Big Tech has always – like any other industry – promoted institutional contacts at various levels to represent its demands to legislators and intervene on measures that endanger its interests. ‘Institutional relations’ consultants – lobbyists, in other words – spend their time gathering information on what is happening in the precints of power and, on the other hand, make available documents, technical analyses and statistical data that decision-makers often do not have the means or the opportunity to obtain, or support public events organised by institutional actors as a form of ‘civil engagement’ and ‘social responsibility’. For some time now, however, the activity of influencing political choices has also begun to extend to interaction with civil society – activists and associations for the defence of ‘digital rights’ – and then, finally, directly to the people, or rather, to people’s perception of the concept of rights by Andrea Monti – Initally published in Italian by Strategikon – Italian Tech La Repubblica Continue reading “Apple’s sense of Privacy”
How Big Tech has exploited our craving for reality escape
In a world now enjoyed artificially through screens of various shapes and sizes, Big Tech has masterfully exploited some of the deepest and most disturbing aspects of human frailty. Behind the promise of new forms of interaction or entertainment, they capitalise on a state of deep unease: the inability to cope with our limitations and the isolation that often accompanies modern life by Andrea Monti – Initially published in Italian by La Repubblica – Italian Tech Continue reading “How Big Tech has exploited our craving for reality escape”
Encryption and the EU: all the chikens coming home to roost
The First Report on Encryption recently published by the EU Innovation Hub for Internal Security contains the guidelines and desiderata on encryption of EU structures dealing with security and crime fighting, and highlights the unresolved contradictions of the free availability of cryptographic technologies by Andrea Monti – Adjunct Professor of Digital Law – University of Chieti-Pescara – Initially published in Italian by Formiche.net Continue reading “Encryption and the EU: all the chikens coming home to roost”
Who wins and who loses in the Julian Assange affair
The plea bargain with which the US has decided to put an end (at least for now) to the Julian Assange affair highlights once again, and in exemplary fashion, how illusory it is to think that law represents a force to which everyone, including states, must submit by Andrea Monti – Initially published in Italian by Italian Tech-La Repubblica Continue reading “Who wins and who loses in the Julian Assange affair”
What the Chinese ban of Whatsapp, Telegram and Signal from Apple’s App Store means
According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple has removed or is about to remove a number of programmes from the Chinese version of its App Store, including Whatsapp, Threads, Telegram and Signal on the basis of national security concerns expressed by Beijing by Andrea Monti – Initially published in Italian on Strategikon – an Italian Tech – La Repubblica blog Continue reading “What the Chinese ban of Whatsapp, Telegram and Signal from Apple’s App Store means”