The world is at a pivotal moment in the digital age, where the future of technology and its impact on society hangs in the balance. The rise of Donald Trump and his tariffs has opened a new possibility for the technology we have become increasingly dependent on.
For 25 years, I've worked with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, advocating for human rights online. In every country I visited, I encountered the same challenge: the US trade representative's threat of tariffs if countries regulate tech to protect their interests. This deterrence has led to a situation where we are at the mercy of a few powerful tech companies, with no choice but to accept their terms.
Today, our tech is controlled by US companies, dictating the terms of service. We are forced to share our conversations with Meta, pay excessive fees to Apple, and reveal our underwear color to Google. This is a far cry from the freedom and flexibility we should have in technology.
But here's where it gets controversial... The 'anti-circumvention' laws, imposed by the US, prevent us from modifying existing products to make them better for users. This is what I call 'enshittification' - the process of technology becoming controlled and manipulated by a few powerful entities.
The Trump tariffs have changed the game. The old bargain is dead, and we now have a chance to break free from this cycle. Digital rights activists, investors, and technologists can unite to challenge the status quo. We can reverse-engineer US cloud software and create open, auditable alternatives, safeguarding our digital sovereignty.
The UK, post-Brexit, is uniquely positioned to seize this moment. We can remove restrictive laws and create a new, innovative future. The potential is there, and it's time to make technology work for us again. And this is the part most people miss... The future of technology is in our hands, and we must take action to reclaim our digital rights.
