I’ve noticed a distinct lack of caring regarding social responsibility in the tech industry even though we are some of the most privileged workers in the entire labor force.
>I’ve noticed a distinct lack of caring regarding social responsibility in the tech industry even though we are some of the most privileged workers in the entire labor force.
I'd posit that "lack of caring" in the tech industry is, at least in part, because (not "even though") "we are some of the most privileged workers in the entire labor force."
It's hubris, greed and a lack of empathy for society at large and for other humans.
There definitely are folks who do care. But when such folks speak out, they are usually ignored or derided for "tilting at windmills" because "privacy no longer exists" and "there's money to be made" and other weak-sauce rationalizations.
And the hoi polloi mostly don't understand the issues, and just like having "free" services, not realizing they're still paying. With their data, privacy and online (and increasingly offline, with cameras everywhere, spying "IOT" devices, brisk business for data brokers, etc.) personages in the hands of (at least based on their behavior) sociopathic tech bros whose only interest is in maximizing revenue -- and today that's accomplished through "targeted advertising."
Which doesn't really work, but advertisers are willing to pay top dollar for such data in the amoral pursuit of greater profit. Not that profit is, in and of itself, bad. But abusing others to get that profit is bad.
Others, political operatives, some law "enforcement" agencies, stalkers and other scum that it does "work" for are focused on advancing their agendas, avoiding real police work and harming others, not making the world a better place.
Until the incentives are the right way round, that's not going to change.
I'd love to paint a picture of benevolent tech workers/managers/founders who have society's and the individual's best interests at heart.
But (with apologies to Quentin Tarantino), that shit ain't the truth. The truth is the hoi polloi are the weak. And we're the tyranny of evil men. cf. The banality of evil[0].
I'd posit that "lack of caring" in the tech industry is, at least in part, because (not "even though") "we are some of the most privileged workers in the entire labor force."
It's hubris, greed and a lack of empathy for society at large and for other humans.
There definitely are folks who do care. But when such folks speak out, they are usually ignored or derided for "tilting at windmills" because "privacy no longer exists" and "there's money to be made" and other weak-sauce rationalizations.
And the hoi polloi mostly don't understand the issues, and just like having "free" services, not realizing they're still paying. With their data, privacy and online (and increasingly offline, with cameras everywhere, spying "IOT" devices, brisk business for data brokers, etc.) personages in the hands of (at least based on their behavior) sociopathic tech bros whose only interest is in maximizing revenue -- and today that's accomplished through "targeted advertising."
Which doesn't really work, but advertisers are willing to pay top dollar for such data in the amoral pursuit of greater profit. Not that profit is, in and of itself, bad. But abusing others to get that profit is bad.
Others, political operatives, some law "enforcement" agencies, stalkers and other scum that it does "work" for are focused on advancing their agendas, avoiding real police work and harming others, not making the world a better place.
Until the incentives are the right way round, that's not going to change.
I'd love to paint a picture of benevolent tech workers/managers/founders who have society's and the individual's best interests at heart.
But (with apologies to Quentin Tarantino), that shit ain't the truth. The truth is the hoi polloi are the weak. And we're the tyranny of evil men. cf. The banality of evil[0].
[0][ https://www.britannica.com/story/what-did-hannah-arendt-real...
Edit: Fixed prose. Added Hannah Arendt quote and discussion of same.