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Aram Sinnreich

Professor & Chair, Communication Studies at American University

Critical scholarship on surveillance capitalism, adtech, and the cultural and democratic consequences of platform-driven data exploitation

Thought LeaderLinkedInWashington, DC, United States20+ years in industry

Last updated May 31, 2026 by the ATDb Editorial Team

Bio

Aram Sinnreich is Professor and Chair of Communication Studies at American University, where he brings a critical scholarly lens to the intersections of digital media, surveillance capitalism, and the commercial exploitation of attention and data. His academic career has included positions at Rutgers University and research work at the Pew Internet & American Life Project, alongside earlier industry experience in music and media. His work connects intellectual property law, privacy rights, and the economics of digital platforms into a rigorous critique of contemporary media systems.

Previous Roles

Associate Professor, School of Communication

American University (prior to chair appointment)

Assistant Professor, School of Communication and Information

Rutgers University (approx. 2009-2015)

Analyst / Researcher

Pew Internet & American Life Project (early 2000s)

Industry roles in music and media

Various (late 1990s-early 2000s)

Expertise
Surveillance CapitalismDigital Privacy & Data RightsIntellectual Property & CopyrightPolitical Economy of Digital MediaAlgorithmic Systems & CulturePlatform Regulation & PolicyAttention EconomicsMedia Industry Criticism
Education
  • PhD, Communication, Columbia University
  • BA, New York University
Notable Achievements
  • Authored 'The Piracy Crusade,' a widely cited critique of media industry IP enforcement and its civil liberties implications
  • Authored 'Mashed Up: Music, Technology, and the Rise of Configurable Culture,' examining remix culture and digital media economics
  • Appointed Chair of Communication Studies at American University's School of Communication
  • Frequent expert commentator for major media outlets on technology policy, digital rights, and AdTech ethics
  • Co-authored 'The Essential Guide to Intellectual Property' as an accessible policy resource
Speaking Topics
Surveillance Capitalism and the Ethics of Data-Driven AdvertisingIntellectual Property in the Digital AgePlatform Regulation and Digital RightsThe Political Economy of Attention and InformationAlgorithmic Culture and Democratic SocietyPrivacy Law and Commercial Data Collection
Publications
  • The Piracy Crusade: How the Music Industry's War on Sharing Destroys Markets and Erodes Civil Liberties (University of Massachusetts Press, 2013)
  • Mashed Up: Music, Technology, and the Rise of Configurable Culture (University of Massachusetts Press, 2010)
  • The Essential Guide to Intellectual Property (Yale University Press, 2019)
  • Music and the Digital Life (co-authored)
  • Various peer-reviewed articles in journals covering communication, media studies, and technology policy