产链的管控与监控维度。