The term "surveillance capitalism" was introduced by Shoshana Zuboff in her seminal work, "The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power." Zuboff defines surveillance capitalism as a new economic order that exploits human experience for data extraction, manipulation, and profit. This model relies on the continuous collection and analysis of vast amounts of personal data, which is then used to predict and influence user behavior.

Zuboff's analysis highlights how tech giants, such as Google, Facebook, and Amazon, have built their business models around the extraction of user data. These companies offer free services and products, such as search engines, social media platforms, and smart devices, in exchange for users' personal information. This information is meticulously tracked, recorded, and analyzed to create detailed profiles of users' behaviors, preferences, and habits.

The concept of surveillance capitalism hinges on several key mechanisms:

1. Data Extraction and Analysis: Tech companies collect data from various sources, including online interactions, social media activity, and even offline behavior through IoT devices. This data is then processed using advanced algorithms and machine learning techniques to derive insights about users.
2. Behavioral Surplus: Zuboff introduces the idea of "behavioral surplus," which refers to the excess data collected beyond what is necessary for the provision of a service. This surplus data is used to create predictive models that anticipate user behavior and preferences.
3. Predictive Products: The insights derived from behavioral surplus are used to develop predictive products that can forecast individual actions and trends. These products are then sold to advertisers and other businesses looking to target specific demographics with personalized marketing campaigns.
4. Instrumentarian Power: Zuboff warns about the rise of "instrumentarian power," a form of control exerted through the manipulation of human behavior. Unlike totalitarian power, which seeks to control through coercion and force, instrumentarian power aims to shape and modify behavior subtly, often without users' explicit awareness.
5. Economic Imperative: The driving force behind surveillance capitalism is the economic imperative to maximize profit. This imperative encourages companies to constantly innovate and find new ways to extract and monetize data, often at the expense of user privacy and autonomy.

By highlighting these mechanisms, Zuboff's concept of surveillance capitalism underscores the profound implications of this economic model on privacy, democracy, and human agency. Her work calls for a critical examination of the practices of tech companies and advocates for greater regulation and ethical standards to protect individuals' rights in the digital age.