Marietje Schaake, an international technology policy expert and former European parliamentarian, discusses the growing concern over Big Tech's influence on democracy. She warns of a 'Tech Coup' that threatens privacy and individual rights through surveillance and unchecked innovation. The conversation delves into the need for balanced regulation, contrasting Europe and the U.S.'s approaches. Schaake also emphasizes the importance of grassroots movements in safeguarding democratic values against the encroachment of powerful tech companies.
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insights INSIGHT
Tech's Power and Infrastructure
Tech companies wield significant power due to their control over crucial infrastructure like data centers and microchips.
This power, coupled with their data and resources, allows them to stay ahead of regulations and accountability.
insights INSIGHT
Regulation's Role
Data protection rules exist to protect individuals from government abuse and negligence.
Regulation can establish checks and balances on both governments and companies.
insights INSIGHT
Accountability in Content Moderation
Tech companies currently hold significant power over online speech, often with opaque and shifting rules.
Accountability mechanisms are needed to ensure responsible and transparent content moderation practices.
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Marietje Schaake's "The Tech Coup" examines the growing power of Silicon Valley and its impact on democracy. The book explores how technology companies have become increasingly influential in shaping political discourse and public policy. Schaake analyzes the challenges posed by big tech's dominance, including issues of data privacy, algorithmic bias, and the spread of misinformation. She argues that these companies have amassed too much power and influence, and that urgent action is needed to address these concerns. The book offers concrete policy recommendations for regulating big tech and protecting democratic values in the digital age. Schaake's work provides a critical analysis of the relationship between technology and democracy, offering insights into how to safeguard democratic principles in the face of technological disruption.
International technology policy expert, Stanford University academic, and former European parliamentarian Marietje Schaake writes in her new book that a “Tech Coup” is happening in democratic societies and fast approaching the point of no return. Both Big Tech and smaller companies are participating in it, through the provision of spyware, microchips, facial recognition, and other technologies that erode privacy, speech, and other human rights. These technologies shift power to the tech companies at the expense of the public and democratic institutions, Schaake writes.
Schaake joins Bethany and Luigi to discuss proposals for reversing this shift of power and maintaining the balance between innovation and regulation in the digital age. If a "tech coup" is really underway, how did we get here? And if so, how can we safeguard democracy and individual rights in an era of algorithmic governance and surveillance capitalism?
Marietje Schaake’s new book, “The Tech Coup: Saving Democracy From Silicon Valley,” is available here. Read an excerpt from the book on ProMarkethere.
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