What forms of psychological manipulation will we consider to be acceptable business models?

--- James Williams, doctoral candidate at the Oxford Internet Institute, speaking on the Talking Politics podcast, April 25, 2018, ahead of the publication of his book Stand Out of Our Light: Freedom and Resistance in the Attention Economy.

“The fundamental question for society to answer is, What forms of psychological manipulation will we consider to be acceptable business models?” (timecode 24:40)

Lots of great stuff in this discussion; for example:

“That’s what’s one of the rhetorical risks in the near term: Political issues will be reframed as design issues.” (timecode 28:10)

Most exciting ideas are not important, most important ideas are not exciting, not every problem has a good solution, and every solution has side effects.

--- Dan Geer, Testimony to U. S. House of Representatives Committee on Science Subcommittee on Technology Washington, DC, 11 February 1997

I am reminded of what I know as the four verities of government:

• Most exciting ideas are not important,

• Most important ideas are not exciting,

• Not every problem has a good solution, and

• Every solution has side effects.