#13 Marianna Capasso: Manipulation as Digital Invasion

Can a simple design tweak undermine your freedom? In this episode, we speak with Dr. Marianna Capasso, a postdoctoral researcher at Utrecht University, about her 2022 book chapter “Manipulation as Digital Invasion: A Neo-Republican Approach,” featured in The Philosophy of Online Manipulation (Routledge).

Drawing on a neo-republican conception of freedom, Dr. Capasso analyzes the ethical status of digital nudges—subtle, non-intrusive design elements in digital interfaces that gently guide users toward specific actions or decisions—and explores when they cross the line into wrongful manipulation. We dive into key concepts like domination, user control, algorithmic bias, and what it truly means to be free in a digital world.

For more info, visit ethicscircle.org.