When the thought of something controlling one’s life, it is assumed not to be done in secret, however this isn’t always the case, therefore in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and Shoshanna Zuboff’s The Age of Surveillance Capitalism a prominent theme is control an entity has in the shadows. In Lord of the Rings, a central part of the story is the Ring which can be seen as technology when looking at the story with a modern perspective. The Ring gains control over its wearer without the user being fully aware that it is happening. For example, Frodo, the possessor of the Ring, at times feels “swallowed up” by the “temptation to put on the Ring” despite his knowledge of what the Ring is capable of (Tolkien Ⅰ, 191). The Ring starts to gain control over the holder in the shadows of the holder’s mind, making the possessor unaware of how the Ring is changing them. The Ring begins to mold and shift the wearer’s mind to fit the Ring’s own agenda, ensuring that what the Ring wants it gets. Similarly Zuboff, focuses on this idea of the “Big Other” and its ability to change people’s perspectives on it; they then are willing to “embrace” the “violent ignorance of its shadow” (Zuboff 240). This Big Other’s powers of control work in the shadows just like those of the Ring. The Big Other does so by using high scale technological companies and systems in order to manipulate the users. Their manipulation is seen especially in China, where the credit score system has been tied to private entities allowing greater manipulation due to credit scores being vital in making large purchases. The Big Other and the Ring both work in the shadows of its users to change their ways in order for personal gain. The Big Other has gains when it comes to advancements and greater knowledge from all of the data collected. The Ring gains its own personal goals once it uses the user to fulfill the tasks that it wants.