Olivier Jutel, a communication studies lecturer at the University of Otago, dives into the complex world of disinformation. He critiques the framing of online conflicts as 'information warfare' and explores how this narrative distracts from deeper political issues. Olivier addresses the influence of tech firms and military interests on public perception, the historical context of disinformation campaigns, and the challenges posed by modern misinformation. He advocates for a shift towards true democratic governance in addressing these pressing issues.
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insights INSIGHT
Disinfo Overshadows Tech Reform
Since 2016, disinformation fears overshadowed potential for antitrust and democratic regulation of tech platforms.
National security and Silicon Valley technocrats framed online conflict as "information warfare" to avoid structural reforms.
insights INSIGHT
Military Roots of Communication
The internet and communication technologies have deep military and corporate Cold War roots.
Communication has been historically regarded as an instrument to impose power and control in geopolitical struggles.
insights INSIGHT
Critique of Surveillance Capitalism
Shoshana Zuboff's "surveillance capitalism" thesis portrays tech companies as all-powerful manipulators controlling user behavior.
This view is disempowering and overly paranoid, ignoring simpler profit motives driving platforms.
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This week we are joined by Dr. Olivier Jutel, a lecturer in the Department of Media, Film & Communication at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. His scholarly focus is in communication studies and media theory, particularly around populism, digital media, political economy, and critical theory.
Travis and Julian chat with Olivier about his iconoclastic take on the paradigms that have dominated U.S. technology and communications policy since 2016.
Olivier argues that fear of foreign influence has been leveraged by a coalition of Silicon Valley firms, national‑security agencies and allied think‑tanks to deflect structural reform of platforms. Drawing on Cold‑War communication theory, this coalition frames all online conflict as “information warfare,” treating citizens as passive targets for behavioral manipulation while ignoring deeper political‑economic drivers of democratic decay. Jutel retraces the military origins of mass‑communication research, critiques Shoshana Zuboff’s “surveillance capitalism” thesis, and dissects the role of high‑profile disinfo professionals whose methods, he contends, don’t question the core assumptions of tech industry platforms and national‑security priorities.
Olivier concludes that while this disinformation framework is past its heyday, its war‑like view of social life persists, empowering actors such as Palantir while sidelining antitrust and public‑interest remedies. The solution? A shift toward true democratic governance of digital infrastructure.
Dr Olivier Jutel at University of Otago
https://www.otago.ac.nz/mfco/staff/olivier-jutel
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Editing by Corey Klotz. Theme by Nick Sena. Additional music by Pontus Berghe. Theme Vocals by THEY/LIVE (https://instagram.com/theyylivve / https://sptfy.com/QrDm). Cover Art by Pedro Correa: (https://pedrocorrea.com)
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