Commodification of information

Abstract

The knowledge and information sectors of contemporary society are becoming increasingly important domains. This paper refutes the determinist view of the information society and presents the view that the relationship between information and society is an interactional process. A critical theory, neo-Marxist paradigm is used to investigate how information and information technology is used both as instruments of domination, serving the interests of social control and hegemony and also how information and information technology is used to emancipate citizens and to create an egalitarian society, to empower individuals and groups who are marginalized and without power. The New Right ideology of a free flow of useful and abundant information available to all citizens is deconstructed and the disparity of information availability between the information rich and the information poor is investigated.