Techlash : the future of the socially responsible tech organization

Abstract

Technology is propelling social networks and cybertools [sic] deeper and deeper into our lives, our privacy and our politics—and democratizing the tools for ‘deep fakes,’ so that many more people can erode truth and trust. But the gap between the speed at which these technologies are going deep and the ability of our analog politics to develop the rules, norms, and laws to govern them is getting wider, not narrower. That gap has to be closed to preserve democracy.1 Thomas L. Friedman, The New York Times According to Casper Klynge, who represents Denmark’s interests as an ambassador to the big tech companies in Silicon Valley, “[Companies such as Facebook and Google] have moved from being companies with commercial interests to actually becoming de facto foreign policy actors.”2 Adam Satariano, The New York Times The tech industry failed to anticipate [the intense backlash against it] ‘because the nerds had ascended, culturally and socially, and had become enchanted with their own virtuous self-image’…Rather than abandon the tech industry, we should ‘build it anew with forethought.’ 3 Nicholas Thompson, Wired Countless books already exist that sing the unadulterated virtues of technology. This is not one of them. It is a hard-hitting, no holds-barred examination of the dark sides of technology. The authors have spent their careers helping individuals and organizations overcome Denial, so that they could address the truly difficult problems and potential crises facing them. It’s time for society as a whole to do the same. We need to face head-on the perils of modern technology. While both the content and tone of the book about the current state of technology will undoubtedly be pessimistic to many, our ultimate message is nonetheless one of hope. We remain optimistic about not only what is needed, but can be done to make technology serve the greater good.