The idea that we are entering an era of techno-feudalism that will be worse than capitalism is chilling and controversial. We asked former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis to elucidate this idea, explain how we got here, and map out some alternatives.

Are We Transitioning From Capitalism to Silicon Serfdom?::The idea that we are entering an era of techno-feudalism that will be worse than capitalism is chilling and controversial. We asked former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis to elucidate this idea, explain how we got here, and map out some alternatives.

    • xia@links.hackliberty.orgEnglish
      25·
      9 months ago

      …with crypto-locked bootloaders/ECMs/tractors to make sure none of the serfs threaten the king’s power with digital pitchforks.

      • stevedidwhat_infosec@infosec.pubEnglish
        4·
        9 months ago

        But law could easily correct that… which means we’re still a democracy with heavy capitalist influence bordering into full blown serfdom, sure.

    • PotatoesFall@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
      21·
      9 months ago

      In capitalism, the core problem is power of business owners over employees. Tech giants hold incredible power over all of their consumers - aka the entire world.

      The most famous billionaires are all tech giants like Zuck, Gates, Musk, Bezos. It’s because they are in the news all the time as they decide over everybody’s life now, despite not being elected.

      YouTube, Insta, Tik Tok, Twitter, Facebook and friends are the main way political opinions are formed, especially for teenagers. That power should be in the hands of millions of teachers, activists and journalists, not a handful of billionaires.

      Markets are supposed to keep capitalism in check. That doesn’t work so good but they seem to be even more ineffective in keeping the tech market in check, especially social media.

      • dangblingus@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
        41·
        9 months ago

        Markets aren’t supposed to keep capitalism in check. Capitalism is an exploitation of commercial systems in order to maximize profits. Capitalism is at direct odds with the free market self-regulating. Capitalism is the bastardization of free market policies and destroys innovation.

        • PotatoesFall@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
          2·
          9 months ago

          I agree with all but the first sentence. Markets do a terrible job at keeping capitalism in check but they are supposed to, at least that’s what capitalism stans argue.