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John Schwarzkopf's avatar

Wes, stuff like this is why I became a paid subscriber. That being said, if we can do this to them how do we know they haven't done it to us too? And if companies like Palantir are involved how do we know they aren't for sale to the highest bidder? Much as I dislike 3 letter agencies, they are way better than tech bros.

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Wes O'Donnell's avatar

I am in 100% agreement, John. There is a very real danger of the US turning into a tech-autocracy between companies like Palintir, Starlink (SpaceX), Anduril, and others. Unlike the tech 2.0 companies like Facebook and old Twitter, which were largely progressive-run, these new companies are aligned with the far right and have numerous billion-dollar contracts with the DoD. These companies are accumulating power at an alarming rate. They make the CIA and NSA quaint relics by comparison. This website is outstanding for showing the nature of the problem: https://www.authoritarian-stack.info/

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Seldon Crisis Log's avatar

For sure. The tech bros don’t appear to have much loyalty to the United States and have all sorts of escape plans for when shit gets real. Exactly the sort of people that shouldn’t oversee our defense.

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Chris (CJ Fitz)'s avatar

So true. Scary, the possibilities.

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Richard Careaga's avatar

I have to wonder who has kill switches on us? The more sophisticated the tech, I'd think, the more opportunities for michief.

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Robot Bender's avatar

I was thinking the same thing and not just in our missiles.

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Chris (CJ Fitz)'s avatar

Blown away by this, I must say.

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PhilsThom's avatar

So, Putin pushes the red button and all of his nukes detonate in situ (or in silo)?

Given the Russian proclivities of embezzlement and outright theft, there is a fair chance of this happening anyway.

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Nola Nowland's avatar

Fascinating

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Patrick Butler's avatar

Wes.

Hence my concern I wrote to you last, Horowitz increasing stake in Substack, the pattern will be the same.

Not a three letter knock on the door happy with cookies. Your article may launch (it has to land somewhere) but not at its intended target, you may never know, he will control the landing data.

Fortunately there is a beautifully simple solution, it’s coming, be it organically, which takes time……

M

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USIBARIS's avatar

does trumpy have his fingers on kill switches

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Wes O'Donnell's avatar

I would say no, or at least, I hope not lol

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