The Rise of Digital Sovereignty: A New Dawn for Tech?
As the world grapples with the aftermath of Donald Trump's tariffs, a seismic shift is taking place in the tech industry. The US trade rep's bullying tactics have created an opportunity for digital rights activists to push back against the "enshittification" of technology – the phenomenon where companies like Meta, Apple, and Google exert control over users' devices, data, and lives.
The current state of affairs is a far cry from what was once considered normal. With nearly all tech originating from US companies, users are forced to surrender their autonomy in exchange for a "prix fixe" meal of pre-installed software and services. This has led to a situation where programmers can't modify devices to make them work better for users, as long as the manufacturer objects.
The anti-circumvention law, passed at the insistence of the US trade rep, restricts reverse engineering – the process by which tech companies like Microsoft are forced to spy on their customers and charge exorbitant fees. However, with Trump's tariffs, this law is now a liability, not an asset.
Enter Cory Doctorow, a science fiction author and activist who has spent years advocating for digital rights. He argues that investors and technologists can exploit the US trade rep's weakness to create new opportunities for tech companies that prioritize user autonomy over profits.
The UK, in particular, stands to gain from this shift. Post-Brexit, the country can now repeal its own anti-circumvention law, allowing it to reverse-engineer software and devices to create more robust, open alternatives. This could be a game-changer for the country's tech sector, which has been stifled by outdated laws.
Doctorow also highlights the importance of digital sovereignty in an era where governments and tech companies are increasingly intertwined. As the international criminal court discovered when Microsoft Office was sanctioned by Trump, the US tech industry can wield significant power – including the ability to "brick" critical infrastructure.
The clock is ticking, however. Until the anti-circumvention law is repealed, users will remain at the mercy of proprietary, American code. The dawn of 2026 brings a glimmer of hope: the digital rights movement has found new allies in investors and national security hawks, who share Doctorow's vision for a more transparent, user-friendly tech industry.
While the road ahead remains uncertain, one thing is clear – the status quo will not suffice. As Doctorow so aptly puts it, "open a crack" is the most exciting proposition he's heard in decades. The world may finally be on the cusp of a digital revolution that prioritizes people over profits.
As the world grapples with the aftermath of Donald Trump's tariffs, a seismic shift is taking place in the tech industry. The US trade rep's bullying tactics have created an opportunity for digital rights activists to push back against the "enshittification" of technology – the phenomenon where companies like Meta, Apple, and Google exert control over users' devices, data, and lives.
The current state of affairs is a far cry from what was once considered normal. With nearly all tech originating from US companies, users are forced to surrender their autonomy in exchange for a "prix fixe" meal of pre-installed software and services. This has led to a situation where programmers can't modify devices to make them work better for users, as long as the manufacturer objects.
The anti-circumvention law, passed at the insistence of the US trade rep, restricts reverse engineering – the process by which tech companies like Microsoft are forced to spy on their customers and charge exorbitant fees. However, with Trump's tariffs, this law is now a liability, not an asset.
Enter Cory Doctorow, a science fiction author and activist who has spent years advocating for digital rights. He argues that investors and technologists can exploit the US trade rep's weakness to create new opportunities for tech companies that prioritize user autonomy over profits.
The UK, in particular, stands to gain from this shift. Post-Brexit, the country can now repeal its own anti-circumvention law, allowing it to reverse-engineer software and devices to create more robust, open alternatives. This could be a game-changer for the country's tech sector, which has been stifled by outdated laws.
Doctorow also highlights the importance of digital sovereignty in an era where governments and tech companies are increasingly intertwined. As the international criminal court discovered when Microsoft Office was sanctioned by Trump, the US tech industry can wield significant power – including the ability to "brick" critical infrastructure.
The clock is ticking, however. Until the anti-circumvention law is repealed, users will remain at the mercy of proprietary, American code. The dawn of 2026 brings a glimmer of hope: the digital rights movement has found new allies in investors and national security hawks, who share Doctorow's vision for a more transparent, user-friendly tech industry.
While the road ahead remains uncertain, one thing is clear – the status quo will not suffice. As Doctorow so aptly puts it, "open a crack" is the most exciting proposition he's heard in decades. The world may finally be on the cusp of a digital revolution that prioritizes people over profits.
I'm reading this and my mind is blown 
! Digital sovereignty is literally taking off 
, and it's about time 
. Did you know that since 2016, the average American has given up around 1 year of their life to staring at screens 
? That's like losing a whole decade of sleep 
!
? It's insane! 
Meta alone collected over 70 billion user interactions in 2022! 
Did you know it was originally designed to protect companies from reverse engineering, but now it's just a tool for them to spy on us 
? The UK has a chance to break free from this toxic cycle and create more open alternatives 
.
. That's some serious momentum 
!
. The US trade rep is just making it worse by creating all this "anti-circumvention" law stuff 
. We need to take back control of our tech lives and not be held hostage by these big corporations. Cory Doctorow is right, it's time for us to open a crack in this whole "proprietary code" thing 
.
. We don't have to be slaves to our devices anymore! It's like, what if we could just modify our own phones to make them work better without having to jump through hoops 
.
. The fact that investors and national security hawks are getting on board with Doctorow's vision is huge 
. It's time for us to have a more transparent and user-friendly tech industry, and I'm excited to see what the future holds 
.
if u cant modify ur own stuff, who r u trustin?
. This whole "Open Source" thing is just a fancy way of saying "we're going to give you less control over your stuff". 
like how can we even complain about anything when tech companies are being forced to spy on us just because of some outdated law? 
it's so refreshing to see someone like Cory Doctorow speaking up for our rights! 
it's like a whole new dawn for tech and I am HERE. FOR. IT!!! 
.
. He's been advocating for digital rights for ages, and it's awesome to see his message resonating with investors and national security folks too 
.
. Bring on 2026 and the digital revolution! 
. It's time for users to take back their autonomy in the digital world.
.
. This shift towards digital sovereignty could be the start of something amazing 
?
. its all about profit over ppl 4 me