Una reazione a caldo: il discorso mi sembra un capolavoro di doppiezza e ipocrisia, che suggella il patto del diavolo tra democratici americani e big tech. Con la scusa del terrapiattismo e della "disinformazione che uccide" (non bastavano le "fake news") si chiudono sempre più gli spazi di critica e dissenso, oltre che le voci degli avversari politici. In cambio, si farà chiudere un occhio, anzi due, all'antitrust e agli altri regolatori pubblici che ultimamente hanno alzato un po' troppo la cresta.
Buon 25 Aprile a tutti, MB Il giorno ven 22 apr 2022 alle ore 09:57 Alberto Cammozzo via nexa < nexa@server-nexa.polito.it> ha scritto: > < > https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/apr/21/obama-stanford-speech-big-tech > > > > Technology companies must be reined in to address the “weakening of > democratic institutions around the world”, Barack Obama said Thursday, in a > sweeping keynote speech on the perils of disinformation. > > Speaking at Stanford University in Silicon Valley, the former president > made his most extensive remarks yet about the technology landscape, which > he said is “turbo-charging some of humanity’s worst impulses”. > Barack and Michelle Obama to end exclusive podcasting deal with Spotify, > reports say > Read more > > “One of the biggest reasons for the weakening of democracy is the profound > change that’s taken place in how we communicate and consume information,” > he said. > > The address came as Obama has increasingly focused his post-presidential > messaging on misinformation and what should be done about the largely > unchecked power wielded by big tech. On Thursday, he solidified those > calls, endorsing specific legislation. > > “Do we allow our democracy to wither, or do we make it better?” Obama > asked. “That is the choice.” > ‘People are dying because of disinformation’ > > Obama’s speech called attention to the grave impacts of disinformation and > misinformation – including manipulation of the 2016 and 2020 elections and > the rise of anti-vaccination sentiments. > > He was candid about regrets he had surrounding Donald Trump’s election, > saying his administration had long known that Russia had incentive to > manipulate US democracy but he underestimated the effectiveness of the > efforts. > > “What still nags at me is my failure to appreciate at the time just how > susceptible we had become to lies and conspiracy theories,” Obama said. > > A Senate panel report in 2020 found conclusively that Russia had > interfered in the 2016 elections to sway votes in favor of Trump, echoing > findings from a prior report published by the Department of Justice. > > In addition to impacting the results of those elections, disinformation > and misinformation has also caused many Americans to reject the results of > democratically sound elections, Obama said – noting that the majority of > Republicans doubt the legitimacy of Biden’s 2020 win. > > Much of these issues can be attributed to a decline in media literacy, the > erosion of local news sources, and an “information overload” as we come > into contact with limitless content each day. > > “The sheer proliferation of conflict and the splintering of information > and audiences has made democracy more complicated,” Obama said. > ‘Need another north star’ > > Obama took aim at the business models at the heart of big tech firms, > noting that “inflammatory content attracts engagement” and that “the veil > of anonymity platforms provide” make it easier to spread misinformation. > > He said while rising industry standards are helpful, solid regulation is > needed to address social media companies’ business models and the way they > design their products. > > “These companies need to have some other north star other than just making > money and increasing market share,” Obama said. > > In particular, Obama addressed the frequent refrain of tech companies that > their algorithms are proprietary business secrets, saying they have become > “too guarded” and “need to be subject to some level of public oversight and > regulation”. > > To do so, Obama endorsed the Platform Accountability and Transparency Act, > a bill introduced by US Senators Chris Coons, Amy Klobuchar and Rob Portman > that would require social media companies to share certain platform data > and allow vetting from independent researchers. > > He also called for reform of Section 230, a law that shields platforms > from legal liability for content posted on their sites, saying that > “wholesale repeal is not the answer” but “we need to consider reforms” to > the measure. > > “As the world’s leading democracy, we have to set a better example. We > should be at the lead on these discussions internationally, not in the > rear.” > ‘Yes we can’ for the age of disinformation > > Despite dire warnings about the imminent crumbling of democracy under the > disinformation epidemic, Obama called for a return to the hope present in > the early days of big tech. > > “Today’s social media has a grimness to it,” he said. “We’re so fatalistic > about the steady stream of bile and vitriol that’s on there. But it doesn’t > have to be that way. In fact, if we’re going to succeed, it can’t be that > way.” > > Obama’s tone harkens back to an age of tech before the 2016 elections > shook the world’s faith in companies like Facebook. His own presidency took > place at a time when social media was still thought of as a force for good > – stoking democratic revolutions like the Arab Spring. > > His election in 2008 is also largely thought of as one of the first to be > fueled by grassroots social media campaigns – with supporters of Obama > having been significantly more engaged online than those of McCain. Obama > said at the time there was “a certain joy of finding new ways to connect > and organize”. > > “Social media is a tool. At the end of the day, tools don’t control us, we > control them,” Obama said. “It’s up to each of us to decide what we value > and then use the tools we’ve been given to advance those > values.”_______________________________________________ > nexa mailing list > nexa@server-nexa.polito.it > https://server-nexa.polito.it/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nexa >
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