Technology has transformed our lives in unimaginable ways. It connects us, informs us, and entertains us. But at what cost? In the shadow of this digital revolution, a handful of tech corporations have amassed unprecedented power, forcing us to ask: Are we aware of how these companies might be undermining the very foundations of democracy?
The premise is simple: they offer us services, many of them free, that are integrated into our daily lives. Social networks, search engines, entertainment platforms… They keep us connected, informed, and entertained. But this apparent generosity has a hidden price: our control. By monopolizing our attention and our data, these companies acquire an inordinate influence over our perceptions, opinions, and even our actions.
The economic power of these corporations allows them to operate on a global scale, transcending national borders and, in many cases, surpassing the regulatory capacity of governments. Their discourse, often wrapped in the rhetoric of innovation and progress, promotes a vision of “freedom” that prioritizes their own interests over the common good. Any attempt to regulate their activities is labeled as an attack on innovation and technological development.
Social media, largely controlled by these same companies, becomes the perfect vehicle to spread their message. Sophisticated algorithms amplify the voices that suit them and silence dissenting ones, creating echo chambers where information is carefully controlled to reinforce their narratives. Escaping this influence becomes increasingly difficult, and the line between information and propaganda is blurred.
Some authors and thinkers have raised their voices to denounce this phenomenon. Books and articles warn of the dangers of uncontrolled corporate power, but their voices are often lost in the noise of the media. The majority of the population, entertained by the constant flow of superficial information, remains oblivious to the threat looming over democracy.
The idea that all technological progress is intrinsically good, regardless of its social and political consequences, has become an almost unquestionable dogma. This narrative, tirelessly promoted by big tech, erodes critical capacity and blinds us to the real risks.
We find ourselves in a spiral of unbridled capitalism, where the pursuit of short-term profit prevails over all other considerations. The hypocrisy and selfishness of some business leaders, who defend freedom while accumulating unchecked power, is alarming.
What is even more worrying is the apparent reluctance of governments to regulate the activities of these companies. While it is argued that these companies are essential to the modern economy, the reality is that most of them are not indispensable. There are alternatives, and if any of these companies (Facebook, Tik Tok, etc...) were to disappear, the world would continue to function in a similar way. Society has the capacity to adapt and create new tools.
Democracy and our values must come before the interests of any corporation, no matter how powerful it may be. It is the responsibility of governments to regulate the activities of these corporations, protecting the public interest and ensuring that technology serves the progress of humanity, not its subjugation.
The question we must ask ourselves is: how much longer will we allow these companies to continue to operate unchecked, eroding democracy and concentrating power in a few hands? Time is running out. It is time for governments to act decisively and put an end to this complicit silence.
We are already too late !!!
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