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The People Vs Tech
How the internet is killing democracy (and how we save it)
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Check link for latest rating. ( 1,710 ratings, 185 reviews)
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Format: Paperback / softback
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**Winner of the 2019 Transmission Prize**
**Longlisted for the 2019 Orwell Prize for Political Writing**
‘A superb book by one of the world’s leading experts on the digital revolution’ David Patrikarakos, Literary Review
‘This book could not have come at a better moment...
An urgent polemic about the precarious future of democratic society in the tech age from the bestselling author of The Dark Net
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Description
An urgent polemic about the precarious future of democratic society in the tech age from the bestselling author of The Dark Net.
Winner of the 2019 Transmission Prize
Longlisted for the 2019 Orwell Prize for Political Writing
'A superb book by one of the world's leading experts on the digital revolution' - David Patrikarakos, Literary Review
'This book could not have come at a better moment... The People Vs Tech makes clear that there is still time - just - for us to take back control' - Camilla Cavendish, Sunday Times
The internet was meant to set us free.
Tech has radically changed the way we live our lives. But have we unwittingly handed too much away to shadowy powers behind a wall of code, all manipulated by a handful of Silicon Valley utopians, ad men, and venture capitalists? And, in light of recent data breach scandals around companies like Facebook and Cambridge Analytica, what does that mean for democracy, our delicately balanced system of government that was created long before big data, total information, and artificial intelligence?
In this urgent polemic, Jamie Bartlett argues that through our unquestioning embrace of big tech, the building blocks of democracy are slowly being removed. The middle class is being eroded, sovereign authority and civil society are weakened, and we citizens are losing our critical faculties, maybe even our free will.
The People Vs Tech is an enthralling account of how our fragile political system is being threatened by the digital revolution. Bartlett explains that by upholding six key pillars of democracy, we can save it before it is too late. We need to become active citizens; uphold a shared democratic culture; protect free elections; promote equality; safeguard competitive and civic freedoms; and trust in a sovereign authority.
This essential book shows that the stakes couldn't be higher and that, unless we radically alter our course, democracy will join feudalism, supreme monarchies, and communism as just another political experiment that quietly disappeared.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
The book by Jamie Bartlett is praised as an essential and authoritative guide on the impact of technology on democracy and society. Critics highlight its ability to offer clarity and thoughtful solutions, with reviewers calling it vital, highly readable, and an important contribution to discussions about technology's role in politics. It's described as both a foundational introduction and an erudite exploration of the social costs of technological advancements.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781785039065
Publisher: Ebury Publishing
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 19 April 2018
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Ebury Press
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 16.0mm
Width: 126.0mm
Height: 198.0mm
Weight: 177g
Pages: 256
About the Author
Jamie Bartlett is the bestselling author of The Dark Net, Radicals, and The People Vs Tech, which was longlisted for the 2019 Orwell Prize for Political Writing and won the 2019 Transmission Prize. He founded the Centre for the Analysis of Social Media at the think-tank Demos and regularly writes on technology and society for the Spectator, the Sunday Times and elsewhere. In 2017 Jamie presented the two-part BBC TWO documentary series The Secrets of Silicon Valley. His TedTalk about dark net drugs markets has been watched nearly six million times. In 2019 his critically acclaimed BBC podcast series The Missing Cryptoqueen reached number 1 on the iTunes charts, and has been downloaded millions of times.
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