As we stand at the crossroads, are we finally receiving the wake-up call?
The Threat of Surveillance Capitalism
It has been a couple of years since Jonathan Haidt proclaimed, “If we do not make major changes soon, then our institutions, our political system, and our society may collapse during the next major war, pandemic, financial meltdown, or constitutional crisis.”
Yet here we are, the week after the world’s leading mobile tech conference in Barcelona, sleepwalking more than ever into an abyss of our own making, allowing only-for-profit tech platforms and the insidious grip of surveillance capitalism to steer and numb democracies to self-harm.
Things will quickly continue to get worse for this most valuable and successful human construct; the democracy, if we don’t wake-up from the veil of the current tech convenience trap.
Most of us would have seen the big tech leaders with a front row seat at the 47th Presidential inauguration, illustrating what has been apparent for some time now, as Big Tech lurches to more power and influence than the democratically institutions that accommodate it.
Privacy-First Alternatives: The Apostrophy Solution
Two years ago, at Goals House (a leading organisation amongst many that gather at the time of the World Economic Forum in Davos, that are striving for positive human impact outside of the main WEF conference itself), I announced our privacy-first mobile Apostrophy operating system (Bloomberg article), as the alternative to the data harvesting duopoly that are built upon the surveillance commerce business model. That my colleagues and I commenced on such an arduous and ‘impossible’ journey many years earlier was simply through a conviction to protect and enhance the pro-humanity society that we care so much for.
Discover more about Apostrophy privacy first mobile operating system
Discover more about the Punkt. MC02 privacy smartphone including the Apostrophy operating system
At the talk in Davos, I reminded the audience what is going on under the hood of a smartphone – a continuous flow of information grains traveling back to the data harvesters’ ovens to be ultra-processed, and re-consumed as highly manufactured chemical enriched digital food for the mind and soul.
The Hidden Costs of Digital Convenience
While there was nothing new about understanding there is no such thing as a free lunch with big tech, as many had already started to question the sanity of such ‘produce’ on individuals and society in general, it is hard to quit convenience, even if we know the damage it is causing. Still, the message cannot be repeated too many times.
The Power of Big Tech and the Erosion of Democracy
And as this was during WEF Davos, it was important to remind the audience of the uncomfortable reality, that in these times of great geopolitical uncertainty, all democratic countries had put their most important information infrastructure eggs into one governmental basket, with large corporations being a de-facto part of any administration’s arsenal.
Those images from the US inauguration with the Big Tech leaders first and in-line behind the president, ahead of elected politicians, should be a painful reminder to those listening two years ago. But, more importantly, hopefully it was a wake-up call to all governments that truly want to protect their democracies. The most important mandate for our freely installed institutions is to protect its electorate and the values that underpin the fragmented, but worthwhile, system.
How Surveillance Capitalism Shapes Our Reality
We know that apps and AI aren’t magic, even if they used to feel like it, but are just information combined with raw processing power. And the business model, to obtain the most amount of information about you, not only makes incredible amounts of money, but gifts the power to influence how we all see the world and society.
Despite an increasing awakening to the importance of personal data sovereignty, (and thankfully a lot of younger digital native people are more savvy than most of us digital sleepwalkers over the past couple of decades), our smartphones keep feeding the beast like never before. Harvesting every moment, whether in the digital or real world, despite how clever we may think we are with opting out or sharing as little as possible. Everything is ‘reported back’, and available for the highest bidder.
What Are the Terms and Conditions We Agree to in the Name of Convenience?
There are many explanations as to how we got here, but put simply, the products feel so good, fun, entertaining and omnipresent, that we just forgot, or chose not to, ask the right, or any, questions. This lack of governance, regulation or questions now combine with pockets deeper than nations themselves, with power and policy influence at their fingertips.
The Future of Elections Under Surveillance Capitalism
In democracies, with checks and balances, we, the people, can elect those we believe represent the values that are good for us. Now, however, if we do not urgently take action, future elections will be decided by the ideology of the few, whether those with the deepest pockets, or oppressors of the values that created such wonderfully advanced and caring societies that enabled them.
The Need for Urgent Action
We stand at the crossroads. The decisions taken now, will shape society forever. And such a pivotal social challenge can only be solved with all participants involved, led by the representatives of our democracies – before they are no longer.
The good news in the EU at least, is that there are already the right laws in place – The Digital Services Act (DSA), the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and GDPR, that can quickly and pragmatically act to stop much of the rot.
Alternatives to Surveillance Capitalism
There is a long list of actions that need to take place, but spurring alternative technology adoption to the current monopoly platforms is essential.
The healthiest and quickest route is to require all EU member states to immediately recognise, incentivise and implement any viable open source software (FOSS) alternatives that exist for essential IT requirements, and create not only choice, but a level playing field for European SME’s to scale up alongside the incumbent non-EU tech companies.
Turning Off Behavioral Profiling Algorithms
And while the importance of a governance framework for AI is paramount, (the wide consensus who share this is already under threat as the weaponising of an artificial intelligence arms race picks up pace), the most urgent immediate action is to stop the deterioration of human, and societal, intelligence.
How? Via the most effective single action the EU is able to implement with its wide ranging authority – turning off social media behavioural profiling-based algorithms, and switch to ‘safe by default’.
Basing social media feeds on the content that users decide they want to see rather than using ‘behavioural profiling by default’ will result in the overnight elimination of algorithm recommenders amplifying and promoting often harmful, toxic or leading content designed to engage, enrage and addict people for revenue generating purposes, which currently results in a massive spread of disinformation.
Holding Big Tech Accountable
Currently, however – Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) has a perilously unique position in leading GDPR investigation and action against big tech data misuse for all of Europe.
It is the lead GDPR authority for most big tech companies due to the geography of their respective European headquarters. Yet, it takes little to no action with enforcement of incumbent regulations, and thus paralyses any EU enforcement against these big tech conglomerates.
An important group that works hard to bring this to account, is the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL). I would urge you to learn more, here: ICCL.
A Call to Action: Switch Off the Algorithms
This is not just about Ireland, or Europe. The lack of a level playing field and governance affects all of us, in all democracies. It’s about protecting our human rights, enacting smart and watchful regulations, and curbing online hate, hysteria and digital oligarchy wherever we are.
So, I urge you, if you join me in caring about a fragile social construct worth protecting; a democracy that is steered by constructively informed people. If you also believe that we are fast approaching a point of no return; Use your voice, and call out to ‘Switch off the algorithms’.
I will always believe that tech can be seismic in positive outcomes, but not at the expense of the erosion of free society and human intelligence. We can simply no longer afford to hide under the numbing veil of convenience. For all of us, and our future generations.
