"You don't get to cut that chain of evidence and start over. You're always going to be pursued by your data shadow, which is forming from thousands and thousands of little leaks and tributaries of information"

In this quote, Bruce Sterling is highlighting the importance of information and how it can never really be eliminated or forgotten. He compares it to a chain of evidence, indicating that as soon as a piece of information is out there, it can not be undone. This information shadow, as he calls it, is continuously growing and developing, made up of countless small pieces of details that we leave. This functions as a warning that our actions and options are continuously being taped and can return to haunt us. It also highlights the need for caution and duty in the digital age, as our data shadow will constantly be following us.