Data Rot

Visualizing the surveillance tax of the modern web.

The modern internet is built on an invisible exchange: you get "free" content, and in return, dozens of background trackers harvest things like your behavioral data and attention span to auction off in milliseconds. We’ve been trained to ignore this extraction because it happens invisibly. Data Rot ends that invisibility. Data Rot is an educational, interventionist Chrome Extension that translates the silent "surveillance tax" of web browsing into a tangible, destructive physical presence. Every time a third-party tracker, telemetry script, or real-time bidding network attempts to spy on you, the extension injects a visual obstacle directly onto the webpage. The longer you stay on a heavily surveilled site, the more the content physically rots under the weight of its own surveillance. Key Features: Real-Time Visual Decay: Watch your screen fill with either literal "Surveillance Cookies" or dystopian "Blackout Squares" the moment third-party trackers are detected. The Intercept Terminal: Click on any visual obstacle to open the Data Terminal. See exactly what that specific corporate tracker was trying to extract from you in real-time. Plain-English Translations: Data Rot features a built-in translator that decodes corporate telemetry. It translates cryptic advertising variables (like CCPA consent strings, Amazon video metrics, and device fingerprinting) into aggressive, easy-to-understand English. Smart Filtering: The extension is designed to distinguish between functional first-party requests and invasive third-party surveillance, ensuring it only punishes sites for spying, not for functioning. Customizable Rot: Use the extension popup to toggle between visual modes, wipe the screen clean, or temporarily disable the system.