Silicon Values
Jillian C. York
Explore how a handful of Silicon Valley giants have quietly become the world’s most powerful censors, reshaping global discourse through profit-driven algorithms and opaque policies. You will learn how this corporate control threatens fundamental human rights and why reclaiming our digital autonomy is vital for the survival of a truly free and democratic internet.
The Death of the Cyber-Utopian Dream
Explores the transition of the internet from an open, decentralized frontier to a collection of centralized 'walled gardens' controlled by corporate interests and profit motives.
From Open Web to Walled Gardens
The Illusion of Platform Neutrality
The Commodification of Discourse
The Invisible Empire of Moderation
Analyzes how private companies have become the de facto arbiters of global speech, often operating outside the bounds of democratic law.
Terms of Service vs. The First Amendment
The Human Cost of Filtering
Exporting Silicon Valley Values
Policing Bodies and Morality
Investigates how platforms enforce specific moral codes, often targeting marginalized communities and sexual expression through inconsistent policies.
The War on Nudity and Art
Marginalized Voices and Shadowbanning
The SESTA-FOSTA Ripple Effect
The Algorithmic Executioner
Critiques the reliance on Artificial Intelligence to manage speech at scale, highlighting the technology's inherent flaws in understanding context.
Scale and the Failure of AI
The Black Box Problem
Context vs. Keywords
Surveillance Capitalism and the Bottom Line
Connects the erosion of free speech to the business model of data extraction and targeted manipulation.
Data Extraction as a Prerequisite
The Incentive to Radicalize
The Ad-pocalypse and Branding
Global Consequences of Local Rules
Examines the geopolitical impact of tech platforms, particularly their role in international conflicts and authoritarian regimes.
Tech Platforms and Authoritarianism
The Arab Spring and its Aftermath
Digital Colonialism and Sovereignty
Reclaiming the Digital Public Square
Proposes solutions and frameworks to protect digital rights and move toward a more democratic internet.
Transparency and Accountability Standards
Decentralization and Open-Source Alternatives
A Human Rights Framework for Tech
Start reading with AI
Interactive Socratic dialogue, level by level