The critical question is: How do we ensure that the Internet develops in a way that is compatible with democracy?
Rebecca MackinnonRead
The potential for the abuse of power through digital networks - upon which we the people now depend for nearly everything, including our politics - is one of the most insidious threats to democracy in the Internet age.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Digital networks can lead to power abuses that threaten democracy.
Rebecca Mackinnon's quote highlights the dangers inherent in our reliance on digital networks for various aspects of life, including governance. She points out that as we increasingly depend on these platforms, the risk of power being misused rises significantly, posing a severe threat to democratic principles and practices in the modern age.
Themes
DigitalPowerAbuseDemocracyNetworksPolitics
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on digital rights, this quote can illustrate the importance of safeguarding democracy.
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Citizens' rights cannot be protected if their digital activities are governed and policed by opaque and publicly unaccountable corporate mechanisms.
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