Cory Doctorow gave a talk about the concept of “ensh*ttification” - how internet platforms start out good, then abuse users to benefit businesses, then abuse businesses to benefit themselves, until they die.
He argues today’s big tech firms like Facebook and Google have undergone ensh*ttification, withdrawing value from users and business partners to benefit shareholders.
Doctorow says ensh*ttification happens due to lack of competition, companies’ ability to “twiddle the knobs” with no transparency, and laws that criminalize modifying platforms.
He proposes halting consolidation, limiting companies’ twiddling abilities, and restoring the right to modify platforms through “adversarial interoperability.”
This will help shift control of technology from giant companies to small ones, co-ops, nonprofits and user communities.
Tactics include blocking mergers, mandating open APIs, government procurement rules favoring interoperability, and rolling back laws against modifying platforms.
The goal is a “new good internet” that succeeds the old open internet and avoids the pitfalls of today’s walled gardens. Doctorow urges spreading these ideas to seize opportunities in future crises.
In addition to the summary, I’d add that in his book, he makes the argument that interoperability is the key factor in getting control back. The trick is getting it, of course.
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