153 - Summer of Protocols: Dangerous Protocols with Nadia Asparouhova
Sep 29, 2023
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Nadia Asparouhova, a thought leader in the Summer of Protocols Research Program, discusses dangerous protocols, including social control systems and the fog of war problem. They also explore the three archetypes of protocol goodness.
Protocols can be used as systems of social control and can cause the fog of war problem.
There are three archetypes of protocol goodness: Kafka protocols, Bartleby protocols, and Whitehead protocols.
Deep dives
Exploring the Summer of Protocols
Nadia Asperova, a writer and thought leader, discusses her research and upcoming essay on dangerous protocols as part of the Summer of Protocols program. The program aims to study protocols and their impact on human coordination. Nadia explores how protocols can be both beneficial and dangerous, highlighting the tension between simplifying complexity and exerting control. She also delves into the concept of implicit protocols and the challenges of subverting or working through a protocol. The discussion touches on topics such as social media platforms versus decentralized protocols, the fog of war problem in navigating bad protocols, and the different archetypes of protocol goodness.
Understanding Protocol Power Dynamics
The episode explores the power dynamics within protocols, discussing how they can balance or skew power between participants and the protocol itself. It introduces three archetypes of protocol goodness: Kafka protocols (trapping users in suboptimal systems), Bartleby protocols (participants being too agentic and not adhering to the protocol), and Whitehead protocols (protocols that advance human civilization by enhancing coordination). The conversation also addresses the challenges of finding the right balance of power and agency within protocols.
Examining the Benefits and Risks of Protocols
The podcast delves into the benefits and risks associated with protocols. It explores how protocols can simplify decision-making, reduce complexity, and enhance coordination. However, it also examines the potential dangers of protocols, including the potential for control and the lack of agency they can impose. The discussion emphasizes the nuanced nature of protocols, acknowledging that they can have both positive and negative impacts depending on their design, enforcement, and social implications.
Navigating the Complexities of Protocol Governance
The episode delves into the complexities of protocol governance, discussing the challenges inherent in balancing centralized and decentralized authorities. It explores different approaches to governance, such as company-based platforms versus decentralized protocol systems. The conversation touches on topics like due process, consent of the governed, and the fog of war problem, where participants may feel trapped in protocols with limited feedback loops or challenging decision-making processes. The episode encourages critical thinking about protocol design and the importance of user empowerment in shaping protocols.
Joining the podcast today is Nadia Asparouhova, a thought leader in the Summer of Protocols Research Program. She wrote a paper entitled “Dangerous Protocols”, which is demystified on this podcast. We compare a variety of protocol downsides, like how they can be used as systems of social control and the fog of war problem. Nevertheless, we also cover three archetypes of protocol goodness.
0:00 Intro 3:35 Summer of Protocols Headspace 6:45 The Protocol Matrix 10:23 Dangerous Protocols 14:50 Simplifying Complexity vs Exerting Control 16:50 Protocol Control Mechanisms 22:34 Moving from Explicit to Implicit 26:10 Protocols as Systems of Social Control 28:05 Social Media Platforms vs Protocols 35:44 The Fog of War Problem 38:23 The 3 Archetypes of Protocol Goodness 41:42 Closing Thoughts
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