The War on General Purpose Computing (2015) [video] (csclub.uwaterloo.ca)

Article summary

Cory Doctorow discusses the war on general purpose computing, where corporations and governments are limiting the ability of users to control and modify their devices. This is happening through the adoption of proprietary business models and the insistence on vulnerability to spying. The talk highlights the importance of treating the internet as a nervous system of the 21st century, rather than a political football. The war on general purpose computing has significant implications for individual freedom and privacy.

Main themes

• general purpose computing
• digital rights
• security vs freedom
• copyright law
• proprietary devices
• civic cybersecurity

What commenters say

• The loss of general purpose computing is inevitable due to the trend of walled gardens and proprietary devices.
• A digital rights bill is necessary to protect users from corporations and governments that seek to control their devices and data.
• The trade-off between security and freedom is a major concern, with some arguing that the benefits of walled gardens outweigh the costs to individual autonomy.
• A change in copyright law is required to give users the right to format shift and control their own data.
• The development of secure computing initiatives like Pluton is seen as a potential threat to general purpose computing and individual freedom.
• Some argue that the benefits of secure computing initiatives like Pluton outweigh the potential risks to individual autonomy.
• The need for a civic cybersecurity bill or a Bill of Bytes is proposed to protect consumer rights and digital sustainability.
• The importance of educating the public about the implications of the war on general purpose computing is emphasized.