On Enshittification – and what can be done about it.

Cory Doctorow

18.05.2026 15:00–16:00
Stage 1
Englisch
(Kurz-) Vortrag
Politik & Gesellschaft
#Digitalpolitik #Business models #Zivilgesellschaft #Common good
It is 2026. Our social media feeds seem to solely consist of AI slop, our attention continues to be monetised, and we are far removed from any digital sovereignty due to big-tech monopolists. Where will all of this lead to?

To describe both the process we’re experiencing and the strategy behind it, the science fiction author and tech activist Cory Doctorow has coined a powerful term: “enshittification”. He describes how this process has by choice led to an internet in which platforms are designed to allow corporations to gradually exploit their users and business customers for their own profit rather than content quality.

Join us to hear Cory describe the process of "enshittification" and the failures of the digital economy - and what can be done to counteract this process by reclaiming technology in the public interest.

 

Cory will be signing his most recent book “Enshittification: Why everything suddenly got worse and what to do about it” (available now also in German) at the Kulturkaufhaus Dussmann Book table on May 18 from 16:15 - 16:45.

 

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