Evan Greer Asks the Tech Accountability Movement to Draw a Line
Dec 1, 2024
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Evan Greer, Director of Fight for the Future, dives deep into tech advocacy and social justice. She recounts a heated moment with Congresswoman Nancy Mace over LGBTQ+ rights, highlighting the urgent need for accountability in tech. The discussion tackles the complexities of engaging with far-right politicians while advocating for marginalized communities. Greer emphasizes the importance of community-driven initiatives and the vision for a more equitable internet, while also addressing the harassment faced by activists in the digital space.
Evan Greer confronted Congresswoman Nancy Mace at the tech conference, highlighting the need for ethics in engaging with bigoted politicians.
The podcast emphasizes the importance of diverse representation in tech discussions to ensure a just and equitable future for marginalized communities.
Deep dives
Confronting Bigotry in Tech Spaces
Engaging with far-right politicians in tech policy discussions raises significant ethical questions about inclusion and representation. A particular incident at a tech conference highlighted the discomfort when transphobic representatives are invited to discuss the future of the internet. Activist Evan Greer chose to confront Congresswoman Nancy Mace about her harmful rhetoric, emphasizing the need for advocacy spaces to represent marginalized communities. This confrontation not only questioned the appropriateness of Mace's presence but also sought to amplify the voices of those often sidelined in such dialogues.
The Role of Representation in Tech Discussions
The Project Liberty conference, designed to discuss the future of the internet, lacked significant representation from civil rights and marginalized communities. The absence of these voices raises concerns about the genuineness of the discussions aimed at creating a democratic and accountable digital space. Invitations extended to prominent figures without substantive backgrounds in tech policy, such as Mace, reflect a superficial approach that can undermine serious conversations about inclusivity. Without diverse representation, the possibility of achieving a truly just internet diminishes, potentially allowing the interests of the privileged few to dominate.
Imagining a Liberatory Future for Technology
The discussion around the future of the internet emphasizes the necessity for bold imagination beyond existing corporate and billionaire-controlled models. There is a call for developing technologies that are community-driven and designed to uplift humanity rather than exploit it. Activists aim to dismantle the current surveillance capitalism model and propose alternatives that prioritize social equity and justice. By envisioning a diverse and inclusive digital landscape, the movement can advocate for empowering technologies that meet the needs of all communities, especially those disproportionately affected by the status quo.
At its November 21st "Summit of the Future of the Internet," billionaire Frank McCourt's Project Liberty hosted a panel discussion featuring Congresswoman Nancy Mace, a Republican from South Carolina, on a panel with Congressman Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, that was moderated by the media personality Charlemagne the God. Last month, Congresswoman Mace led an effort to ban transgender women from using female bathrooms at the US Capitol in response to the election of Sarah McBride, who is set to be the first openly transgender person in Congress representing voters in Delaware. Evan Greer, director of Fight for the Future, a tech advocacy organization, took the opportunity to confront Congresswoman Mace's bigotry during the Project Liberty conference.
Justin Hendrix spoke to Evan last week about the incident, where she believes the tech accountability and digital rights movement should draw the line when it comes to engaging with far-right politicians, and how we can go about building spaces where we can imagine a different future that is truly just and liberatory.
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