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Martha Lane Fox's avatar

WELL FREAKING SAID, WHAT A SHAMING SPECTACLE FROM THE INDUSTRY OF WHOM WE HAD SUCH HIGH MORAL HOPES

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Robin Stafford's avatar

Just my thought. I came into the industry in the 70s. There was a touch of San Francisco idealism about Silicon Valley with the likes of Apple, despite the IBM behemoth. Ahead of the game on issues like diversity and gender. Maybe still there in the early days of public access to the Internet with widespread access to email and information and innovative new services. So I well remember your early days Martha!

But the last 15 or so years have seen a collapse. Now just a collection of greedy,monopolistic oligarchs concerned only for their own power and wealth. Utterly cynical towards their own staff and wider society. The very last people to be trusted with AI, especially when they are in cahoots with a finance sector that shares those debased values.

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Gillian Thompson's avatar

Good, as usual! It's all very depressing, though....

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Peter Coghlan's avatar

Many thanks Rory

It will be interesting to see how these tech-bros behave when Trump / Musk demand government backdoors into their encrypted message and cloud systems.

Apple have decided the UK market is worth a punt; but will they bet the farm if the choice is between preserving secure environments or bending the knee to Emperor Don & his would-be Ras-Putin?

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Robin Stafford's avatar

For those of us who want to believe that business and capitalism can be a positive force, events of the last few months have been profoundly depressing. Or maybe enlightening. In a heartbeat, multiple large firms have junked their commitments to sustainability, climate change, DEI and come to that,to democracy itself. The techbros. Fossil fuel companies like BP. The big financial institutions.

They have only themselves to blame if future legislation is far tougher and ignores their appeals, having demonstrated their utter insincerity.

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Jane Ashley's avatar

Splendid piece!

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Ian's avatar

Trump is certainly a controversial figure, but the media is deliberately not explaining the issue regarding Musk and DOGE. The US is running unsustainable deficits and the budget needs to be brought under control.

Federal government departments (Defense, Education, etc.) are part of the Executive Branch and report to the President. These Departments have thwarted oversight by Congress and during Trump's first term they acted to thwart his instructions. DOGE is forcing access to the spending of these Executive Branch departments and eliminating programs. This seems to have included the regime change operations of USAID and NED that act as extensions of the CIA (including mainstream media); responsible for the fake Russiagate scandal and impeachment of Trump.

Many disagree with Trump's legislative agenda but his attempts to bring the unelected Deep State under control should be cautiously welcomed.

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Ian's avatar

Trump is certainly a controversial figure, but the media is deliberately not explaining the issue regarding Musk and DOGE. The US is running unsustainable deficits and the budget needs to be brought under control.

Federal government departments (Defense, Education, etc.) are part of the Executive Branch and report to the President. These Departments have thwarted oversight by Congress and during Trump's first term they acted to thwart his instructions. DOGE is forcing access to the spending of these Executive Branch departments and eliminating programs. This seems to have included the regime change operations of USAID and NED that act as extensions of the CIA (including mainstream media); responsible for the fake Russiagate scandal and impeachment of Trump.

Many disagree with Trump's legislative agenda but his attempts to bring the unelected Deep State under control should be cautiously welcomed.

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Monique Gudgeon's avatar

They are like grasses in the wind, they bend to whichever direction it comes from - does that make them good businessmen or morally bankrupt? Discuss...

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M. Dowrick's avatar

I am absolutely fascinated that despite being lied to by your top medical advisors and your gov’t about the safety and efficacy of mRNA covid vaxxes….not a word. Despite lies upon lies about covid’s infection mortality rate, not a word. Despite the lies about masking, shutting schools, churches, businesses, 6 ft distance rule, lockdowns….not a word. And now your big concern Are the bad boys of tech and the Orangeman. Sorry your own gov’t lying to you must be of some concern so that it never happens again!

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Robin Klein's avatar

I’m still enough of an idealist to believe that t the majority of tech founders have a sound moral compass and are motivated to build things of value to humanity. Naive? Perhaps.

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