Tech Empire with Michael Kwet and Tshi Malatji

Apr 29 2022 64 mins 35

Tech Empire with Michael Kwet and Tshi Malatji Podcast artwork

Tech Empire addresses challenges posed by the information society. Hosted by Michael Kwet at Yale University, it takes a global perspective on 21st century politics. This show challenges the tech-driven status quo being created by state and corporate power, and explores how we can create a world where technology makes life better for everyone. From big data surveillance to information equality, from #BlackLivesMatter to #FeesMustFall in South Africa, Tech Empire strikes at the heart of power in the digital age.

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Facebook's African Sweatshop with Billy Perrigo

Apr 29 2022 50 mins

Today we welcome Billy Perrigo to discuss the exploitation of African workers performing content moderation for Facebook. Billy is a staff writer at TIME covering social media companies, with a focus on content moderation and responsible AI. In this episode, we cover Billy's article at TIME, "Inside Facebook's African Sweatshop", which exposes how Facebook outsources content modera

What is anarchism? with Zoe Baker

Mar 07 2022 105 mins

Today we welcome Zoe Baker to discuss anarchism. In this episode, we outline what anarchism is, how it emerged, and its distinction against Marxism. We also discuss the global reach of anarchism, anarchist anti-imperialism, as well as anarchist takes on technology, ecology, anarcho-syndicalism and unions, and the problems of nationalizing private property. Zoe Baker is a trans anar

Platform Socialism: An alternative to Big Tech with James Muldoon

Jan 26 2022 76 mins

Today we welcome James Muldoon to the show to talk about what is wrong with platform capitalism, and how we might redesign the platform economy with ideas about platform socialism. We cover the problems with progressive capitalism and antitrust, and proposed socialist solutions to the digital economy, including projects that are already in existence. You can follow James on Twitter

Vaccine Apartheid with Fatima Hassan

Dec 08 2021 62 mins

This episode welcomes Fatima Hassan to discuss vaccine apartheid and the global movement to end it. We dig into the issue of global inequality, vaccine patents, the TRIPS wavier at the WTO, the Omicron travel bans, and the role of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, as well as resistance campaigns against Big Pharma to ensure fast and equitable vaccination across the world. Fati

Can Social Media Be Fixed? with Jillian York

Dec 01 2021 66 mins

This episode welcomes Jillian York to discuss how to fix social media. Our chat covers everything from the France Haugen documents to the structure of social media, Global North intellectual circuits, reformism and antitrust, social media decentralization, digital colonialism, and more. Jillian York is an American free-expression activist and author. She serves as Director of Inter

Amazon’s Colonial Headquarters in South Africa with Tauriq Jenkins, Leslie London & Nadine Dirks

Nov 11 2021 69 mins

This episode welcomes Tauriq Jenkins, Nadine Dirks, and Leslie London to discuss Amazon’s construction of a new headquarters on sacred indigenous land in Cape Town, South Africa. Our chat covers the cultural and environmental implications of the new construction site and activist resistance against it. Tauriq Jenkins is Chair at AIXARRA Restorative Justice Forum, Centre for Afric

Amazon in the Global South with Louise Matsakis

Nov 09 2021 45 mins

This episode welcomes journalist Louise Matsakis to discuss Amazon’s e-commerce operations in the Global South. Louise published several articles on the topic at various outlets, including several at articles at Rest of World. We discuss worker rights and how Amazon operates in Mexico, Japan, Pakistan, and India. Louise Matsakis is a freelance journalist. You can follow her on Tw

Facebook & the Metaverse: Myths and Reality with Mark Sullivan

Nov 02 2021 57 mins

This episode welcomes journalist Mark Sullivan to discuss the question, "what is going on with this thing called the metaverse?" Mark has written a number of articles about the topic at the news media outlet, Fast Company. He is going to explain to us what the metaverse is, and how it might look in the future. We cover questions about how companies will make money, advertising, hyp

Lab-Grown Meat: Reasons to be Skeptical with Joe Fassler

Oct 27 2021 61 mins

This episode welcomes Joe Fassler to discuss lab-grown meat. Last month, Joe released an in-depth article, “Lab-grown meat is supposed to be inevitable. The science tells a different story.”, at the non-profit news outlet, The Counter. His article challenges the popular idea that meat can be grown at an affordable scale to replace the industrial slaughter of animals for consump

Tech Militarism and Project Maven with Jack Poulson

Oct 11 2021 72 mins

This episode welcomes Jack Poulson to discuss Project Maven and the relationship between tech and the US military. Last month, Jack released a report at his organization, Tech Inquiry, revealing the extensive relationship between tech corporations and the US military via Project Maven. We discuss the kinds of technologies in the project, including drone surveillance, automated mili