One of the worst take I hear constantly is, "technology is neutral, neither good or evil, it's just a tool".
The design of a tech product -- algorithms, interfaces -- modulates who it will empower and who it won't. It alters prior power dynamics.
The design of a tech product -- algorithms, interfaces -- modulates who it will empower and who it won't. It alters prior power dynamics.
The thousands of choices that go into a tech product define what can be done with it, who has access to it, what incentives it creates, etc.
If it has an impact, then this impact has a moral direction. If it's "neutral", it probably doesn't actually do anything.
If it has an impact, then this impact has a moral direction. If it's "neutral", it probably doesn't actually do anything.
Whenever I hear "it's just a tool", I know that person has never thought about what it *means* to have an impact on the world...
