https://puri.sm/posts/the-future-of-computing-and-why-you-should-care/ Let me start by stating: I believe we can change the future of computing for the better. However, currently something is wrong with our digital world; something basic, something is rotten at the core. I want to talk to you about what that is, how it came to be, and why we must change it. [...] # History All corporations, including all Big Tech giants, have a single goal: Maximize Shareholder Value. That’s it. That’s the only goal. But it’s not just a goal. Under eBay v. Newman, a lawsuit setting legal precedent stating:
The law makes it literally malfeasance for a corporation not to do everything it legally can to maximize its profits.
So if given the choice of making $1 by exploiting people online, or opting to treat people ethically, the Corporation must exploit people online for the dollar, or the board of directors and executives could face a lawsuit from any shareholder that claims they did not maximize the value of their shares. The regulations at the foundation of Big Tech are forcing the exploitation of our digital rights. [...] If somebody approached your bedroom window from outside, put a camera up and started recording, you would immediately call the authorities and report the numerous laws broken—a case would be opened, arrests could be made, charges could be pressed, trials could ensue, criminals could go to jail; but in the digital world none of that exists—you are forced to leak far more details than a camera in your bedroom would share, and you are forced to leak that personal data from your phone all the time. Big Tech exploits you every millisecond of every day. [...] AI algorithms from Big Tech have one input variable: $Maximize_Shareholder_Value. That translates directly into - Gather everything on all of the society - Keep people digitally captive - Maximize exposure time - Polarize opinion to elicit more profit [...] Maximizing shareholder value in a society that has nearly no digital rights, guarantees exploitation of that society. Why did we let this happen? How did we let this happen? I know why. Because… It’s convenient to give up control. It is convenient for you to download a proprietary application that exploits you, agree to the legal binding terms of service you didn’t read, and blissfully believe Big Tech is helping you in the digital world. It’s inconvenient to stand up for your freedom. It seems we are offered to choose between convenience and control or inconvenience and freedom. [...] The largest challenge we will face is the marketing budgets of Big Tech, when they claim things like: “We protect your privacy” ~ Big Tech Actually, You exploit personal private data without a persons knowledge “We use encryption” ~ Big Tech Actually, It’s inside proprietary apps that you control “We are secure” ~ Big Tech Actually, You hold the master keys controlling society “You can trust us” ~ Big Tech Actually, You won’t let anybody verify anything [...] # The present Currently, Big Tech is maximizing shareholder value without values. [...] I believe there are five fundamental digital rights: 1. Right to Change Providers If a person wants to change a service provider, they can easily move to another. (Decentralized Services) 2. Right to Protect Personal Data A person owns and controls their own master keys to encrypt all data and communication, nobody else. (User-controlled Encryption) 3. Right to Verify Society has the freedom to inspect the source of all software used, and can run it as they wish, for any purpose. (Software Freedom) 4. Right to be Forgotten A service provider only stores the minimal personal data necessary to provide the service. Once the data is no longer required, it is deleted. (Minimal Data Retention) 5. Right to Access A person must not be discriminated against nor forced to agree to any terms and conditions before accessing a service. (Personal Liberty) If we can do those things, we can change the future of computing for the better. # The future As technology gets closer and closer to our brain, the moral issues of digital rights become clearer and clearer. [...] A question to consider: What Big Tech Company would you purchase your future brain implant from? This is coming. However, I believe we can change the future of computing for the better. Let’s stand together and invest, use, and recommend products and services that respect society. What future will you choose?