Dr. Josh Lauer is a historian who specializes in the history of consumer debt. Currently, he is a fellow in Digital Studies at the U.S. Library of Congress.Previously, Lauer was an Associate Professor of Media Studies at University of New Hampshire.Lauer's historical studies of communication technology, surveillance, and financial culture have appeared in Technology and Culture, and New Media & Society. He has published several book chapters, and his first book, "Creditworthy: A History of Consumer Surveillance and Financial Identity in America," was published in 2017. His second book, "Surveillance Capitalism in America," was published in 2021.Lauer received his B.A. in History from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, his M.L.I.S. in Archives and Special Collections from the University of Pittsburgh, and his Ph.D. in Communications from the University of Pennsylvania.