In the Altered Carbon universe, people's identities and consciousness are saved in digital discs that store the sum total of their life experiences. Human bodies are bioengineered such that when one body wears out or is critically injured, an individual's consciousness can be transferred into another body and they continue living.

Disinformation is a subset of propaganda and is defined as false information that is spread deliberately to deceive and mislead people. It is often used by governments to influence public opinion and go against rival powers or the media.

The concept of a "tortured artist" suggests the idea that a state of torment and suffering is what produces beautiful and successful art. It implies that artistic creativity is often fueled by negative emotions or unfortunate situations. Vincent Van Gogh, Kurt Cobain, and Frida Kahlo are usually associated with this concept.

Project Amnesia utilizes memory altering technology, allowing states to rewrite the memories of criminals, giving them completely new identities, and relocating them to a different part of the country after they have finished serving their sentence. The state gives these ex-convicts new identities and background history, finding them employment, housing and inserting them into society. Families and friends will know that the ex-convict has been relocated but will not know anything about their new identity. States will not need the consent of the convict to send them through this program.

Ethnic enclave economies are areas with high concentrations of ethnic groups, and usually form as a result of large scale immigration. These economies are often self sustaining, with members setting their own businesses, hiring and conducting business primarily within the enclave.

2nd generation immigrants are children born locally to at least one foreign born parent