Part 2 of Long Reads' discussion with #BenTarnoff and #QuinnSlobodian, authors of #Muskism: A Guide for the Perplexed

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/long-reads-trillion-dollar-baby-w-quinn-slobodian-and/id791564318?i=1000775222782

for Part 1 v. https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/long-reads-trillion-dollar-baby-w-quinn-slobodian-and/id791564318?i=1000773249464

#Musk #ElonMusk #tech #BigTech #techCriticism #techOligarchs #SiliconValleyRight #books @bookstodon

RE: https://social.heise.de/@heiseonlineenglish/116917555903146572

Nearly a quarterof all domestic power is consumed by hyper scalers' data centres in Ireland. Let that melt on your tongue and see whether this is sustainable for the given #ClimateCollapse situation.

#LLM #GenAI #ClimateCrisis #DataCentres #BigTech

Guy boosted

heise online English » 🤖 🌐 2026-07-14
@heiseonlineenglish@social.heise.de

Ireland: Data centers consume 23 percent of the country's electricity

In 2025, data centers in Ireland consumed around 7663 GWh of electricity – more than all urban households combined. Despite a moratorium in greater Dublin area.

https://www.heise.de/en/news/Ireland-Data-centers-consume-23-percent-of-the-country-s-electricity-11364060.html?wt_mc=sm.red.ho.mastodon.mastodon.md_beitraege.md_beitraege&utm_source=mastodon

#AmazonWebServices #Energie #Google #IT #Klimaschutz #KünstlicheIntelligenz #Microsoft #Netzausbau #news

• #kunstlicheintelligenz

@elsua54 @timbray

When it comes down to it (developers / techies mostly) we #trust computers more than people (incl buying the #bigtech that backs all this).

No interest in amassing people or intelligence personally together (like how to talk and practise that as audio chats / hosted sessions).

Not using it to 'convert' & upskill logic / appreciate each other / help others up.

An #aesthetic social won't beat the whole virtual / electronic cycle that is un-ideal & contrary to purpose.

"The Technium wants what we design it to want and what we try to direct it to do ... it has its own wants ... to perpetuate itself, to keep itself going ... and those wants are gaining in complexity and force."

#bigtech #technium

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is not a supply shock—it is a permanent, calculated strategy. As fuel prices hit impossible highs, Big Tech is orchestrating a trauma-based transition to kill the combustion engine. The goal is to replace vehicles with biometric surveillance chambers to harvest your biological data. #SystemicRisk #BigTech #Hormuz #Privacy

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The image depicts a group of prominent figures—including Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Peter Thiel—gathered around a glowing, digital-like globe beneath the Palantir logo. It illustrates a convergence of political and technological power, suggesting strategic control over global data and geopolitical systems.

The face of digital silence. This operation transforms professional networks into a paramilitary apparatus for mass biometric data extraction. User privacy is being weaponized to feed corporate and state surveillance agendas. This is not networking; it is a systematic betrayal of trust. We are the fuel for their control machine. Time to break the silence. #Privacy #Surveillance #BigTech #DataRights

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"The architect of digital silence. Weaponizing private data for paramilitary control, turning professional networks into surveillance apparatuses. Accountability is coming.

@Tutanota
So the whole push to switch from US tech to EU tech was a lie to just allow the powers-that-be gain more info and data upon a global level.
#EU are traitors to the people. Not surprised. They don’t care about anyone same as US. They just kindness-wash the people to make you think they are different than the likes of the other horrible political folk.
#BigTech #DataPrivacy

The transcript of yesterday's Role of Big Tech in Society debate in Parliament is here: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2026-06-23/debates/FFC78426-519C-4C80-8E25-8FA7831C0B2A/RoleOfBigTechInSociety and it's somewhat supportive of open source software. Once you get past the Cloudflare challenge. #ukpolitics #bigtech

In case you haven't heard yet, the European Court of Justice dismissed Google's appeal last week, which means that even if they tried to get away with it, they'll have to pay the €4.1 billion imposed by the European Commission in 2018. The lawsuit focused on Google abusing its dominance by requiring distributors of Android devices to bundle Google Search and Google Chrome.

This is why we don't stop at building a decent browser, but also go the extra mile and get involved in regulatory work. Having real choices it's crucial for a healthy market.

#BigTech #browser #Google #EuropeanCommission

"PRO-Kamerlid Kathmann heeft staatssecretaris Aerdts vandaag om opheldering gevraagd. "Deelt u onze zorgen dat deze uitspraak gevolgen kan hebben voor de rechtmatige data-uitwisseling tussen de Europese Unie en de Verenigde Staten? Wat zouden die gevolgen volgens u kunnen zijn?" De bewindsvrouw moet ook duidelijk maken of Nederland voorbereid is op een scenario waar het Data Privacy Framework ongeldig wordt verklaard.

