Trying To Break Away from Big Tech Again
For a long time – at least a decade and a half – I have been learning about and gaining greater understanding of the problems with Big Tech and how pervasive it is in our lives. I have tried numerous times to move away from using proprietary, corporate-controlled technology but have always been drawn back to using it for one reason or another, burying my concerns in the dark recesses of my mind. But recent events have drawn those concerns again to the forefront of my thoughts. And I feel a great sense of urgency to try to adopt and use freer technologies.
By “Big Tech” I am referring to the largest and most influential technology companies in the world, including but not limited to Alphabet (which owns Google), Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Nvidia, and Meta (which owns FaceBook, Instagram, and WhatsApp). These companies create and provide the hardware, software, and services which governments, companies, and individuals use in most of the “free” world.
The technologies these companies provide have, without question, enabled us to do some amazing things. They have allowed us to communicate, learn, work, and live in ways that I only dreamed about as a child watching my favorite TV show Star Trek: The Next Generation. But these benefits have come at a cost – a cost which I have long felt is too great, and has only been increasing over time.
Almost daily we find more evidence of just how much control these companies have over the technology we use. For me, the recent story that drew my attention back to this issue is Apple removing apps from their App Store that have allowed people to lawfully report and track the locations of ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents based on their visible public activities. They have also removed an app that simply archived media documenting ICE abuses. Apple have done this in response to pressure from the U.S. federal government.
This is just the latest in a long train of abuses on the part of Big Tech. But it is one that comes at a critical time in the history of the United States and the world when many governments are becoming more authoritarian and are pressuring Big Tech to assist them in censorship, surveillance, and the infringement of human rights. These companies generally bow to the wishes of the governments of the countries in which they do business because they want to continue to do business. Apple have been resisting giving governments backdoor access to their iCloud service, but I believe it is only a matter of time before they give in on that, too.
And so, it's time for me to try again to divest myself of the products and ecosystems of Big Tech to the extent possible. The sobering reality of the situation is that Big Tech has become so enmeshed in the fabric of my everyday life that this will be a difficult and painful task. But it is necessary. And I believe it will be worth it, especially if I can help others to follow suit.
Over the coming weeks I will be assessing all of the technology I personally use and seeking freer replacements – or choosing to do without, if necessary.
And I will, of course, be documenting and sharing my experience for posterity and in the hopes that it will inspire others to do the same.