A New Dawn for Tech: Trump's Tariffs Bring Hope to Break Free from "Enshittification"
The recent tariffs imposed by the US government under the Trump administration have created a unique opportunity for tech companies to rethink their business models and break free from the shackles of "enshittification" – a term coined by Cory Doctorow, a renowned science fiction author, activist, and journalist.
For decades, the US has used its trade dominance to coerce other countries into adopting laws that restrict the ability of programmers to modify or customize digital products. This has resulted in a market where tech companies can extract massive profits from consumers without providing them with meaningful choices or alternatives. However, with Trump's tariffs, this old bargain is no longer tenable.
The US tech industry has long relied on its ability to blackmail foreign governments and companies into adopting anti-circumvention laws that restrict the right to repair and modify digital products. These laws have been used to stifle innovation and limit consumer choice, as companies like Apple and Google use their market power to dictate what software and services are allowed on their platforms.
But with Trump's tariffs, the tables have turned. Foreign governments and companies can now retaliate by refusing to play by the US's rules, and instead adopting their own anti-circumvention laws that prioritize consumer rights and digital sovereignty. This has created a new dynamic where tech companies must confront the possibility of losing market share and profits as consumers switch to alternative platforms and services.
Doctorow sees this as an opportunity for change. "It's not just digital rights activists, investors and entrepreneurs who have a dog in this fight," he writes. "Now that Trump has made it clear that the US no longer has allies or trading partners, only rivals and adversaries, everyone in the world is trying to figure out whether they can trust American tech infrastructure with their governments, businesses and personal data."
The answer, Doctorow suggests, is a resounding "no." As investors and companies begin to question the reliability of US tech infrastructure, there is a growing recognition that alternatives are needed. This could involve adopting more open-source technologies, using decentralized platforms, or exploring new business models that prioritize consumer choice and digital sovereignty.
Of course, this will not be an easy process. It will require significant investments in research and development, as well as changes to existing laws and regulations. But with Trump's tariffs creating a new level of uncertainty and competition in the tech industry, there is finally a glimmer of hope that we can break free from the stranglehold of "enshittification" and build a more sustainable and equitable digital future.
As Doctorow puts it, "Making hundreds of billions of dollars every year is a far superior course of action to building a bunch of datacentres in support of an AI sector that is losing billions of dollars every year and heading for a tremendous crash." The time has come to challenge the status quo and explore new ways of doing business that prioritize people over profits.
The recent tariffs imposed by the US government under the Trump administration have created a unique opportunity for tech companies to rethink their business models and break free from the shackles of "enshittification" – a term coined by Cory Doctorow, a renowned science fiction author, activist, and journalist.
For decades, the US has used its trade dominance to coerce other countries into adopting laws that restrict the ability of programmers to modify or customize digital products. This has resulted in a market where tech companies can extract massive profits from consumers without providing them with meaningful choices or alternatives. However, with Trump's tariffs, this old bargain is no longer tenable.
The US tech industry has long relied on its ability to blackmail foreign governments and companies into adopting anti-circumvention laws that restrict the right to repair and modify digital products. These laws have been used to stifle innovation and limit consumer choice, as companies like Apple and Google use their market power to dictate what software and services are allowed on their platforms.
But with Trump's tariffs, the tables have turned. Foreign governments and companies can now retaliate by refusing to play by the US's rules, and instead adopting their own anti-circumvention laws that prioritize consumer rights and digital sovereignty. This has created a new dynamic where tech companies must confront the possibility of losing market share and profits as consumers switch to alternative platforms and services.
Doctorow sees this as an opportunity for change. "It's not just digital rights activists, investors and entrepreneurs who have a dog in this fight," he writes. "Now that Trump has made it clear that the US no longer has allies or trading partners, only rivals and adversaries, everyone in the world is trying to figure out whether they can trust American tech infrastructure with their governments, businesses and personal data."
