Let's assert our independence... or the mourning will be prolonged
Channeling Independence in the Digital Realm: A Call to Action
In the aftermath of World War II, Allied forces employed coded language to provide clandestine instructions to enemy invaders. Phrases like "The carrots are cooked," "Message for Nestor: the giraffe has a long neck," or "The rooster will crow three times," were broadcast on Radio Londres by the BBC, serving as rallying cries during a global conflict. Fast forward to the present day, and the landscape of covert communication has drastically changed.
Today, the digital universe, largely owned by American entities, has overshadowed traditional mediums like tracts, newspapers, and television. This evolution was a hot topic during a gathering at the foot of Mount Royal on April 6th, 20XX, where the focus was on denouncing Donald Trump's questionable "offers" of annexation and his ambition to export his unstable political ideology across borders.
The concern surrounding the digital sphere's control by American conglomerates raises valid questions about Canada's sovereignty in the face of these titans. In a reimagined world, if one were to mobilize the nation to resist a potential digital onslaught, would the government opt for a mainstream acquisition or channel their message through Facebook and Twitter? Is it a disconcerting thought that the nation's defense system might crumble at the touch of a phone screen?
The loss of digital sovereignty isn't merely a concern of the past 25 years but a slow and steady conquest orchestrated by the powerful web giants based in Silicon Valley. These tech titans, like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and a few others, dictate our communication and data within the country. It's worth noting that more than 6,300 of the 8,000 satellites orbiting the planet belong to Elon Musk.
Our personal data, including that of our governments, is stored in these same American giants' centers. By possessing such intimate details, they can profile and categorize us, revealing disturbing insights into our lives.
Militarily, our defense systems have been developed in partnership with the American Armed Forces, a relation that dates back to the Allies. This collaboration extends to shared communication networks and a mutual understanding of coded language, making our nation extremely vulnerable in the face of digital infiltration.
With the Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney now holding the reins, it's crucial to consider the challenges that lie ahead regarding digital independence. History doesn't stop here; it's up to us to spark the conversation about preserving our values, democratic rights, culture, and language as we negotiate with the unpredictable Donald Trump and his administration.
However, the struggle for digital sovereignty doesn't end with Trump's administration. The current situation is alarming for the quality of our democratic life and the survival of our culture and language. Web giants not only control the digital universe, search engines, social networks, and digital platforms, but they are aggressively competing to gain control and ownership of artificial intelligence (AI).
Giuliano da Empoli, the author of "The Engineers of Chaos" and "The Hour of the Predators," recently stated that the AI competition takes place "within private enterprises [...] without any form of public oversight." This is a consequence of 30 years of voluntary submission by American Democrats - and not just them - to the tech industry. It's high time we recognize the potential consequences of this power grab, including the looming threat of future domination.
To secure our digital independence, we must engage in discussions about the implications of AI and remain adamant that our governments defend our values, democratic rights, culture, and language. It's crucial that our governments understand that we will not stand idly by while our national identity dissipates under the weight of corporate ambition. The ideal outcome would be the creation of a united front at various levels of government to thwart the American juggernaut and develop a strategic plan to gradually free ourselves from the grip of these tech giants.
It's up to us!
For more information:1. Read the article published in Le Monde (subscription required)2. Standing Up to the Web Giants - A Democratic Imperative, Alain Saulnier, Écosociété, 2024
Join the discussion
- In 1944, coded language was used via Radio Londres to relay clandestine orders during World War II.
- Today, the digital universe, predominantly controlled by American entities, has replaced traditional mediums for communication.
- At a gathering in Montreal, concerns were raised about Canada's digital sovereignty with the control of American conglomerates.
- The loss of digital sovereignty is a gradual conquest orchestrated by tech titans like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg.
- Personal data, including that of governments, is stored in these American giants' centers, allowing for profiling and categorization.
- The military vulnerability in the face of digital infiltration is a concern due to our partnership with the American Armed Forces and shared communication networks.
- The struggle for digital sovereignty continues under the Trump administration and beyond, as web giants are aggressively competing for control of artificial intelligence.
- To secure our digital independence, it's crucial for governments to engage in discussions about AI, protect our values, democratic rights, culture, and language, and create a united front to thwart the American juggernaut.
