An Anti-Tech Gift Guide for the Holidays
It’s the holidays, and that means we’re bombarded with wishlists, gift guides, and sales of tech products competing for our cash. But what if, instead of focusing on what to buy, we took the opportunity to consider the tech products we wished would go away?
The Luddite Tribunals, inspired by the 19th-century textile workers who resisted harmful technology, gathered tech workers, scholars, journalists, and artists to discuss whether certain technologies had a net benefit or drain on society. If the verdict was negative, they smashed the offending technology with a sledgehammer, just like the Luddites did to power looms.
So, in the spirit of confronting the negative impacts of consumerism and technology, let’s take a look at some of the worst tech products, services, and concepts of the year:
Amazon Ring doorbells
Edward Ongweso Jr., columnist at The Nation, explains that the Ring surveillance camera has deputized residents to become vigilantes, causing paranoia, suspicion, and a loss of privacy in neighborhoods.
Uber
According to Veena Dubal, a gig work law expert, it’s not the technology of Uber that’s the issue, but rather the surveillance and algorithmic control embedded in its business model. This has worsened the conditions for taxi workers.
Generative AI
Paris Marx, author and journalist, expresses concern over the impact of generative AI on creative professions. Additionally, the hype around AI has led to its deployment in areas that may harm marginalized communities, such as the U.K. government’s plan to replace humans with machines in immigration and public services.
Remote attestation tools
Cory Doctorow, a science fiction author and activist, criticizes cryptographic systems that extract information from digital devices against the user’s wishes. These tools have become pervasive, granting manufacturers control over the products even after purchase.
23andMe
Jason Koebler, investigative journalist, warns against the risks associated with sharing one’s genetic code with a for-profit database like 23andMe. This data can be exploited by law enforcement, pharmaceutical companies, and hackers.
The concentration of power in big tech
Meredith Whittaker, CEO of Signal, highlights the problems caused by the concentration of power in the tech industry. The focus on efficiency and cost savings often comes at the expense of worker well-being, safety, and accountability.
While the core technologies behind these products may not be inherently bad, their uses and the impact they have on society are concerning. It’s important to critically examine the ways in which technology affects our lives and consider whether some tech products should disappear.
If you have any tech products you believe should be on this list, feel free to share your thoughts with us. We’ll consider them for inclusion in the follow-up article — the worst tech of the year, readers’ choice edition. Happy holidays, and may we all strive for a more mindful relationship with technology.
