Digital Capitalism, Surveillance, and the Militarisation of Data

Data are no longer just the raw material of global markets — they have become strategic weapons shaping the future of conflict and security. The rise of digital capitalism has fused with defence priorities, transforming surveillance into a structural feature of both economic and military life.

Information dominance is now as critical as territorial control once was, with doctrines such as JADC2 and the EU’s Strategic Compass embedding data at the heart of modern deterrence. This convergence signals the emergence of a new security-industrial complex, where the extraction, processing, and weaponisation of data generate both strategic advantage and financial opportunity.

This analysis answers: What is the central argument of “Digital Capitalism, Surveillance, and the Militarisation of Data”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets? What does this mean for European defence funding, procurement and investment decisions? How mature and defensible is the position described in “Digital Capitalism, Surveillance, and the Militarisation of Data”? Which European actors, programmes and funding instruments are most exposed?