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Big Tech and Democracy Need To Work Together, Microsoft Executives Say (axios.com)
From a report: It's not often that Big Tech calls for more government action. But two top Microsoft executives -- Brad Smith, president and chief legal officer, and Carol Ann Browne, director of executive communications -- write in a tech trends forecast out today. "2018 will be a year when democratic governments can either work together to safeguard electoral processes or face a future where democracy is more fragile. [T]his needs to include work to protect campaigns from hacking, address social media issues, ensure the integrity of voting results, and protect vital census processes," they wrote.
I wouldn't want Microsoft, or any other software giant for that matter, near my government. As if legalized corruption in form of lobbying wouldn't be enough...
"Democratic governments need to spend their time and resources cracking open the door in closed markets for us to make more money and not pay taxes on."
Slashdot still doesnâ(TM)t support Unicode after it was added to the HTML standard in 1997.
Only paper ballots can facilitate that. So, if "Big Tech" can make a better crayon, go for it!
As for majority rule hitting the brick wall due to an ignorant and antipathic majority, well, that's something that needs fixing pronto. We still haven't reached the bottom of that trench yet.
“He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
safeguarding our elections.
That makes me feel soooooooo confident.
I wouldn't want Microsoft, or any other software giant for that matter, near my government.
A) They already are involved in the government (or were you under the delusion that governments still run using typewriters and mimeographs?), and B) they could hardly make it worse. Democracies require everyone to be involved to work and that includes big tech companies whether or not you like it.
In the past I felt that I owned my OS and my programs. Nowadays, it feels like renting a patch from a feudal lord.
I could install the OS on my computer, then on another one. Not anymore, at least not all of them.
Democracy appeared in the Ancient Greece where people owned land of their farms. And only owners could participate in the democracy. So if Big Tech really wants a democracy let them make us owners again.
Trump has proven that we can have both at once.
Support Right To Repair Legislation.
I'm pretty sure democracy managed just fine with paper ballots for a couple hundred years. I'd say calling out the rare problem with them is as knee-jerk as going after big tech, if not worse.
The problem with initiatives like this from a for-profit company like Microsoft is that their number one goal is the short term enhancement of executive compensation, followed closely by fiduciary responsibility to shareholders.
Any time an organization with those kinds of priorities calls for "working with democracies to safeguard elections" you have to wonder where the real agenda is.
I guarantee you neither Microsoft the corporation or its executives are willing to donate hundreds of millions of dollars in equipment, software and expertise for the good of democracy. I'd imagine anything they would be willing to give away is motivated by some kind of lock-in to their platform and recurring revenue from constant updates and upgrades, tax deductions or influence peddling.
The day Carol Ann Browne is willing to turn over millions of her own wealth to safeguard democracy as an initial pledge, I might be willing to take MS at face value. Until then, it's all bullshit designed to make MS, its executives and shareholders wealthier and more influential.
>> safeguard electoral processes or face a future where democracy is more fragile
Look around. Nearly all so-called "democratic" governments are already working towards replacing democracy with dictatorship. Doing nothing in this case just speeds up their actual agenda.
Literally nothing would make Slashdot embrace Microsoft.
Microsoft could meticulously do differently all the things that Slashdot complains about and it still won't be enough. The goalposts wlll contantly move.
Microsoft could have the cure for cancer and Slashdot would still be against them, claiming they are trying to EEE cancer treatment centers.