Kathmann wil verder weten welke toezichthouder moet toezien op de (on)rechtmatige uitwisseling van data met Amerikaanse partijen als het DPF ongeldig wordt verklaard en of er scenario’s denkbaar zijn waarin aanvullende maatregelen niet volstaan en data niet meer rechtmatig met Amerikaanse partijen kan worden gedeeld. "Deelt u de mening dat de enige zekere maatregel om onrechtmatige data-uitwisseling met de Verenigde Staten te voorkomen is om veel minder afhankelijk te worden van Amerikaanse techbedrijven?", vraagt Kathmann als laatste. Aerdts heeft drie weken om met een reactie te komen."

https://www.security.nl/posting/943232/Zorgen+in+Kamer+of+EU+en+VS+na+uitspraak+hof+nog+data+mogen+uitwisselen

#EU #VS #privacy #bigtech

"I can’t tell if Zuckerberg is dimwitted or just evil. The problem during the first era of the AI boom (circa 2023) was indeed that Meta was too slow to identify the metaverse flub. But that was no longer Meta’s problem entering the agentic coding era: The problem, rather, was that Meta had no coherent strategy. The last thing it should’ve done was “move fast enough to adopt” because “adopting” was not the answer to Meta’s problems. AI-assisted programming has developed in the last six months — contrary to Zuckerberg’s claim that it “hasn’t really accelerated” — but indeed not in the way Meta expected, because Meta’s vibes-based management this time was just plain wrong. AI never had the potential to replace so many workers at an instant. The vibe was — unlike in 2023 — not late, but wrong entirely. And I’m confident in saying only a fool could have lent credence to that laughably incorrect theory."

https://eshumarneedi.com/2026/07/03/zuckerberg-admits-metas-layoffs-were.html

#Meta #AI #Metaverse #AIBubble #BigTech #SiliconValley

Looking for alternatives to popular #Microsoft products? We can help! Take a look at these private alternatives👇🏼

Which of them are you using? 🤔

#microsoft #bigtech #bigtechalternatives

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Email. US based, Outlook. Eu based, Tuta Mail and Mailbox.org

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Video Call. US based, Microsoft Teams. EU based, OpenTalk and Digital Samba.

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Calendar. US based, Outlook Calendar. EU based, Tuta Calendar and Mailbox.org

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Office Suite. US based, Microsoft Office. EU based, Nextcloud Office and Cryptpad.

Pleased to share a piece I just finished with some guidance for small to medium sized organisations looking to migrate off big tech.

It's based on many years helping organisations and groups do exactly that.

While not definitive (there are other roads to the same place), I hope at least some of it is useful.

https://courses.nikau.io/2026/07/03/moving-your-org-off-big-tech/

#infrastructure #bigtech #datasovereignty

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The title image of the article, featuring a Nīkau palm in the foreground, at altitude on a clear and sunny day looking over a river running through the Tararua Ranges, Lower North Island, Aotearoa New Zealand (photo by me).

++ MASSIVER STAATLICHER ÜBERGRIFF AUF CAMP! ++

KI kurzschliessen!

‚Polizei räumt politisches und kulturelles Camp ohne rechtliche Verfügung und erledigt die Drecksarbeit für Tech-Oligarchen.

Heute morgen wurde in Benken auf dem Privatgrund eines solidarischen Bauers das “KI-kurzschliessen-Camp” mit politischem Programm gegen den massiven Ausbau von Datenzentren in der Region Schaffhausen aufgebaut.

Nach anfänglichen Verhandlungen begann die Polizei, sich zusammenzurotten. Vermummte Zivilpolizisten kesselten die Menschen vor Ort - begleitet von Drohnen und Polizeihunden. Menschen wurden kontrolliert und die Polizei verteilte Platzverweise.

Die Kantonspolizei gestand gegenüber einem Journalisten, dass sie zum Zeitpunkt des Übergriffs über keine Verfügung der Gemeinde verfügte. Die Polizei erledigt also eigenmächtig die Drecksarbeit für Tech-Oligarchen - und zeigt damit einmal mehr, dass sie lediglich die bewaffnete Hand der Reichen und Mächtigen ist.

Der Widerstand gegen Datenzentren und Big Tech in der Schweiz hat begonnen und weder polizeiliche Übergriffe noch Verbote werden die Bewegung aufhalten. Weitere Infos folgen - stay tuned!‘

https://mailchi.mp/761e4fd9b5ae/ki-kurzschliessen-camp

https://aufstaendederallmende.org/index.php/camp/

#Polizei #Polizeigewalt #Schaffhausen #Schweiz #BigTech #Repression #KI #Protest #Sabotage

Update on #LibrePhone, organizing locally, and more in issue 48 of the digital #Bulletin: https://u.fsf.org/4bk #BigTech #FreeSoftware #FSF #UptimeKuma #GTLTC

This is a privacy victory. It deserves to be celebrated. The Supreme Court ruled that geofence warrants violate the Fourth Amendment, 6–3.

https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/06/court-rules-that-law-enforcements-use-of-geofence-warrant-was-a-search

However, there’s a hidden detail that is worth flagging. And it’s not good.

