On Digital Economics, Robber Robot Lords, Big Data Despotism and Cottage Capitalism
For centuries trade winds have been used by sailing ships to cross the world's oceans. They powered the European expansion into the Americas, and helped establish trade routes across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. But, trade winds are also the steering flow of tropical storms. They moreover carried the horrendous slave business.
Digital winds are like trade winds. They do blow our sails as our lives have become more and more digitized. They carry both promises (Wattpad is one of them) and threats (data despotism is one of them).
Given the path currently taken by the digital economy there is a significant risk that threats outweigh promises. US folk singer Dolly Parton once said that "we cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails." As a matter of fact, we can and should do both.
There is indeed no reason why digital winds should always be blown by a prosperous winner take all minority only. Let's see why and how in the forthcoming posts!
Comments