Chelsea Manning, the former U.S. Army intelligence analyst and whistleblower, is back in the spotlight as she raises urgent concerns about online censorship and data privacy, particularly within the ever-changing dynamics of the internet. Speaking at the recent Web Summit held in Lisbon, Portugal, Manning articulated her fears about the prevailing state of online information control, emphasizing the dominance of algorithms and the monopolistic nature of social media platforms.
During her conversation with CNBC’s Karen Tso, Manning declared, "Censorship is a dominant threat. I think it is a question of who’s doing the censoring and what the purpose is." She highlighted the transformation of censorship from mere suppression of information to more subtle forms such as algorithmic manipulation, which can promote certain content for engagement-driven purposes.
Working now with Nym Technologies—an organization dedicated to privacy solutions—Manning advocates for the need to shift toward more decentralized internet systems. She believes this restructuring could empower individuals to regain control over their data. "One of the ways we can countervail this is to go back to the more decentralized and distribute the internet of the early '90s, but make it available to more people," she explained. This reflects her desire for technological systems to be structured so users have direct input over their online identity and data management, without relying on corporations.
Manning's thoughts also reflect her own experiences as a whistleblower when she leaked classified military documents to WikiLeaks back in 2010. After being sentenced to 35 years, her sentence was commuted by President Barack Obama, marking her time as one of both significant risk and significant consequence. But the current climate for whistleblowers, according to her, has shifted. "We're at an interesting time because information is everywhere. We have more information than ever," she observed.
One aspect of her reflection is on how governments appear to be less invested now in hiding information than spreading misinformation. She noted, "Countries and governments no longer seem to do the same amount of time and effort in hiding information and keeping secrets. What they seem to be doing now is spending more time and energy spreading misinformation and disinformation." This highlights the double-edged sword of information proliferation—while more data is available than ever, distinguishing what’s authentic has become increasingly difficult.
Alongside these discussions, Manning also alerted European citizens to be proactive about online privacy. She teamed up with Harry Halpin, the CEO of Nym Technologies, who echoed her sentiments about the possible escalation of surveillance under the Trump administration, saying, "People should be more concerned." The fear is rooted not just in the potential increase of surveillance tactics but also in how technology might be employed to enforce controversial policies, particularly concerning immigration. Halpin pointed out how past U.S. government practices, as exposed by Edward Snowden, could reemerge more aggressively.
Manning added to those concerns, now more pressing than ever, stating, "Vigilance is always necessary, but there’s increased risk to certain groups of individuals." This speaks to the climate of fear where privacy measures need to be not just considered but acted upon diligently as society faces shifts empowered by political landscapes and technological advancements.
The talk also turned toward the broader repercussions of governmental control intertwined with technology. William Fitzgerald, founder of Worker Agency, raised alarms about how technology can facilitate mass deportations under new policies proposed by the Trump administration. He provocatively asked, "How do you do one or two million deportations when you only have 20,000 agents? You use technology to round people up." This stark claim highlights the dark potentialities of technology when moral and ethical oversight wanes.
Shifting away from mere secrecy, Manning argues we are now at the crossroads where the real battle is against information manipulation and misinformation. "It’s no longer secrecy versus transparency," she stated, urging the public to remain discerning and vigilant about the authenticity of the myriad of content available online. The challenge seemingly lies not just with whistleblowers or activists but with every internet user tasked with making sense of the vast digital information bazaar.
Throughout the turbulent waters of the digital age, Manning’s clarion call for decentralized structures and vigilant privacy practices presents itself as not only relevant but urgent. With tensions around data privacy, censorship, and governmental surveillance at concerning highs, her insights serve as both warnings and guiding principles for how society can navigate this complicated web.
