[bumholio]

He couldn't imagine the vast technical improvements that solved all immediate, practical challenges he faced: sending money online, comfortable, ubiquitous devices with unlimited connectivity, etc.

He clearly saw the wider limits of technology in relation to society. Liquid and online democracy has failed, we are in an age of autocrats that have weaponized online propaganda and misinformation to directly reach their voters. The freedom of the press increased online but it's quality dropped markedly, the cacophony effect is real. Alienation and engineering addiction are the name of the game for tech giants and their bottom line. Online self teaching is great for adults, but a very poor substitute and at most a complement to competent teachers in schools.

[whatshisface]

>Liquid and online democracy has failed, we are in an age of autocrats that have weaponized online propaganda and misinformation to directly reach their voters.

Give society a little time to react, this has only been a talking point for one election so far.

[andrew_]

I would argue three elections (Obama x 2). No campaign mobilized like Obama's before him. And it was widely hailed in part to staffers who were able to leverage the web and tap the base, and new eyes, using social media. Love him or hate him - his campaign was full of misinformation, and one can point to his platform on, and comments about, the intelligence agencies of this country as a prime example.

[solarkraft]

What misinformation did Obama spread?

Out of the last few presidents one especially comes to mind when thinking about profiteers of misinformation.