Objective

Authoritarian Technology is the outcome of a concentration of power in companies like Google and Facebook who have co-opted the human need for connection, and a desire for convenience, in the pursuit of technological and corporate dominance. Authoritarianism.

Ubiquitous mobile devices with addictive user interfaces drive engagement and demand attention. Newsfeeds and recommendation engines, powered by aggressive data aggregation and predictive artificial intelligence, influence feelings and thoughts—often without disclosure or consent.

The organizations that make up this Data Industrial Complex, as it was called by Tim Cook, aren't constitutionally responsible to the people they serve. Thus, subjects under their authoritarian rule can, and are, kept in line through isolation and limited ability to question or branch out.

"I remember when the dream of the internet was about democratization and the distribution of power to foster exploration and creativity." ~ Judy Estrin

“Digital technology is roughly in the same state as 1970s cooking. Yes, we’ve made it convenient, easy on the palate, and affordable to the masses. Yet much like TV dinners and Twinkies, there’s something about the modern state of smartphone addiction, Facebook scrolling, and Netflix binging that makes us feel there’s a cost to convenience.” [3]

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References

Contexts

#judy-estrin (See: Judy Estrin)