According to Oxford dictionary, colonialism is “The policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically.” (colonialism, n.d.). Colonization as a means for modernization of the colonies in terms of economy, culture and values, religion and health was one of the excuses of the colonizing countries for exploiting the resources of the colonies (Bhambra, n.d.). By looking closer to the general definition of the colonization, several characteristics can be recognized. Aside from expansion of land territories and resource and market exploitation, dominance is one of the other feature of colonization (Coutts-Smith, 2002). This dominance of the foreign countries over the economy, culture and every aspect of the colonies’ society take the freedom of those countries and makes them dependent. One of the most important results of this identity depletion is the social, intellectual and morality confusion of the colonized country (Coutts-Smith, 2002).
Looking at the dominance of the big technological companies, their access to the most private information of people, their ability to form new cultures, behaviors and even language brings up the question that is the technological colonialism the new form of colonization?
Authority
Technology companies are establishing their own independent nations with the authority to set their rules and policies, also have their own borders. They have the power to negotiate with the governments and reject their request for people’s data based on their own policies (Simmons, 2015). For instance, some of the CEO’s of big technological companies including Mark Zuckerberg, Tim Cook and Jeff Bezos had meetings with the internet minister of China at their own offices which illustrates their role and power internationally. The significant contribution of these companies in the economy is another factor that gives them the power and authority (Simmons, 2015). The independence of these companies extends to the point that they have different relationships and conflicts with the real nations. As an illustration, Google services has been censored, blocked and unblocked over the years in China with the result of the relocation of the Google services to Hong Kong (Simmons, 2015).
International presence and centralization
While the presence of giant technological companies’ products and services around the world is undeniable, centralization of the data, money and power in the Silicon Valley as a unified nation depicts a formidable future and provides them with an inimitable colonial power (Simmons, 2015). The Technological companies’ effort to control the hiring practices is a local example of centralization. By elimination of the hiring competition and employment options, they can control the salaries that they should pay to their employees (Simmons, 2015). Platformless is a centralization of technology in a broader context, where the providers of the services and information become invisible. Simmons (2015) in his article restated the Schmidt’s example that the internet will become such a seamless experience that the borders between reality, technology and technological companies become unrecognizable. In such an environment, users can enjoy the product without knowing or caring about the companies that provide them a desirable experience. Their dominance over the personal data of every individuals brings up the debates around the private laws and the necessity of gathering this information. While better experience like, individualized interfaces and targeted advertisements are the rationale of technological companies, the manipulation and conspiracy power in an unrecognizable way will be the biggest consequence (Simmons, 2015).
Superior white man
Whiteness as the superior race was one of the ideas that colonialism founded based on that (Simmons, 2015). Majority of people who work in the technological companies and especially their founders are white men, while most of the users of the Facebook, Twitter, and Google are women and minorities. They design their products while targeted these groups without letting them to have a representative during this process (Simmons, 2015). Additionally, considering individuals as users for data exploitation and selling their data for advertisement is a form of dehumanization of people that consolidate the superiority of the technology and its founders (Lafrance, 2016).
Above the law
Simmons (2015) in his article talked about how much the government and law organizations rely on the technologies of Giant companies like Microsoft and how it affects their influence over these companies. For instance, Google decision for the addition of the electronic version of the books to its search engine was a violation of the copyright law. In another case, Lenovo installation of an adware program on its laptops to have remote access to its customers’ information was another case of violation of people’s right without any punishment or legal consequence for the company (Simmons, 2015). The last example is about a revealed patent of the Facebook that allows it to secretly watch the user’s facial expressions through the laptop and smartphone’s camera to customize the content including advertisement (Sulleiman, 2017).
Bibliography
Bhambra, G. K. (n.d.). Reframing Colonialism and Modernity: An Enadeavour through Sociology and Literature. Message posted to http://www.globalsouthproject.cornell.edu/reframing-colonialism-and-modernity.html
Colonialism. (n.d.). In Oxford Dictionaries online. Retrieved March 15, 2018, from http://en.oxforddictionaries.com/ definition/colonialism
Coutts-Smith, K. (2002). Cultural Colonialism. Third Text, 16(1), 1-14.
Lafrance, A. (2016, February 11). Facebook and the New Colonialism. The Atlantic. Retrieved from https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/02/facebook-and-the-new-colonialism/462393/
Sharma, P. (Year, Month Day). Colonialism: Meaning and Features | Indian Economic History. Title of Newspaper. Retrieved from
Sulleiman, A. (2017, June 8). Facebook could secretly watch users throughwebcams, patent reveals. Independent. Retrieved from https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/facebook-plans-to-watch-users-through-webcams-spy-patent-application-social-media-a7779711.html
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