5 ms·

This is our fault, you know. Many of us, myself included, have worked on technologies that were meant to profile and manipulate users. Many more of us worked f

This is our fault, you know. Many of us, myself included, have worked on technologies that were meant to profile and manipulate users. Many more of us worked for companies who did this or did similar things through traditional means (eg, psychologically manipulative ads). We've not only allowed, but encouraged technology to have a manipulative and addictive relationship with users. We took the paycheck and played red team against humanity. (This is common -- red team is sexier than blue team, and has an easier time of it, pretty much in any field.) So, personally, I think it's time we spent some of our effort undoing that damage and playing blue team. I don't know what that looks like in full -- though I have some ideas -- but I do know that allowing the weaponization of psychology against humanity to continue unabated will end in disaster. In some ways, that's the struggle of the 21st century: will technology serve the public or enslave it.

sadgit 10y ago
Theres alot of work to do on fleshing out what "blue team" meand and how one can meaningfully contribute to it.
- lazaroclapp 10y ago
  Making this networks transparent would be a pretty good first step. So, maybe when you see a sponsored FB post or "news" article it will say who is sponsoring (traversing shell companies on a best effort policy), why is it being targeted to you (at least based on which selectors) and how many variants of the ad exist.
  - flukus 10y ago
    > Making this networks transparent would be a pretty good first step. Making them open and not controlled by corporate interests comes way before this.
Natsu 10y ago
It would seem more honest to help people avoid manipulation in general, rather than simply helping to manipulate people in a different way.
- SomeStupidPoint 10y ago
  ...which is why that's basically what I suggested. "Red team" and "blue team" are referencing offensive and defensive teams using standard security lingo. In this case, red team is trying to manipulate and control the public. As another commentator pointed out, it's a little unclear what blue team even should be doing. I avoided just saying "help people avoid manipulation", because the implementation of a defensive strategy might be self-directed manipulation overriding the other manipulation you're exposed to, as it's not necessarily possible to avoid manipulation entirely. (Or even a deairable goal, as you might want to adjust your existing habits.) My main point was that we need to start developing defensive tactics and strategies, because the offense dominated present situation will end in catastrophe.
  - Natsu 10y ago
    Fair enough. The context you intended wasn't apparent to me before.
  - jdoliner 10y ago
    It's a bit confusing in this context, I interpreted "blue team" as Democrat team.
    - SomeStupidPoint 10y ago
      I realized that after I read the reply, but couldn't edit. C'est la vie.
  - zardo 10y ago
    >As another commentator pointed out, it's a little unclear what blue team even should be doing. If the primary tools of offence are making use of addictive technology and manipulation, the defencive move is making technology available to help people overcome addiction and give direction to their own lives. As you say, self directed manipulation, and I would add introspection. Maybe FOSS tools for cognitive behavioral therapy.

sadgit 10y ago

Theres alot of work to do on fleshing out what "blue team" meand and how one can meaningfully contribute to it.

lazaroclapp 10y ago
Making this networks transparent would be a pretty good first step. So, maybe when you see a sponsored FB post or "news" article it will say who is sponsoring (traversing shell companies on a best effort policy), why is it being targeted to you (at least based on which selectors) and how many variants of the ad exist.
- flukus 10y ago
  > Making this networks transparent would be a pretty good first step. Making them open and not controlled by corporate interests comes way before this.

Natsu 10y ago

It would seem more honest to help people avoid manipulation in general, rather than simply helping to manipulate people in a different way.

SomeStupidPoint 10y ago
...which is why that's basically what I suggested. "Red team" and "blue team" are referencing offensive and defensive teams using standard security lingo. In this case, red team is trying to manipulate and control the public. As another commentator pointed out, it's a little unclear what blue team even should be doing. I avoided just saying "help people avoid manipulation", because the implementation of a defensive strategy might be self-directed manipulation overriding the other manipulation you're exposed to, as it's not necessarily possible to avoid manipulation entirely. (Or even a deairable goal, as you might want to adjust your existing habits.) My main point was that we need to start developing defensive tactics and strategies, because the offense dominated present situation will end in catastrophe.
- Natsu 10y ago
  Fair enough. The context you intended wasn't apparent to me before.
- jdoliner 10y ago
  It's a bit confusing in this context, I interpreted "blue team" as Democrat team.
  - SomeStupidPoint 10y ago
    I realized that after I read the reply, but couldn't edit. C'est la vie.
- zardo 10y ago
  >As another commentator pointed out, it's a little unclear what blue team even should be doing. If the primary tools of offence are making use of addictive technology and manipulation, the defencive move is making technology available to help people overcome addiction and give direction to their own lives. As you say, self directed manipulation, and I would add introspection. Maybe FOSS tools for cognitive behavioral therapy.