Trump may be the beginning of the end for 'enshittification' – this is our chance to make tech good again | Cory Doctorow

The Trump Era's Gift to Tech Freedom: A Window of Opportunity for Digital Rights Activists

In a shocking turn of events, US President Donald Trump's tariffs on tech exports have opened the door for digital rights activists to challenge decades-old laws restricting technological innovation. For two decades, the "anti-circumvention" law has stifled the development of open-source software and restricted programmers from modifying devices in ways that benefit users.

The existing framework, pushed by the US trade representative, mandates that foreign companies adhere to proprietary tech standards in exchange for favorable treatment under tariffs. However, with Trump's tariffs now on the table, this system is crumbling. The shift in global power dynamics presents an unprecedented opportunity for digital rights activists, investors, and technologists to challenge the dominant tech monopolies.

The restrictions imposed by the "anti-circumvention" law have led to a bleak landscape where companies are forced to spy on users and extract exorbitant fees. A UK-based perspective reveals that this policy has been exploited by US companies to whack British firms with sky-high fees, limiting their ability to modify their products.

Brexit presents a unique chance for the UK to break free from this outdated framework. By repealing article 6 of the European software directive and embracing the principles of open-source technology, the country can seize control over its own digital sovereignty.

On the other hand, making hundreds of billions of dollars annually is far more appealing than investing in an AI sector that's facing a tremendous crash. Investors are now being courted by technologists who have been forcibly ejected from the US and entrepreneurs seeking business opportunities without ties to the lucrative Trump coin craze.

However, this newfound freedom comes with risks. The lack of trust in American tech infrastructure is on the rise, as seen in the international criminal court's struggles with Microsoft Office after Trump sanctioned its officials. Digital rights activists are now faced with an unprecedented challenge: reclaiming control over their devices and safeguarding their data from hostile actors.

As the world grapples with the implications of this shift, one thing is clear – we have a rare window of opportunity to redefine the relationship between technology and society. It's time to "open a crack" in the existing system and take bold steps towards creating an open-source future where innovation knows no bounds.
 
You know how I was saying how everyone used to make their own games back on my console lol 🎮? Alright, so this whole Trump tariffs thing is like a giant key turning in the lock of tech freedom 🔑. It's crazy to think that for decades we've been stuck with these laws restricting innovation and now it's all being torn down.

I mean, who would've thought that something like tariffs could be a gift to digital rights activists? 🤯 It's like the whole system is crumbling and suddenly everyone's free to make their own tech rules. Of course, there are risks involved, but I think it's awesome that we're finally getting to see some real change.

The thing is, this isn't just about tech - it's about our society as a whole. We need to start having these conversations about what kind of world we want to live in and how technology should be used for the greater good 🤝. It's time to take control of our own digital destiny and make sure that innovation is for everyone, not just the rich ones 💸.
 
🤔 So like Trump's tariffs on tech exports, they're basically forcing US companies to be all flexible with their tech standards now... which is super weird. It's like they're hoping someone will come along and say "hey, we can do this better" and challenge the status quo. And you know what? I think that's actually kinda genius 🤓. The whole anti-circumvention law thing has been so outdated it's ridiculous. Like, who thought it was a good idea to make companies spy on users just to keep them from modifying their devices? 🤖 Not cool.

Now, the UK is like "hey, we're outta here" and might actually be able to create some real change with open-source tech. That's dope 💻. And I'm low-key excited to see what happens when all these US companies are forced to play nice with other countries. It'll be interesting to see how they adapt... or fail 🤦‍♂️.

Of course, there are risks involved, like trusting all this new tech without knowing where it's coming from 🔒. But I think we have a chance to do something amazing here. Let's just "open a crack" and see what happens 😊.
 
this is so sick 💥, like finally someone's talking about how tech giants are basically robbing us blind with their spyware and exorbitant fees 🤑 and now that trump's tariffs are on the table, it's like the whole thing's being turned upside down 🔄... i mean, who wouldn't want to break free from those outdated laws and just create something new, like open-source tech that's actually for the people 🤝... but at the same time, it's all kinda scary when you think about what could happen if we don't get this right, like our devices being hacked or worse 🚨
 
im not sure about all this... just because trump put tariffs on tech exports doesn't mean everything is gonna be okay 🤔. i mean, i get that it's good for digital rights activists and all, but what about the actual consequences of letting companies like google and amazon run amok without any proper regulation? 🤑 i'm not saying they're bad or anything, but a little bit of oversight never hurt anyone, right? 💯
 
I'm not sure I buy all this 🤔... sounds like a classic case of "we're only helping because we're trying to be helpful, but really we just want to profit from it" 💸 The idea that the US government is being forced out of its own control by its own tariffs is pretty far-fetched. And what about the fact that some UK-based companies were already exploiting loopholes in these laws? 🤷‍♂️ It's not like this new "window of opportunity" is going to solve all our problems with tech giants and data protection. Can we get some actual sources on this, rather than just speculation? 💡
 
Yaaas, this is like totally lit 🚀! Trump's tariffs on tech exports are like, a major game changer for digital rights activists. They're finally going to have the chance to challenge those outdated laws and create a new world order where users are in control, not corporations 💻. It's all about breaking free from that proprietary tech standard stuff and embracing open-source tech. The UK is like, totally ahead of the curve by repealing article 6, btw 🇬🇧. This is going to be so interesting to watch - will they be able to create a more secure, user-friendly tech ecosystem? Fingers crossed, it's time for a major shift in the way we approach tech 🔄.
 
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