The answer, Doctorow suggests, is a resounding "no." As investors and companies begin to question the reliability of US tech infrastructure, there is a growing recognition that alternatives are needed. This could involve adopting more open-source technologies, using decentralized platforms, or exploring new business models that prioritize consumer choice and digital sovereignty.
Of course, this will not be an easy process. It will require significant investments in research and development, as well as changes to existing laws and regulations. But with Trump's tariffs creating a new level of uncertainty and competition in the tech industry, there is finally a glimmer of hope that we can break free from the stranglehold of "enshittification" and build a more sustainable and equitable digital future.
As Doctorow puts it, "Making hundreds of billions of dollars every year is a far superior course of action to building a bunch of datacentres in support of an AI sector that is losing billions of dollars every year and heading for a tremendous crash." The time has come to challenge the status quo and explore new ways of doing business that prioritize people over profits.
! It's like, finally some competition in the tech world and US companies have to step up their game 
. No more exploiting consumers just to make a quick buck 
. I mean, come on, who needs that much control over our digital lives anyway? 
! It's about time we break free from those restrictive laws and focus on creating something truly innovative 
. Open-source tech, decentralized platforms, it's all about giving consumers more options and agency 
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! This is your chance to get in on the ground floor of a new, more sustainable digital future 
. It won't be easy, but trust me, it'll be worth it 
. Let's make some real progress here and build something that benefits everyone, not just the bottom line 
It's all about democratizing access to AI tech and making it more accessible to smaller devs 
. Worth a look if you're into that stuff 
!
I was just talking to my friend about this one video game, Cyberpunk 2077, and how it's got some crazy glitches. Anyway, back to this tariff stuff... It sounds like it could be good for tech companies? Like they'll have to change their ways or lose customers? 
Can someone explain it in simpler terms than that complex news article? 
It might not be easy, but I think its a step in the right direction.
. Like, what's gonna happen when all these countries start switching to open-source tech? Are we ready for that? 
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. I mean, Trump's all about shaking things up, but is this really a good thing for us in the long run? 
It feels like we're just setting ourselves up for more chaos and uncertainty... 
. We do need to rethink our relationship with tech and make sure it serves us instead of the other way around 
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. Can't wait to see how this all plays out... 
I feel like we're finally on the cusp of something big here. It's about time someone shook things up in the tech industry 
I mean, can you imagine having a say in what happens to your own data? It's crazy that we've been living without basic digital rights for so long 
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. But if anyone can make it happen, I think it starts with us, as consumers and users, demanding better from our tech companies 
. We need to start supporting each other, sharing knowledge, and pushing for real change 
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! Trump's tariffs are like a wake-up call for the tech industry, you know? It's forcing them to rethink their whole approach and focus on what really matters – consumers! I mean, who wants to be stuck in a market where they're basically ransomware for governments and companies? Not me, that's for sure 
. This could be the push we need to move away from "enshittification" and towards something more sustainable and equitable. Imagine having control over our own data and choosing which platforms and services we use – it's a total game-changer 
When corporations get threatened, innovation happens! 
5G is gonna disrupt the whole "enshittification" thing, might as well get used to it! 
It would be so much easier to modify or repair devices if companies didn't have a stranglehold on the market. And yeah, making money is great and all, but not at the expense of people's rights 
). I mean, can you imagine a world where we have more choice and control over our digital lives? It's like, finally! The US government has been trying to strong-arm other countries into playing by their rules for too long. But now, with the tables turned, it's up to us to take matters into our own hands 
. It's like, the future is now! And I love how he's calling out companies like Apple and Google for their abuse of power 
. And I'm here for it 
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. But if anyone can make a difference, it's got to be us - the consumers and innovators who actually care about what's going on in the world 
. But I think this is a really exciting opportunity for us to challenge the status quo and create something new 
so this is what happens when you're trying to squeeze more cash out of a dwindling market... now tech companies have to actually think about what their customers want instead of just raking it in 
. And Google's own research says that 80% of its Android security patches come from community contributors 
. Since 2015, the number of open-source tech projects has increased by 50%