AI turns convenience into control

Paul Budde reshapes democracy by quietly trade freedom of freedom for comfort, from Facebook’s data scandal to artificial intelligence -guided surveillance.

Cambridge Analytica AI control

Scandal Cambridge Analytica It should be a turning point in 2018, when the data of 87 million Facebook users are collected and sold to republican campaigns. Instead, it normalized the idea that surveyors should be expanded and should be expanded.

Since then, the spread of artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed supervision into a control tool. What starts with cameras and databases is now spreading to productive AI, which can create creative content and create steering behavior with a worrying precision.

Authoritarianism concealed in convenience

This new reality is thinner than classical fascism. As a journalist George Packer He argued that it was different from the 1930s mass rallies and open propaganda model.

Today’s authoritarianism is wrapped to convenience: touching a phone, unlocking it with a look, getting personalized feeds and updates. Citizens will deliver their data willingly, and believe that they improve their lives even if they create the infrastructure for manipulation.

Global Drift to Illiberal Democracy

Risks can already be seen. In China, surveillance, scoring systems and biometric monitoring are integrated into daily life. In democracies such as Hungary and Türkiye, digital tools were used to weaken courts, silence the opposition and reinforce power.

In the United States, the drift towards Iliberal democracy is accelerating: the formation of racial profiles, the militarization of policing and the erosion of institutions shows how easy -to -control tools have become. Political scientists call it “competitive authoritarianism ;; Packer describes this as follows ‘zombie democracy‘where institutions are staggered, carved, and provides internal power.

New normally uberveillance

Surveillance architecture everywhere. Phones’ daily location in dozens of times a day, fitness viewers share health data and record every pause in shifting social media platforms. Like Michel Foucault’s Panopticon And Gilles Deleuze’s “control societies” The foreseen, we are now organizing ourselves because we know that we are watched.

Academics Katina Michael And Mg Michael Say this situation “Uberveilce”: Total integration of monitoring between networks, devices and even bodies. By 2025, we always carry multiple surveillance nodes, each of which is expected to be about 50 billion connected to the world.

AI charge it super. Algorithms can already process billions of data points in real time, assign risk scores, and may be a flag opposition. The foresight showed racial and socio-economic prejudice that includes injustice while claiming impartiality and impartiality. USA Migration and Customs Protection (ICE) Used such systems to define them for deportation.

WARNING SIGNS OF HISTORY

Paradox is usually that citizens meet these systems. They bring convenience, a sense of security and even entertainment.

However, history warns us from dangers. Weimar has made people willing to trade in Germany, bread and order for bread and order. Today, rapid technological and social change creates similar conditions of alienation and insecurity.

Alvin Toffler Described this as follows ‘Too much changes, too fast’While historian Peter Turchin warns ‘Popular Immaster’ As the pioneer of the crisis. In these contexts, the promises of authoritarian order become dangerously attractive.

However, it is very important that fascism that past the 21st century slide does not see it as a simple repetition. Today, authoritarianism is quieter, hidden in democratic forms while carving them from the inside. Elections continue, there are courts, newspapers are published – but their independence and integrity are steadily eroded.

As Packer points out, this form of authority is deeply different from the predecessors, which makes it difficult to recognize and resist until it is too late.

Carlota Perez and Golden Age Hope

And still, there is another way. Economist Carlota perez He argues that each technological revolution has the potential of gold that it enables institutions to adapt to innovation to social goals. In the analysis, digital and green revolutions can support such a transformation.

However, it will not be automatically. The best placement in Europe due to regulatory traditions and welfare systems suggests that the transition will last for decades. Most importantly, Perez insists that a real gold of gold should be global: the global southern must be included or inequality and instability system will weaken anywhere.

Choice is not inevitable

The choice is sharp. Surveillance technologies can continue to deepen division, fear and authoritarian control or direct sustainability, inclusion and prosperity. People often exchange freedom for comfort and security, but comfort should not become the path in which freedom disappears in an invisible way. The authoritarianism feels normal until suddenly happens.

Orbit is not inevitable: is political. Railings – Privacy Laws, Independent Surveillance, Civil Participation – Essential. The future depends on whether societies have settled in the zombie democracy or whether Perez has captured the opportunity defined. If the tools that provide authoritarian control are handled with predictions and courage, it may be the basis of a more inclusive and sustainable future.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij8Wvmi6se4

Paul Budde is an independent Australian columnist and general manager Paul Budde ConsultingAn independent telecommunications research and consultancy organization. You can follow Paul on Twitter @Paulbudde.

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