- cross-posted to:
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- cross-posted to:
- [email protected]
The difference between a helpmeet and a parasite is power. If we want to enjoy the benefits of intermediaries without the risks, we need policies that keep middlemen weak. That’s the opposite of the system we have now.
Take interoperability and IP law. Interoperability (basically, plugging new things into existing things) is a really powerful check against powerful middlemen. If you rely on an ad-exchange to fund your newsgathering and they start ripping you off, then an interoperable system that lets you use a different exchange will not only end the rip off – it’ll make it less likely to happen in the first place because the ad-tech platform will be afraid of losing your business
Did you think this blog post was aimed at the people with power, to petition them to change the laws?
It’s aimed at us, the people getting fucked over, to point out what (among the many other things) we should be fighting for. Commentary like this is important to align the goals of the organizations, charities and lobby groups that defend YOUR civil rights by filing amicus briefs, publishing articles, encouraging activism and drives to get citizens to write to their representatives on the important matters that affect their rights. You don’t even have to do anything and there are thousands of people out there trying to protect you from getting more fucked by Big Tech and capitalism, on a volunteer basis.
It sounds to me like you’ve just given up hope that any progress can be made on this front, given the new status quo.
Never give up. Just because civil rights defenders will be on the defensive for a few years does not mean that discussions of what is worth defending no longer have value.