Topic for Apr. 5. ( Fri )

[Alex !]

Techlash

Techlash defines a strong negative reaction or backlash or hostility against/towards  the largest technology companies, the tech  giants or their employees or products:There is a growing regulatory techlash, partly fueled by concerns about privacy on social media platforms. Simply put, the era of blindly trusting the big 5 tech companies – Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta and Microsoft – is over.

The algorithms on the websites we use dictate the kind of things that we read, listen to and watch.

Think about this: if you want to find something out, chances are, you’ll do a quick Google. But have you considered the implications of one search engine acting as a barrier between you and all content on the internet?

Even on social media, there is a growing centralisation of power. While we like to think we have a choice of lots of different social media platforms, in reality, this field has been narrowing for years. Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp – three of the most widely used social media apps, are all owned by Meta, a single company who control a vast amount of data.

It’s easy to forget that these platforms are not public forums, but businesses, and this is what drives the decisions that they make.

With only a few huge corporations dominating the market for search engines, social media and online shopping, a growing number of users are becoming uncomfortable with this imbalance.

A side effect of the freedom that the internet provides is the rapid spread of “fake news”. This becomes a big problem when articles, tweets, and memes based on “alternative facts” can influence public opinion.

In the last decade, we have seen misinformation and fake news become a widespread problem, accelerated by the social media algorithms that reward engagement with reach.

Misinformation has been associated with everything from spreading conspiracy theories to threatening democratic processes, undermining public health messaging, and even fuelling genocide in Myanmar.

That’s why pressure is being placed on social media sites that host news stories to monitor and police the content that is shared on their platforms.

In 2019, Facebook deployed a new fact-checker to help it cope with the spread of misinformation. However, without external regulation, social media companies are marking their own homework – how do they decide what kind of content to remove, and what to allow? How do they balance inaccuracy with freedom of speech? And finally, how do these sites manage misinformation in other languages and countries?

Concerns about data security have been brought into the public eye thanks to major breaches of trust.

Regulations in Europe and the Data Protection Act in the UK were intended to ensure personal data is safeguarded, and tech companies are now expected to explain to consumers what data they collect, process and store about them.

Consumers are starting to ask more questions about who owns their information, and more importantly, what they plan to do with it. But practically, black-box algorithms mean it’s impossible to reveal exactly what tech companies do with our data, and the average person’s digital footprint is so vast, it can be hard for individuals to keep track.

Digital technology can be a force for good. Tech connects us, entertains us, educates us, and introduces us to new ideas and more convenient services.

Techlash can be overcome through ethical business practices: being more transparent about how data is handled; putting the welfare of customers at the centre of decision making; being proactive when problems emerge; and employing a diverse workforce that represents our society.

In the tech industry, representation really matters.

Apprenticeships can play an important role here, broadening access to the tech industry, removing traditional barriers to entry, and creating entry-level roles with built-in training and qualifications. A diverse workforce brings in broader life experiences, ideas, and perspectives to a team, which in turn helps organisations become more inclusive, reach a wider audience, and resolve problems more effectively.

While we don’t expect to see large numbers of people ditching their smartphones and deleting their social media profiles, it’s clear that tech companies of all sizes need to reconsider the impact they are making on society, to make our digital world better for everyone.