Politics Theory Other Digital Sovereignty and resisting the tech giants w/ Cecilia Rikap
Aug 6, 2025
Cecilia Rikap, an Associate Professor in Economics at University College London, dives into the interconnectedness of tech giants and government policies. She critiques Keir Starmer's Labour Party for yielding to tech monopolies, questioning the implications for digital sovereignty. The discussion highlights how U.S. tech dominance affects global economic disparities and explores the complex ties between Silicon Valley and political power, advocating for a public-led approach that empowers citizens and promotes sustainability.
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AI Action Plan Pushes U.S. Cloud
- Cecilia Rikap highlights the US AI action plan pushes allied nations to adopt U.S. AI and cloud providers.
- She warns this strategy exports dependence instead of building local capabilities.
AI Improves With Use — Commons Captured
- Cecilia Rikap explains generative AI improves with more usage, making it self-reinforcing.
- She warns public contributions become privatized as firms capture the digital commons.
U.S. Policy Sided With Tech Firms
- Cecilia Rikap argues Biden's AI executive order reflected big tech's preferred framing and avoided production-side rules.
- She sees this as evidence of a long-standing alignment between U.S. policy and industry interests.
