DEF CON 31 - An Audacious Plan to Halt the Internet's Ensh*ttification - Cory Doctorow

This segment introduces Mr. Corey Doctorow, who humorously acknowledges his age and uses it as a segue into discussing the evolution of the internet. He reminisces about the earlier, simpler days of the internet before the rise of dominant platforms and outlines the theme of his talk: the downfall of platforms through a process he calls 'insidification.' He will explore how platforms initially serve users, then businesses, and finally themselves, leading to decay.

Doctorow continues by examining Facebook as a case study for platform insidification. He describes Facebook's evolution from a user-centered service to one that prioritizes advertisers and publishers, eventually exploiting users, advertisers, and publishers alike to maximize shareholder value. This process leads to declining user satisfaction and potential mass exits.

Here, the concept of 'insidification' is further explained, highlighting the three stages platforms go through as they deteriorate. This includes abusing business customers and internalizing value until nothing remains. Doctorow suggests that tech industries face a unique systemic issue due to a lack of competition and regulatory weaknesses, facilitated by historical shifts in antitrust enforcement.

Doctorow delves into the anti-competitive strategies tech giants employ, such as absorbing competition and exploiting their market position post-antitrust amendments from the 1980s. He makes a compelling case on how these maneuvers stifle innovation and preserve dominance, ultimately allowing platforms to evade responsibility and accountability.

Focusing on the technical aspects, Doctorow discusses the potential for adversarial interoperability, where users employ hacks and reverse engineering to overcome platform lock-ins. He highlights how foundational tech companies used similar methods to gain traction against their own competitors, underscoring the cyclical nature of tech innovation and competition.

Doctorow argues for policy changes to combat insidification, proposing stronger antitrust measures and emphasizing interoperability. He believes these changes can decentralize tech power and promote new platforms, thereby restoring vibrancy and diversity to the internet. His vision includes government action against monopolistic practices and amendments in tech-driven laws.

Transitioning to proposed remedies, Doctorow focuses on governmental roles, advocating for strict procurement standards to ensure tech companies offer interoperable products. This would alleviate users' dependency on single platforms, fostering a more competitive and open internet ecosystem without substantial barriers to entry for new competitors.

Doctorow outlines the importance of keeping tech companies honest through privacy and fair trading laws. His strategic perspective on leveraging governmental influence and legal standards stresses accountability and transparency in tech operations, thereby preventing monopolistic practices and encouraging a dynamic technological landscape.