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EU Scream

Ep.111: Trump, The Tech Coup, and the EU

Nov 30, 2024
Marietje Schaake, former member of the European Parliament and author of "The Tech Coup," discusses the alarming influence of Big Tech on democracy, civil liberties, and the environment. She highlights the dual nature of technology—empowering yet oppressive—and advocates for urgent regulatory frameworks. Schaake explores the tech industry's exploitation of the gig economy, the accountability disparities among tech moguls, and urges stronger negotiation power for governments against dominant firms. Her proposals aim to foster responsible tech practices and combat rising challenges like cryptocurrencies.
01:11:45

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Big Tech's increasing control over democratic structures threatens civil liberties, national security, and environmental standards, necessitating urgent reevaluation of their power.
  • Silicon Valley exemplifies stark socio-economic disparities, where technological progress coexists with inadequate public infrastructure and exacerbated social inequality.

Deep dives

The Impact of Big Tech on Democracy

The conversation highlights the significant influence that large tech companies wield over democratic structures and governance. The term 'Tech Coup' encapsulates how tech billionaires have steadily acquired power to shape society and politics, often prioritizing profit over public interests. Maricha Shaka emphasizes that this power grab undermines democracy, civil liberties, national security, and environmental standards, leading to profound injustices not only globally but also within their own communities. The need for a reevaluation of the role of tech in governance has never been more urgent, as unchecked industry power poses a direct threat to the principles of democracy.

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