Internet Serfing: Information Technology and the Dark Path to Technological Feudalism
Many times have we heard that big tech companies are collecting data on us every second. Many times have I thought to myself, “who cares?”. It might not seem important that a company like Amazon knows that I like to buy big wacky inflatable tube guys (see picture) or is recommending me baguette slippers (they know me too well). Though, the control and flow of data through a small subset of companies can lead to great inequalities and power imbalances by giving them a majority of wealth and influence.
In their piece titled Data Feminism, Catherine D’ignazio and Lauren Klein introduce a term, “Big Dick Data”. They define this as a “formal, academic term that we, the authors, have coined to denote big data projects that are characterized by masculinist, totalizing fantasies of world domination as enacted through data capture and analysis”.¹ I believe this term could be used in a greater scope, as it does a great job describing the actions of large tech companies like Amazon or Google. They mention world domination, and while this may seem exaggeration, it is a potential outcome of the not so distant future.
In recent years, the widespread adoption of digital technologies and the growth of connected devices have given rise to a concerning trend: the collection and sale of personal data by large companies. This trend has raised fears about the concentration of data and power in the hands of a few large corporations, and the potential for this concentration to lead to the rise of technological feudalism.
Technological feudalism refers to a situation where a small group of companies controls access to the data and technologies that underpin modern society. These companies are able to leverage their control over data and technology to influence individuals and other companies, and to shape the direction of technological development in ways that serve their own interests (https://www.amazon.com/Age-Surveillance-Capitalism-Future-Frontier/dp/1610395697). Technological feudalism can be seen as a form of digital oligarchy, where power and influence are held by few powerful actors. These few powerful actors are who I will now refer to as Big Dick Data.
The rise of technological feudalism could exacerbate existing inequalities and power imbalances by giving a majority of wealth and influence to these companies (https://www.amazon.com/Age-Surveillance-Capitalism-Future-Frontier/dp/1610395697). This could limit the ability of individuals and smaller companies to compete in the market and could create a situation where only those with access to the data and technologies controlled by these companies are able to succeed.
To understand the implications of technological feudalism, lets discuss the feudal system of the Middle Ages. This system relied upon a social hierarchy conducted by kings and queens. Beneath them were the nobles, those who were granted land in exchange for their loyalty. They held vast estates, which were worked by peasants and serfs. At the bottom of the social hierarchy were the peasants and serfs. They were required to work on their lord’s estate and pay taxes in exchange for protection and the use of the land. The peasants and serfs had little say in the governance of their society and were subject to the whims of their lords. The system stifled social and economic mobility, as individuals were born into their social class and had limited opportunities to move up in society (https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2016/07/26/is-this-the-scary-world-our-tech-revolution-will-create/?sh=5253e7c82b96).
Like the Middle Ages, we live in a time of uncertainty in the future of information technology. The control of data is essential for the functioning of modern society, with companies like Google, Facebook, and Amazon dominating the digital landscape. These companies collect vast amounts of information about their users, which is used to fuel their platforms (https://www.amazon.com/Age-Surveillance-Capitalism-Future-Frontier/dp/1610395697).
The control of data in the current age of technology has led to a concentration of power and resources in the hands of Big Dick Data, similar to the concentration of power in the feudal lords. These entities control not only data but also the algorithms and technologies that make sense of the data. They also control access to the internet, which has become an essential resource for most people in the modern world.
In the feudal system, serfs were bound to their lords, dependent on them for protection and resources. Similarly, people in the current age of technology are increasingly dependent on technology for their livelihoods and their social interactions. The control of data creates a similar inequality, where those who have access to data and the resources to use it have a significant advantage over those who do not. The ability to analyze data and develop insights has become a key competitive advantage for businesses (https://www.amazon.com/Age-Surveillance-Capitalism-Future-Frontier/dp/1610395697). We rely on technology to find work, communicate with others, and access information. As such, those who control the technology and data have immense power over individuals and society at large. This has led to a growing divide between those who have the ability to utilize data and those who do not.
Moreover, these companies could also stifle innovation and limit the development of new technologies. If a small group of companies controls access to the most valuable data and technologies, they may be less motivated to invest in new innovations or to collaborate with others outside their circle (https://www.amazon.com/Age-Surveillance-Capitalism-Future-Frontier/dp/1610395697). This could lead to a situation where technological progress is driven primarily by the interests of Big Dick Data, rather than by the needs and desires of society as a whole.
Many technological developments seem curious in nature. When I first put on a VR headset, I was amazed by a new realm of possibility. The deep sea, distant outer space, or entirely new universes were in my reach through this new device. Though, with Facebook buying Oculus (a major VR brand), Big Dick Data is slowly turning our curiosity into a money making, data churning machine. This is just one example of how big tech is attempting to shape the world in their own view. These companies are using data to gain insights into human behavior and are using these insights to create products and services that align with their needs.
Big tech companies are attempting to shape the world is through the development of new technologies that serve their own interests. By collecting data on users’ search histories, social media activity, and other online behavior, these companies are able to create detailed profiles of individual users. Companies like Facebook and Google are investing heavily in artificial intelligence and machine learning, which will allow them to efficiently analyze data, giving them even greater power to shape and control human behavior.
These companies are using AI and machine learning to develop products and services that are designed to be addictive and engaging, in order to keep users coming back and generating more data (https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2016/07/26/is-this-the-scary-world-our-tech-revolution-will-create/?sh=5253e7c82b96). For example, social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram use algorithms to surface content that is likely to be engaging, in order to keep users scrolling through their feeds.
This approach to technology development can have negative consequences for users, as they may become addicted to certain services or may find their behavior being shaped and controlled in ways that they do not fully understand or consent to.
I recently read Player Piano by Kurt Vonnegut, which describes a world where machines dominate the industrial landscape after a third world war. The main character, Paul Proteus, is an engineer who lives in Illium, a city divided into three sectors: one for the machines, one for the managers and engineers of the machines, and one for all other people. The machines have taken the jobs of all other people, allowing them to live their lives as they please. While this may sound utopian, it establishes a social hierarchy in which those who design and control the machines have most of the wealth and power. The book represents the outcomes of technological feudalism well, as those who are not managers and engineers are forced to live in poverty in a sector that is rife with problems (https://www.amazon.com/Player-Piano-Novel-Kurt-Vonnegut/dp/0385333781).
Early in the book, Paul gives a speech at a ceremony for engineers, in which he states, “the first industrial revolution devalued muscle work, then the second devalued routine mental work” (https://www.amazon.com/Player-Piano-Novel-Kurt-Vonnegut/dp/0385333781). This quote shows how technological feudalism may take away our ability to think for ourselves.
How many times have we caught ourselves staring at social media, scrolling for long periods of time, mindlessly consuming content without any conscious thought? We have become slaves to these devices that provide a constant source of dopamine, keeping us glued to our screens. In this way, technology has begun to devalue “routine mental work” by providing us with devices that are more entertaining than our own lives. The developers of such platforms are using our addiction to constantly collect data that they can use to their advantage, by creating targeted advertisements and even shaping our beliefs and opinions. By taking breaks from our devices, we can help prevent the rise of a technological feudalism that deprives us of our autonomy and agency.
It is quite ironic that given my stance on this subject, I’ve still chosen to pursue computer science. Some years from now, I may find myself working for a company that I’ve so clearly criticized here. After writing this blog post, I’ve realized that it may be time for me to put my phone down and take power back into my own hands. Let’s embrace the many great things this world has to offer before technological development tears it away from us.