This ruling arose from Chatrie v United States. Google gave generic cell phone records to the cops. No specificity means unconstitutional. Maybe.

The federal judge on the case agreed that it was unconstitutional. But she allowed evidence from the violation to be used anyway. Why? She cited that “even if there had been a violation of the Fourth Amendment, law enforcement officials had acted in good faith.”

In. Good. Faith.

This translates to “cops can violate the constitution if we believe their intentions are good.”

How many cops do you know who act in good faith?

#FourthAmendment #4thAmendment #Privacy #BigTech #SCOTUS #ChatrieVUnitedStates #Constitution #AbolishThePolice

Pleased to share a page and explainer for the AI tarpit project Science is Poetry, with legal statement, rationale(s), and a few deployment notes:

https://julianoliver.com/projects/science-is-poetry/

The page may grow a bit. Just wanted to get it out the door.

#AI #bigtech

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Title image for the Science is Poetry project page, featuring the word Counteroffensive followed by auto-generated babble on a purple background.

The Circle: The Scariest Part Isn't Big Tech. It's Us.

When The Circle hit theaters in 2017, many people saw it as another tech thriller. Today, it feels less like science fiction and more like tomorrow's news feed.

The movie is based on Dave Eggers' bestselling novel, often called the 1984 of the digital age. Ironically, the film improves on the book in one important way. Instead of explaining every idea through endless dialogue, it lets us see them. The result is faster, smoother and much easier to watch. But it still feels more like an essay than a real story.

Mae Holland lands her dream job at The Circle, a giant tech company that looks like a mix of Google, Apple, Meta and TikTok. The campus is bright, colorful and full of smiling people. Everyone talks about changing the world. That is the first warning sign.

Modern tech companies rarely say they just want to build products or make money. They promise to make humanity better. The Circle sells exactly that dream. Soon Mae believes privacy is outdated. If you have nothing to hide, why keep secrets? She starts wearing a tiny camera that livestreams her entire life. Every second. Every conversation. Every emotion. Imagine if your entire life became one endless Twitch stream.

This world feels like a strange combination of George Orwell's 1984 and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. Control no longer comes through fear alone. It comes through convenience, entertainment and the promise of a better future. Looking at today's AI boom, smart homes and endless social media feeds, the movie suddenly feels much less fictional than it did a few years ago.

One scene stands out. The Circle suggests that voting should happen through its own platform. If everyone already has an account, why not connect democracy directly to the app? It sounds efficient. Maybe even practical. The movie briefly asks whether democracy itself could become a product owned by a private company. That is one of its most interesting ideas.

Sadly, it never explores that question.

Instead, the ending takes the easy Hollywood route. Rather than challenging the system, it blames a few powerful executives. Once their private emails are exposed, the audience is expected to believe justice has been served. As if replacing a CEO could solve everything.

But that misses the real problem.

Systems survive because people are replaceable. Remove one tech billionaire and another one will take the job. The real issue is a business model built on collecting more data, measuring human behavior and turning attention into profit. It doesn't matter whether the CEO is friendly or arrogant. If the machine stays the same, the result stays the same.

That idea feels even more relevant today. We often argue about individual tech leaders. But should we? The real question is why any company should have that much power in the first place. Whether it is Meta, Google, Apple or the next AI giant, the structure remains the same.

The movie also lets us off the hook too easily. It is comforting to blame powerful corporations. Harder to admit that we help build this world ourselves. We accept the cookies. We install the apps. We trade privacy for convenience. We buy smart speakers, connect everything to the cloud and tell ourselves it is worth it because life becomes easier.

That may be The Circle's biggest weakness. It criticizes Silicon Valley's worldview but forgets to criticize ours. Most people are not driven by ideology. They simply choose what is new, useful and comfortable. That is how surveillance becomes normal—not because anyone forces us, but because we quietly invite it into our homes.

The movie offers only one alternative: rejecting technology completely and escaping into nature. But that feels just as unrealistic as total digital transparency. It presents two extremes while ignoring everything in between.

Despite its flaws, The Circle remains a fascinating warning. Not because it predicts the future perfectly, but because so much of its future has already become our present.

Why am I writing about such an old movie? Shouldn't we have much smarter, deeper movies about AI, surveillance and Big Tech by now? Or have we simply become so used to these technologies that we no longer notice what is happening? Has Silicon Valley slowly won us over with its own propaganda? If you know any newer movies or series that tackle these questions in a more thoughtful way, let me know in the comments. I'm always looking for the next great warning before it becomes reality.

#TheCircle #movie #film #entertainment #cinema #Hollywood #criticism #filmcritic #siliconvalley #bigtech #bigdata #bigbrother #orwell #surveillance #privacy #warning #danger #today #future #ai #technology #software #algorithm #freedom #democracy #economy #power #billionaires #finance #money #company #humanity #ethics #world #life #control

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movie poster from the circle with the face of Emma Watson