The State of Authoritarian Tech | Steven Feldstein

In this interview, Steven Feldstein discusses the state of authoritarian technology, also known as repression technology, which assists authoritarian states in repressing their citizenry. He explains the rapid progression of this sector, contrasting it with the earlier emphasis on liberation technology. Feldstein provides a taxonomy of digital repression, including surveillance technologies (mass, social media, and targeted), censorship, disinformation, and internet shutdowns, using the recent Nepal social media ban and government overthrow as a case study. The discussion covers how these technologies are used in combination, the sophistication of their deployment, and the roles of both Western and authoritarian countries in their development and export, highlighting the challenges democracies face in regulating these technologies and the importance of safeguarding civil liberties. The conversation also touches on the potential for AI to enhance predictive policing and political dissent, and the increasing use of financial repression, as well as the role of cryptocurrency as a tool for dissidents.