In her groundbreaking book, “ The Tech Coup: How to Save Democracy from Silicon Valley ,” Marietje Schaake delivers a powerful and urgent message that resonates deeply with anyone concerned about the future of democracy in our increasingly digital world. As a technologist who has spent my career at the forefront of digital innovation, including roles as Chief Technology Officer at The New York Times and Chief Product & Technology Officer at The Wall Street Journal where I lived at the intersection of journalism and technology, I found Schaake’s work to be both thought-provoking and essential reading, even when my own views occasionally diverge from hers.
Schaake, a former member of the European Parliament and a fellow alumna of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders community, brings a wealth of experience and insight to this critical discussion. Her book is a tour de force, weaving together compelling narratives, rigorous analysis, and a passionate call to action that demands our attention.
With my friend Marietje Schaake at her book launch event.
The book opens with a poignant story that sets the tone for what’s to come. We meet Ali, an Iranian protester who fled to Turkey after being arrested during the Green Movement protests in 2009. This personal account immediately grounds Schaake’s argument in reality, highlighting the double-edged nature of technology – its power to both liberate and oppress. As someone who has witnessed firsthand the transformative potential of technology in the media landscape, this duality resonates strongly with me.
Schaake’s own journey into this topic is equally compelling. She recounts her experience of witnessing European surveillance technology being used by Middle Eastern regimes to suppress dissent, which sparked her decade-long fight against the “digital arms” trade. This personal investment in the subject matter lends authenticity and urgency to her writing.
The book is structured in a way that systematically builds its case, each chapter peeling back another layer of the complex relationship between technology, democracy, and power. In “The Code,” Schaake traces the evolution of Silicon Valley’s corporate culture and how it became the epicenter of global innovation. She astutely observes how tech giants have become de facto regulators of the digital economy, a point that resonates with my own experiences in the tech industry.
“The Stack” delves into the less visible but crucial layers of our technological ecosystem. As someone who has grappled with the complexities of digital infrastructure, I found Schaake’s exploration of the geopolitical struggles surrounding the control of microchips, fiber optic cables, and data centers to be particularly illuminating.
One of the most chilling chapters is “The Weaponization of Everything,” where Schaake details how technologies can be and are being weaponized by both state and non-state actors. Her discussion of cyberattacks, misinformation campaigns, and the use of digital tools in geopolitical conflicts is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities we face in our interconnected world.
Schaake’s examination of how the privatization of technology governance has eroded the public interest in “The End of the Public Interest” is particularly thought-provoking. While I’ve often been on the side of innovation and minimal regulation, her arguments about the risks posed by unchecked technological advancement to privacy and civil liberties are compelling and worthy of serious consideration.
In “Tech on the Front Lines,” Schaake uses case studies from the Kenyan elections and the war in Ukraine to illustrate how tech companies’ decisions can have significant implications for democracy and human rights. This chapter underscores the enormous responsibility that comes with technological power, a responsibility I’ve felt keenly in my own leadership roles.
“The Framers” offers a critical look at how tech companies have used framing, lobbying, and self-regulation to avoid meaningful government oversight. While I’ve often advocated for industry self-regulation, Schaake’s analysis of its limitations, exemplified by the Cambridge Analytica scandal, presents a strong case for more robust governmental involvement.
In “Reclaiming Sovereignty” and “Prioritizing the Public,” Schaake offers a roadmap for addressing the challenges posed by unchecked technological power. Her call for stronger international cooperation on tech regulation, greater transparency, and the development of public digital infrastructure is a clarion call for a new approach to governing our digital future.
Throughout the book, Schaake’s prose is engaging and accessible, peppered with memorable quotes that encapsulate her key arguments. “We must refuse to be guinea pigs,” she asserts, challenging the tech industry’s ‘move fast and break things’ ethos. “The digitization of everything has enabled the weaponization of everything,” she warns, highlighting the pervasive nature of technological threats.
What makes “The Tech Coup” particularly valuable is Schaake’s nuanced approach. While she argues for stricter regulation of technologies like commercial spyware, data brokerage, and public facial recognition, she does so not out of technophobia, but from a place of deep concern for democratic values. As she puts it, “This is not a book against technology but in favor of democracy.”
As a technologist who has long believed in the power of innovation to solve societal problems, I found myself challenged and enlightened by Schaake’s perspective. While I may not agree with every proposal – her stance on cryptocurrencies, for instance, is more restrictive than I believe necessary – I cannot deny the importance and timeliness of her arguments.
“The Tech Coup” is not just a critique; it’s a call to action. Schaake emphasizes that it’s not too late to change course, to harness the power of technology for the benefit of all while safeguarding our democratic values. Her optimism is infectious, reminding us that the future of our digital world is not predetermined, but something we must actively shape.
“The Tech Coup: How to Save Democracy from Silicon Valley” is a must-read for anyone concerned about the intersection of technology and democracy. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast, a policymaker, or a concerned citizen, Schaake’s insights will challenge your assumptions and broaden your perspective. As someone who has spent a career at the forefront of digital innovation, I can attest to the critical importance of the issues Schaake raises.
Esther Dyson, Marietje Schaake, and Alondra Nelson — three accomplished, well-respected leaders in matters of technology, democracy, and policy.
This book is not just an alarm bell – it’s a blueprint for action. It reminds us that democracy is not a spectator sport, especially in the digital age. We all have a role to play in ensuring that technology serves the public good and strengthens, rather than undermines, our democratic institutions. Marietje Schaake has done us all a great service with this timely, thought-provoking, and ultimately hopeful book.
This book deserves to be widely read, deeply considered, and actively debated as we collectively navigate the challenges and opportunities of our digital future.