@OvertonDoors @adulau

I don't think that anybody doubts that "Europe" could make a Palantir clone if motivated. There is nothing unique or special behind the creators of Palantir (at least in ways that should be encouraged or idealized) or its people working there (anybody who's had the experience to work with them or use their products will tell you that). However what is/was unique is the petri dish conditions in which such a monstrosity was not only able to be born, but nurtured, engineered, and designed to amplify all the worst character traits, ideals, and values of someone who learned all the wrong lessons from growing up in Apartheid South Africa and who seems hell bent on doing everything they can turn back the clock to re-create those conditions on a global scale with his companies "products" and "innovations". The framing of legal questions and issues as excuses and roadblocks as the very reason why the US outpacing Europe in specific technologies is an interesting one, but also an extremely problematic one if you are not a fan of societies of authoritarianism and fascism. It is no coincidence that ALL of the tech produced with the :us-flag: next to it is, or becomes, authoritarian, colonialist, and/or fascist friendly; they are the essential tools required in order for the US to maintain hegemony through extortion, theft, violence, and intimidation both globally and abroad (including here in Europe and against Europeans). Again, making it obvious why former beneficiaries from apartheid looking to relive those glory days (Thiel, Musk) and their wannabes/acolytes find such fertile ground to succeed there. So in light of that, this begs the question. If we can plainly see that the promotion and application of these technologies and ideals leads us back down roads we vowed we would never again travel, why do so many of us here in Europe rush to smash the "CTRL-C/CTRL-V" buttons each and every time the topic/opportunity arises. Do you/we all think you'll/we'll be wearing the boots instead of licking them this time? The area Europe needs to take leadership in, is addressing the "Building a Orwellian surveillance state" like the US is, and has been doing, is easy; so not tackle how we can do it too, but rather, should we? Instead we/Europe should look to answer; what is the better solution that is more democratically innovative even though it will also be probably more difficult in order to encourages the creation and maintenance of a society the VAST majority of us want. Instead of demanding that Europe rush to tear down the "bureaucracy", "restrictions", and "legal" issues (aka democratically ethical considerations) in order to let "tech" and "innovation" thrive, we need to demand that more focus and innovation is placed in to the creation of regulation and guard rails to ensure that we don't create the same conditions that the USA has in allowing the most feudalistic, fascist, racist, or authoritarian of us thrive. As you illustrated with your examples in your blog, the technology and development is the easy part; it is like a gold fish (well, more like a shark), it will grow into the tank we provide for it and as large and dangerous as we allow it to.

#opensource #intelligence #cybersecurity #palantir #europe #sovereignty #intelligence