System Error(Rob Reich, et al): World Is Occupied by Technology under Changing Zeitgeist

The forefront of this changing world is occupied by technology that responds to the current Zeitgeist. In recent years, the mainstream of technological advancement has been driven by capitalistic "obsession with scale" without a radical reflection on the possible by-products of its "unmanageable messes," giving rise to monopolies of information, the neglect of civil values, and thereby undermining democracy (Reich, Sahami & Weinstein, 2021, p. 26).  With optimizers—despite their best intentions—necessarily making selective choices in measuring values, the authors argue, new technologies have been thrust upon citizens on the basis of their values; have disregarded those of the rest; and eventually have resulted in an unequal distribution of benefits from the technologies.

 

With a view to remedy this problem, the authors suggest entering into "a new era" where the canon of technology is judged by citizens (ibid., p.16). This new Zeitgeist places a great deal of importance on democracy by citizenship. As citizens, the authors assert, people not only have the right to be involved in "shaping the impact of new technologies" on themselves, but have a civil duty to play a vital role in “human empowerment in technological future" (ibid., p. 13).

 

Drawing on the words of technology activist Aaron Swartz, the authors insinuate their perspective on technology: "…doing the most good for the world, with technology as the tool to help us get there" (ibid., p. 17). From the viewpoint of the authors, securing civil values—equality, citizenship, and democracy—entails controlling technological progress. In a concrete way, the process of securing aims to restitute technology's power to citizens, with neat ethical criteria: personal, professional, and sociopolitical ethics.

 

 

References

Reich, R., Sahami, M. & Weinstein, J. M. (2021). System Error: Where Big Tech Went Wrong and How We Can Reboot. New York: HarperCollins.

 

September 11, 2023

© Lee Sihu (keepedia06@gmail.com)