Hacking the Commons

What if this is not even capitalism any more, but something worse? What if it is a kind of political economy based on extracting information out of everything we do? Which would mean that it is designed for the convenience of those who own the means of extracting the information, to maximize their control. This presents many problems for how individuals, communities or cities can organize their communication and connection for their own wellbeing, sharing and decision making. It may not be possible to challenge the emerging ruling class at the larger scales, given that there are powerful corporations building global infrastructures of control and extraction. But we can think about what we can do starting at the smaller scales, to create both the techniques and cultures that allow us to share our lives together.

In conversation with Alejandra López Gabrielidis.