Why Techdirt is now covering democracy

Mike Masnick of Techdirt writes about why it’s now covering democracy issues.

Masnick writes, “We’ve spent decades documenting how technology and entrepreneurship can either strengthen or undermine democratic institutions. We understand the dangers of concentrated power in the digital age. And we’ve watched in real-time as tech leaders who once championed innovation and openness now actively work to consolidate control and dismantle the very systems that enabled their success.

“I know that some folks in the comments will whine that this is ‘political’ or that it’s an overreaction. And it is true that there have been times in the past when people have overreacted to things happening in DC.

“This is not one of those times.

“If you do not recognize that mass destruction of fundamental concepts of democracy and the US Constitution happening right now, you are either willfully ignorant or just plain stupid. I can’t put it any clearer than that.

“This isn’t about politics — it’s about the systematic dismantling of the very infrastructure that made American innovation possible. For those in the tech industry who supported this administration thinking it would mean less regulation or more ‘business friendly’ policies: you’ve catastrophically misread the situation (which many people tried to warn you about).”

Read more here.