We are long past due for heavy regulation in tech

For a long time I subscribed to the thought that technology isn’t inherently evil. That tech is a tool and it is people who can use it for nefarious purposes. However, I have had a change of heart recently and now am firmly on the site that tech needs to be regulated and that tech (and the tech press) are increasingly being taken over by libertarianism.

The “don’t tread on me” mindset has been present in tech for a long time. However, I believe recently it has gotten significantly worse with many more people being mouthpieces for tech libertarianism. I’m at the end of my rope listening (and reading) the perspective from white tech bros proliferate the belief that its not the tech, its how you use it.

The reality is that it is clear tech is long past due for heavy regulation, but the people who work in tech continue to turn a blind eye to the horrors of how their tech is used. They are invested in growth at any cost, as long as it doesn’t harm them. The primary issue is the people who are leading the libertarian agenda for tech are either people who are not harmed by it or enables them to harm others. Either way, they have no reason to change.

The harms tech is causing is everywhere. Who? Just ask:

• Teen girls and women who are victimized by deepfake nudes.
• Teen girls who suffer from mental health issues due to social media.
• Teens and women who are in danger due to stalkerware.
• Women and members of LGBTQA+ who are fearful of tracking devices.
• Minorities who are passed on for jobs by racist HR automation.
• Poor people who are exploited by adtech since they can’t afford paid versions.
• Delivery drivers, warehouse and other “unskilled” workers who are pushed to unbearable work requirements due to monitoring and quota software.
• Elderly people scammed of their limited funds by the firehouse of spam email, texts, and phone calls.
• People falling for crypto scams proliferated by the unethical “influencers”.
• The Earth for the climate catastrophe that is “the cloud”, datacenters, AI, crypto, and streaming media.

The list goes on and on. This list also doesn’t include the illicit creation and spread of CSAM material, which should be reason enough to shut down the entire internet.

Looking at the phrase, “its not the tech, but how you use it” smacks of other problematic groups who attempt to pass blame from the obvious issues to avoid blame and responsibility. It feels just like the people who wrongly say, “guns don’t kill people, people kill people.” Or, “If she didn’t want to be attacked, she shouldn’t have worn that outfit.”

Just because you are not part of the groups at the pointed end of tech doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. You are not smarter. You are not better. You are just lucky.

Tech needs to be regulated and needs to embrace regulation.

5 years ago I came to a realization about a topic I believed in that I was on the wrong side. What caused me to realize I was on the wrong side was who I found myself associated with. Sometimes we need to stop and think about our beliefs and see who is in our company. Are you comfortable being associated with those people?

Linux, open source, and even the greater tech community, has been continuing to slide deeper and deeper into libertarianism. And this is the moment for me to look at who I’m surrounding myself with and if I’m comfortable with that. The answer is no, I don’t want to be associated with these people. So that means I need to reevaluate what my beliefs are.

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