A one by one transparent pixel […] is the most popular image in the world in terms of the number of times it has been downloaded and displayed. Of cause you can’t see it because it is transparent and the only purpose of this image is to collect information about you. This pixel lives on google.com lives all over the ad ecosphere can be represented in 43 bytes. So it’s the most lightweight image and I think this might be a better metaphor for what images are today. An image in some ways has become a shell for data, collecting data and surveillance.

Adam Harvey. Retail Surveillance / Retail Countersurveillance. 30 December 2016. Online video clip at 19 min 49 sec. Chaos Computer Club. Accessed on 28 March 2017.