The internet, an invention that has profoundly changed how humanity communicates and interacts, has an origin story few would expect. As stated in Scheerpost, its roots lie not in the pursuit of connection but in the strategy of surveillance. Originally developed as a counterinsurgency tool during the Vietnam War, it served to monitor and manipulate with precision.
A Military Genesis
Yasha Levine, in his eye-opening book Surveillance Valley: The Secret Military History of the Internet, explores the internet’s birth at the Pentagon. He shares how this revolutionary technology was initially crafted to serve the American military’s global reach. In the 1960s and 1970s, the concept of the internet was perceived as an “operating system for the American empire,” collecting global data for strategic advantage.
Unrecognized Forces
The university students who found themselves on the peripheries of these technological advancements foresaw the potential misuse. Protests erupted as they realized how technologies meant for global governance led to domestic control, challenging ideals enshrined in freedom and privacy. These students, aware of the technological and power dynamics, challenged what they viewed as political control through computers.
Evolution and Misguidance
Today, we experience an era where information is traded freely and privately, but at a cost. The tools once cloaked in secrecy, including Tor and Signal, claim to shield us from surveillance. Yet, Levine uncovers their roots in military development, arguing they simply mask the infrastructure meant to serve the very surveillance state they oppose.
Commercialization and Utopian Myths
Fast forward to the commercialization in the 1990s. Consumers believed in the utopia sold to them: a tool for democracy and liberation. However, as Levine persuasively argues, this narrative conveniently wraps the harsh reality of a tool bound to governmental oversight and corporatized ambition.
The Surveillance State
As technology firms, once seemingly benevolent disruptors now entangle themselves with government, we witness an erosion of privacy. Surveillance has become an implicit characteristic of modern life. Stripped of the guise of freedom, transparency reveals a rigorously monitored society, challenging the essence of liberty and autonomy.
An Ongoing Dialogue
Chris Hedges’ conversation with Levine, hosted on The Chris Hedges Report, offers an intricate reflection on these revelations. With independent journalism under pressure and the quest for censorship-resistant spaces, such discussions remain vital.
Ultimately, the story of the internet serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us that technological advancement does not necessarily equate to enhanced freedom or democracy.