Why fascism is so tempting — and how your data could power it-Harari (Quest special)
“You should never underestimate human stupidity. It is one of the most powerful forces that shape history.“- Harari
In a profound talk about technology and power, author and historian Yuval Noah Harari explain the important difference between fascism and nationalism — and what the consolidation of our data means for the future of democracy. Appearing as a hologram live from Tel Aviv, Harari warns that the greatest danger that now faces liberal democracy is that the revolution in information technology will make dictatorships more efficient and capable of control. “The enemies of liberal democracy hack our feelings of fear and hate and vanity, and then use these feelings to polarize and destroy,” Harari says. “It is the responsibility of all of us to get to know our weaknesses and make sure they don’t become weapons.” (Followed by a brief conversation with TED curator Chris Anderson) click on the thumb below to watch.
Talk with the transcript is available here
https://www.ted.com/talks/yuval_noah_harari_why_fascism_is_so_tempting_and_how_your_data_could_power_it/transcript
Some important points to remember from the talk
“Fascism is what happens when people try to ignore the complications and to make life too easy for themselves.”
“The greatest danger that now faces liberal democracy is that the revolution in information technology will make dictatorships more efficient than democracies.”
“The enemies of liberal democracy, they have a method. They hack our feelings.”
Further, the combination of information technology with biotechnology may enable algorithms that report on individuals. Dictators armed with this information could predict or manipulate people’s emotions. And emotions, not rational thought, are the basis of democracy. To preserve democracy, data engineers should ensure that distributed data processing remains as efficient as centralized systems. Additionally, add safeguards to prevent a powerful elite from seizing control of data. Individuals can help protect democracy by knowing their own weaknesses, such as vanity and fear, and preventing democracy’s enemies from weaponizing those flaws.
Nicely Explained the essence of “fascism”. Of course in the present century, the political aspirations are to control the big data! eventually, this data can lead to control the human emotions. And that’s they want, a beautiful image of their political venture in the “fascist mirror”!