NI 494 - July, 2016

Smiley-faced monopolists

A note from the editor

The digital titans unmasked

‘It’s a Faustian pact, but hell seems a long way away’

‘Yes, but personally, I don’t mind,’ said a good friend and dedicated Facebook user. We had been talking about privacy on the internet and the ever-increasing power of the digital giants.

My friend’s approach is undoubtedly shared by many of us, who make regular use of efficient and immensely successful services like Google, Facebook and Amazon – the main companies that feature in this month’s Big Story. We have traded our privacy for something we find useful and put on hold our support for ethical shopping in exchange for the ease of low (or no) price and almost-instant gratification. It’s a Faustian pact, alright... and hell may be nearer than we think.

I have been surprised, while working on this month’s Big Story, just how far down the line we are; how deeply exploitative and anti-democratic is this new ‘surveillance capitalism’ under which we now live. This month’s contributors include such leading lights in the field as security expert Bruce Schneier, psychologist Robert Epstein and engineer and software activist Prabir Purkayastha. Maybe their arguments will prompt a bit of a rethink among those of my friend’s disposition...

Elsewhere in this month’s issue we visit Toronto’s world-famous HotDocs festival, catch up with Máxima Acuña, the courageous Peruvian farmer who is standing up to US mining giant Newmont, and report on Malaysia’s slide towards authoritarianism.

Vanessa Baird for the New Internationalist co-operative.
www.newint.org

The big story

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg (centre) and friends play with virtual reality gear at a high-level gathering earlier this year.

Photo: Kay Nietfield/Reuters

NI 494 - July, 2016

Smiley-faced monopolists

A note from the editor

The digital titans unmasked

The big story

Does it matter that Google, Facebook and Amazon are so successful? Vanessa Baird examines what their domination means for all of us.

Features

This month's fact spread presents details about the internet and the corporate giants who monopolize it.

Everybody wants your private data. Bruce Schneier on how surveillance has become the business model of the internet.

Research psychologist Robert Epstein on how the new technologies invisibly shape public opinion – and what we must do about it.

Few can resist the tech titans. Prabir Purkayastha tells the story of Indians who went into battle against Facebook, for freedom – and won.

Why bother with aid agencies? To ‘do good’ all you need is a phone and Google Maps. Amy Hall takes a closer look at the rising trend in ‘direct giving’.

You can take action at a practical and technological level – and a political one.

The dictator’s victims are still waiting to see their torturers on trial – and time is running out. By Mira Galanova.

Nithin Coca reports on Malaysia’s slide towards authoritarianism.

Roxana Olivera talks to Goldman Environment Prize winner Máxima Acuña.

Web exclusives

The time has come for rural communities to play an important role in the country, reports Tamara Pearson.

If Tony Blair and George W. Bush had listened to Iraqis we would be living in a different world, Nikki van der Gaag writes.

Turkey’s president exploits the recent attempted coup against him to crack down on opponents. Chris Brazier reports.

When faced with overwhelming evidence of systemic abuse, the country's prime minister shifted responsibility, writes Mark Isaacs.

Blogs

Chris Brazier returns every decade to produce a New Internationalist magazine on the country. He has produced three magazines and is currently researching his fourth. In this blog, Chris recalls the night he flew into the midst of a revolution and discovered he had made a serious error.

As thousands discuss free trade at the World Social Forum in Montreal, Canada’s experience with NAFTA may offer lessons for the Netherlands, writes Niels Jongerius.

Opinion

Why couldn't the Conservatives have picked a different issue over which to launch their proxy war? asks Steve Parry.

Mark Engler bemoans the corporate colonization of public space.

Agenda

Regulars

Southern response to Ebola, Touching story, Fix the system, Unfair attack, Cresting the top, Return to Idealism & Depth of error.

Ruby Diamonde bids farewell to the Central African Republic.

Kelsi Farrington on the truth behind the holiday-brochure image.

Alice Melike Ülgezer’s Kurdish body art photographed by Sudeep Lingamneni.

This month's cartoon from Polyp.

This month's guest cartoonist is Payam Boromand from Iran.

Corporations that care? Don’t believe the spin, writes Dale Lately.

Marc Roberts' cartoon offering this month.

Yemeni street artist Murad Subay on using art to campaign and to commemorate.

Film, Book & Music Reviews

Richard Swift reviews some of the best offerings at the world's largest documentary film festival.

The Transmigration of Bodies by Yuri Herrera; Second-Hand Time by Svetlana Alexievich; Dark Money by Jane Mayer.

Hopelessness by Anohni; Legend of Funaná by Bitori.

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