The Tech Coup How to Save Democracy from Silicon Valley
summary
Argues that Big Tech now functions as a de facto sovereign with concrete examples: zero-click spyware sold on commercial markets enabling remote hacks; facial recognition misidentifies darker skin and is already deployed; Microsoft’s market cap equals a large national GDP, giving firms funding to buy talent, lobbyists and data centers that strain local water and power. Proposes enforceable fixes—criminalize spyware and deepfakes, ban some data brokers and commercial face ID, extend public accountability for outsourced surveillance, and measure significant societal power to trigger extra oversight.
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chapters (14)
- 0:00Introduction
- 1:24Tech coup and democracy threat
- 4:15Invisible tech power
- 11:58Book insights and analysis
- 15:12Boundaries and tech coup
- 21:19Renegotiating digital boundaries
- 23:10EU sovereignty and regulation
- 28:10Tradeoffs and inaction cost
- 33:06Europe leading with values
- 43:11Solutions and tech accountability
- 51:55State role in tech regulation
- 58:35Europe’s global responsibility
- 1:00:01Future of tech power
- 1:07:53Call to action
