In his channel, Pavel Durov wrote a post about individual human freedoms these days. We present the translation of his article.
We are used to thinking that the world is getting better every year, but when we talk about individual rights and freedoms, everything turns out to be exactly the opposite. Most studies show that people are less free now than they were a few years ago.
20 years ago we had a decentralized Internet and a relatively unrestricted banking system. Today, Apple and Google censor information and apps on our phones, and Visa and Mastercard limit what goods and services we can pay for. Every year, we increasingly hand over more control of our lives to a few CEOs of companies whom we did not elect.
Most of us, by choice, carry tracking devices - our smartphones - and allow corporations to use our private information to target us with content that distracts us with cheap entertainment.
Unlike 20 years ago, we are now surrounded by surveillance cameras. In countries like China, these cameras use artificial intelligence to make sure no one can hide.
In 2017, China surpassed the United States to become the world's largest economy by purchasing power. This showed the world that individual freedoms are not necessary for economic development. Seeing China's success, many countries are becoming authoritarian and throwing away basic human rights such as freedom of speech, movement and gathering.
Who will fix all this?
The most active and creative minds of our generation are too busy playing in the sandbox that is the "free market" or churning out digital content to keep the rest of us glued to their devices. The rest seem too distracted by the prevailing cheap entertainment to think critically about the trend and take action.
Watching this, I wonder what will be the legacy of our generation. Will we be remembered in history as those who allowed a free society to turn into a dystopian nightmare? Or will we be remembered as those who defended the freedoms that previous generations fought so hard for?
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