Brazil’s democracy is increasingly threatened by technofeudalism, where digital monopolies undermine accountability and exacerbate inequality. This results in digital colonization, labor erosion, information manipulation, socioeconomic disparities, and diminished sovereignty. Addressing these issues requires strengthening regulations, promoting public digital infrastructure, and enhancing media literacy while preserving individual rights in the digital economy.
The threats to democracy in Brazil today come from various sources, including traditional issues such as corruption and political violence, as well as new threats like technofeudalism, a concept articulated by Cédric Durand. This refers to a system dominated by large digital monopolies that exploit digital technologies and intensify societal inequalities, thus undermining democratic institutions and public control.
As the 21st century began, information technology was expected to promote democratization; however, it instead spawned corporate monopolies that dominate most information and economic activity. This technofeudal structure means that a few corporations own significant aspects of the economy, rather than competing, and everyday users pay with their personal data for access to essential services.
In Brazil, technofeudalism exacerbates existing economic inequalities and institutional weaknesses. The question arises: who controls Brazil’s democracy in the digital age? This situation generates five critical threats:
1. Digital Colonization: Foreign tech firms exploit Brazilian data without accountability, shaping the nation’s future from external points.
2. Erosion of Formal Labor: Platforms like Uber replace stable employment with precarious, low-paid jobs devoid of protections.
3. Manipulation of Information: Disinformation and algorithmic biases undermine public trust, with right-wing groups bypassing traditional checks on democracy.
4. Extreme Inequality: The wealth amassed by digital platforms deepens the economic divide, reducing workers to lesser positions subject to corporate whims.
5. Loss of Sovereignty: Brazil’s dependence on foreign digital services weakens control over policies, allowing tech giants to resist local governance.
These threats are rooted in neoliberal policies that have underscored global economic governance for years. Wendy Brown’s work highlights how neoliberalism attacks state structures and celebrates market freedom, paving the way for technofeudalism. The rise of tech monopolies and social divisions is a direct product of this ideological shift.
The recent conflict between Elon Musk and Brazil’s Supreme Court exemplifies technofeudal power at play, as Musk defied judicial authority regarding extremist content on X (formerly Twitter). This situation illustrates how tech billionaires often perceive themselves as beyond national regulatory frameworks, challenging sovereign legal systems and jurisdiction.
Brazil has made strides in combating digital authoritarianism through legislation such as the Marco Civil da Internet, which emerged as a protective framework for digital rights in 2014. However, enforcement remains contested, particularly by tech companies resisting regulations that would hold them accountable for their online content.
Free speech – a term often appropriated by Silicon Valley – is being reshaped to serve corporate agendas, distorting democratic concepts in the process. Rather than enhancing democratic discourse, corporations propagate extreme, market-driven speech that threatens governance stability, particularly in vulnerable nations such as Brazil. The January 8, 2023 events in Brasília indicate how algorithmically fueled misinformation can lead to violence.
This paradigm for free speech introduces epistemic violence, reframing societal understandings of democracy and discourse. In Brazil, economic inequality and digital misrepresentation have been linked to violence, with corporations evading liability while cloaking themselves in free speech rhetoric. The imagined free speech promoted by these firms stands in direct opposition to existing legal constraints in the United States, underscoring the dire implications of their influence.
Consequently, governments face a crisis of democracy, as tech monopolies dictate the terms of political discourse, compelling narratives that support their financial interests over public welfare. This state of affairs requires urgent actions to revive democratic principles globally by reclaiming control of sovereign discourse.
To counter the influences of technofeudalism in Brazil’s political landscape, immediate actions are necessary:
1. Strengthening digital regulations to ensure compliance by platforms.
2. Promoting public ownership of digital infrastructure to reduce foreign dependence.
3. Enhancing transparency in the handling of disinformation.
4. Protecting gig economy labor rights by modernizing the labor system.
5. Expanding digital literacy initiatives to empower citizens against manipulation.
Brazil is at a pivotal moment. If technofeudal entities are permitted to dictate governance norms, democracy will wither under corporate will. However, decisive regulations, strengthened worker protections, and reclaimed digital platforms can steer Brazil towards a more democratic digital environment, with the potential for enhanced citizen participation.
The current state of democracy in Brazil faces existential threats from technofeudalism, primarily perpetuated by corporate digital monopolies undermining sovereignty, civic engagement, and equity. Protecting democracy requires immediate reforms focused on regulatory enforcement, labor rights, and citizen empowerment through digital literacy, which together can restore and sustain democratic values in the nation.
Original Source: www.techpolicy.press
