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why is that such a popular opinion. Tech has been financed for decades by individuals, corporates and public sector actors. Even today a large fraction is finan

why is that such a popular opinion. Tech has been financed for decades by individuals, corporates and public sector actors. Even today a large fraction is financed by "healthy" tech services demand. One of the many dramatic flaws of surveillance capitalism is that it cannot really provide the entire tech stack society needs. It thrives as a parasitic model, predicated on political dysfunction and public ignorance. Society must finance the bulk of the infrastructure and then hand over the keys to the digital kingdom as it were. What is undeniable is that surveillance is the most lucrative mode. This is not surprising: borderline legal / morally dubious activities are always the most profitable.

api 3y ago
People have been conditioned to see software and even online services as something that should be "free." That's what I'm referring to. It's obviously a bigger issue for B2C than B2B. If everything has to be "free" then it becomes impossible to create sophisticated software or run any kind of service without finding some scuzzy way to double-dip and sell out your users. There is no viable business model that aligns the producer with the customer.
- nologic01 3y ago
  Yes, that is alas a prevailing mindset in consumer behavior. But it is indeed a case of "conditioning" which requires authorities to offer tacit approval for these freebies. Do you remember, e.g., how India snubbed facebook's "free basics" plan? > it becomes impossible to create sophisticated software or run any kind of service This. While monetizing user behavior is very valuable there is a ceiling to it. It can't make up for the huge potential value of all the things one can possibly build. At some point we might be forced to conclude that surveillance capitalism makes no long-term economic sense. It is either a bubble or actually a political choice to sacrifice a real digital economy in favor of control.

api 3y ago

People have been conditioned to see software and even online services as something that should be "free." That's what I'm referring to. It's obviously a bigger issue for B2C than B2B. If everything has to be "free" then it becomes impossible to create sophisticated software or run any kind of service without finding some scuzzy way to double-dip and sell out your users. There is no viable business model that aligns the producer with the customer.

nologic01 3y ago
Yes, that is alas a prevailing mindset in consumer behavior. But it is indeed a case of "conditioning" which requires authorities to offer tacit approval for these freebies. Do you remember, e.g., how India snubbed facebook's "free basics" plan? > it becomes impossible to create sophisticated software or run any kind of service This. While monetizing user behavior is very valuable there is a ceiling to it. It can't make up for the huge potential value of all the things one can possibly build. At some point we might be forced to conclude that surveillance capitalism makes no long-term economic sense. It is either a bubble or actually a political choice to sacrifice a real digital economy in favor of control.