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”, which can be found in The Philosophy of Online Manipulation, published by 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 towards a specific action or decision—and explores when they cross the line into wrongful manipulation. We discuss key concepts like domination, user control, algorithmic bias, and what it means to be free in a digital world.

For more info, visit ethicscircle.org.