Cory Doctorow

Peter Van Hardenburg, a researcher at Ink&Switch, and Cory Doctorow, an author and activist, dive into the world of self-hosting and local-first software. They discuss the challenges and benefits of self-hosting applications, highlighting privacy implications and technical complexities. Doctorow emphasizes the importance of interoperability, critiquing the influence of tech giants on user autonomy. The conversation also touches on the need for user-friendly tools and the future of technology that prioritizes flexibility, ownership, and meaningful design.

Cory Doctorow, a savvy activist and journalist, delves into the complexities of our tech-driven world. He shares insights from his latest novel, 'Picks and Shovels,' highlighting financial crime in 1980s Silicon Valley. The conversation tackles exploitative economic models, comparing pyramid schemes to cryptocurrency, and discusses the personal journeys of women leaving oppressive faiths. Doctorow emphasizes the need for a sustainable capitalism that fosters innovation while confronting monopolies and climate challenges, urging listeners to navigate digital privacy with care.

Cory Doctorow, a Visiting Professor of Computer Science and co-founder of the UK Open Rights group, dives into the concept of 'enshitification'—the decline of the internet due to profit-driven motives. The conversation highlights how platforms like Facebook and Amazon shift focus from user experience to advertisers, complicating our online interactions. Doctorow explores the nostalgic longing for a more engaging internet and discusses the need for regulatory action and community-driven alternatives to combat monopolistic control, emphasizing the importance of a rights-based digital society.