diff --git a/Handout.odt b/Handout.odt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..13e2f80 Binary files /dev/null and b/Handout.odt differ diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index 205ee26..7980ee8 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -8,14 +8,19 @@ choosing free alternatives over proprietary. * https://alternativeto.net/ * https://switching.software/ -## Reasons +This very good article is analyzing why GAFAM is a problem: + +* https://onezero.medium.com/how-to-destroy-surveillance-capitalism-8135e6744d59 + +## Reasons for this workshop Why? - we want more people to use decentralized tools for political action - it makes their activism more effective -- decentralized services are more resilient, don't support the power, and are important for privacy +- decentralized services are more resilient, don't support the monopolies, and are important for privacy - decentralized services require some extra knowledge +- big tech's monopoly is creating a cyberpunk dystopia What? @@ -34,6 +39,7 @@ How? Tech monopolies gain more and more power - their means of production are user data + - selling advertisements - knowledge is power: - manipulating elections - mass surveillance @@ -41,11 +47,22 @@ Tech monopolies gain more and more power - repression - and we don't know how they can use the data in the future - most of these services are monopolys; this way they can exploit the data -- network effects: the more users they have, the more they want -- argument: we provide the services for free, users come to us voluntarily + - Segmenting: much easier to find people who are interested than with conventional advertising + - Deception: easier to find people who are easy to deceive, power to withhold information from people + - Domination: monopoly over all sources of information of a person + - Mind Control techniques? + - there are some tricks which manipulate decision making: e.g. auctions, countdowns on purchase websites, "your friends bought this", gameistic addiction tricks + - Not very effective: most people adapt to techniques like that quickly. Only a fraction of people, those who can't adapt, can be manipulated for longer +- network effects + user lock-in: the more users they have, the more they want stories? +### Bad Examples: + +biggest tech companies: Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple, Microsoft + +eBay, PayPal, Twitter, YouTube (Google), ... + ## Decentralized - But there are alternatives