Gaza Is a Laboratory for Future Warfare w/ Spencer Ackerman
Oct 10, 2024
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In this discussion, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Spencer Ackerman delves into the grim realities of warfare in Gaza and the role of technology in these conflicts. He unpacks the chilling innovations in drone and surveillance tech and their implications for civilian safety. Highlighting the ethics of military advancements, he contrasts global responses to crises and sheds light on America’s involvement in shaping modern warfare. Ackerman also discusses the troubling links between Silicon Valley and the military-industrial complex, questioning the future of tech in warfare.
The dehumanization of Palestinians in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict underscores a dangerous framework where lives are viewed as expendable.
Technological innovations in warfare, particularly those used by Israel, raise alarms about future conflicts and the potential for widespread violence.
Deep dives
The Consequences of Violence and Dehumanization
The recent violence in the Middle East has seen Israel's military actions described as genocidal, leading to tens of thousands of deaths in Gaza alone. This escalation is seen as part of a larger pattern of disregard for the lives of Palestinians compared to the lives of others, such as Ukrainians, which has raised questions about the values upholding America’s international order. The speaker highlights that dehumanization is at the heart of war, enabling a framework where lives can be treated as expendable. Such attitudes perpetuate a cycle of violence and are likely to provoke further aggression and retaliation in the future.
Technology and the Evolution of Warfare
Technological advancements in warfare, particularly in weapons systems used by Israel, are raising alarms regarding future conflicts worldwide. Innovations such as AI-driven targeting systems, small drones armed with machine guns, and surveillance technology illustrate a shift towards more lethal and indiscriminate warfare. These developments not only mark a significant increase in military capability but also set a precedent for other nations and groups to adopt similar technologies. The potential for mass violence increases as these technologies become more accessible to various actors on the global stage.
The Structural Implications of Surveillance Capitalism
The relationship between American tech companies and the military presents critical implications for global security and surveillance practices. Companies like Google are reportedly complicit in the use of their technologies for military purposes, which threatens to merge corporate interests with state violence. This convergence could lead to a future where commercial and military operations are indistinguishable, exacerbating issues of accountability and ethical governance. The normalization of such partnerships poses serious questions about the nature of modern warfare and the potential for human rights abuses.
Fears of a Dystopian Future
The evolving landscape of warfare raises concerns about the possible emergence of a global security environment dominated by technological manipulation and psychological terror. With acts such as infiltrating enemy supply chains to implant explosives demonstrating unprecedented levels of aggression, there is a palpable fear that these tactics could proliferate. The normalization of such actions could create a pervasive culture of suspicion and anxiety, impacting civilian interactions with technology globally. The trajectory towards further violence is grim, and without significant resistance, it may result in catastrophic consequences for societies around the world.
Paris Marx is joined by Spencer Ackerman to discuss the past year of Israel's actions in Palestine and the innovations in war technology being used to carry out what the ICJ has deemed a "plausible" genocide in Gaza.
Spencer Ackerman is a Pulitzer-prize winning author of Reign of Terror. He’s a contributor at Zeteo and publishes the Forever Wars newsletter. He’s also writing a new series of Iron Man comics that come out very soon.
Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.
The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Eric Wickham. Transcripts are by Brigitte Pawliw-Fry.