Are We Already Living in a Cyberpunk World? Corporate Power and Modern Society
Cyberpunk fiction often imagines a future where corporations hold more power than governments and treat human life as expendable. While this idea may seem exaggerated, elements of it are visible in today’s world—especially in the practices of major technology companies. Through systems like surveillance capitalism, corporations increasingly influence behavior, politics, and everyday life in ways that resemble fictional companies like the Tyrell Corporation in Blade Runner or Tessier-Ashpool SA in Neuromancer.
One of the clearest real-world examples of this dynamic is surveillance capitalism. This system, as defined by Encyclopaedia Britannica, involves turning personal experiences—such as online activity, location data, and social interactions—into behavioral data that companies use for profit (“Surveillance Capitalism”). Companies like Google and Meta collect this data and use it to predict and influence user behavior, often through targeted advertising. However, the impact goes beyond advertising. According to the Pew Research Center, experts are concerned that digital systems may shape public opinion and weaken democratic processes by controlling what information people see (Anderson and Rainie).
This practice mirrors the logic of cyberpunk corporations. In Blade Runner, the Tyrell Corporation manufactures replicants—artificial humans designed for labor and discarded when they are no longer useful. While modern corporations do not create humans, they do treat human behavior as a resource. Users’ data is constantly extracted and monetized, reducing individuals to sources of profit rather than autonomous participants in society. Similarly, in Neuromancer, Tessier-Ashpool operates as a powerful, transnational corporation that controls advanced technology and information systems. Today’s tech companies function in comparable ways, operating globally and influencing communication, commerce, and even political discourse.
The growing power of corporations raises an important question: are we moving toward a cyberpunk future? In some ways, the answer is yes. A small number of companies dominate digital infrastructure, and their platforms are deeply embedded in everyday life. It is increasingly difficult to function without engaging with these systems, whether for work, communication, or access to information. This dependence reflects the world of Machinehood, where individuals rely on corporate-produced enhancements to keep up with economic demands.
However, it would be inaccurate to say that we are fully living in a cyberpunk dystopia. Unlike in these fictional worlds, modern societies still have mechanisms to limit corporate power. Governments can regulate companies, as seen in the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which imposes strict rules on data collection and privacy. Public awareness is also growing, with increasing scrutiny of Big Tech’s influence on privacy, labor, and democracy.
At the same time, corporate power is not distributed equally around the world. In the United States, relatively limited regulation has allowed tech companies to expand rapidly. In contrast, the European Union has taken a more aggressive approach to privacy and consumer protection. Meanwhile, countries like China combine strong government authority with extensive technological surveillance. These differences suggest that while the trend toward increased corporate influence is global, its effects vary depending on political and cultural contexts.
Ultimately, cyberpunk should be understood not as a prediction, but as a form of critique. These stories highlight the dangers of unchecked corporate power and encourage audiences to question the systems shaping their lives. As surveillance capitalism continues to expand, this critique becomes increasingly relevant. While we are not yet living in a fully realized cyberpunk world, the similarities are significant enough to warrant attention.
The future will depend on how societies respond. If governments, institutions, and individuals actively challenge corporate overreach, the more extreme outcomes imagined in cyberpunk fiction may be avoided. If not, those fictional worlds may begin to look less like fantasy and more like reality.
Works Cited
Anderson, Janna, and Lee Rainie. The Future of Digital Life and Democracy. Pew Research Center, 2020, https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2020/02/21/themes-about-the-digital-disruption-of-democracy-in-the-next-decade/
“Surveillance Capitalism.” Encyclopaedia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/topic/surveillance-capitalism