The power of one

On Sunday of this week, I found that legal reasons prevented me from writing about the elephant in the room. “Oh, but that elephant is so large and interesting! What a column could be written on the topic!” I cried.

“Don’t worry; nobody reads your column,” a friend of mine said later, while shoveling a forkful of Pad Thai and rice into his mouth. Nevertheless, my determination was unshaken. Fine, I would not mention the elephant. But I could not ignore the implications of it, especially when, instead of peanut shells, it was spitting out ideas about power in the Information Age.
The connection between power and knowledge is incredibly strong in technology. In this industry, a high level of expertise can be acquired remarkably quickly by one person with enough determination. When Foucault spoke of this power-knowledge in regard to government, he suggested that the road to power was difficult. In technology, however, power is often quickly attained by college kids with good ideas, lots of drive, and ripe opportunities. As such, the majority of Internet and Web development in general is in the hands of elite computer literati, characterized by extreme individual achievement and skill.

Though it may seem myopic to do so, people don’t seem to mind ceding power to others—especially to computer scientists like me. Organizations often approach me to help establish their presence online, undeterred by their ignorance of my background and portfolio. Our discussions concentrate solely on pricing and deadlines rather than security or quality assurance. Even with services that are created by others, it’s amazing how much trust users will give to a newly visited site given a good enough user interface. After a site has gained enough Internet legitimacy, few seem to remember or care about the person who can access their information.

Perhaps, like our reliance on kings at the dawn of civilization, we must rely on certain individuals to develop and make secure the newly-settled Web. The majority of us are simply in no position to become leaders on the Internet. Still, we cannot expect the innovators to act with the deliberation and tact of large organizations facing constant scrutiny. Sure, when Google became big enough, its founders faded into a corporate hierarchy, with few worrying whether their information was safe. Before then, though, users of Google relied on two Stanford students and their personal servers.
Is the freedom and power of individuals on the Internet a good thing? Absolutely. Without these pioneering individuals, the Internet would be a bleak wasteland, where each YouTube and Facebook-like idea would wither and die while waiting for the approval of a regulatory board. Still, one must wonder whether a lack of checks on these pioneers is in the best interest of the users. Though the creators of most Web sites may seem responsible enough, one is often reminded that the security and control of these sites is in the hands of a self-selected oligarchy. Take, for example, Facebook, whose terms and conditions allowed them to declare themselves the owners of all user information posted to their site in February. It was not until educated users spoke out that the terms were changed.

Thus, what marks the most fascinating and creative aspect of the Web is also its most risky: the control of large tracts of space and information by a small group of expert individuals. We live in an age where the biggest issue isn’t just literacy, but computer literacy; where technological companies no longer simply distribute but also manufacture all types of information, from medical advice to digital books. The software developer is no longer being employed simply to fix trading algorithms or compute difficult physics problems, but is now exploring new lands with new start-ups, creating new ways for people to think and interact, like the first printers in Gutenberg’s day.

In response, we must all become more technologically aware. This is especially important given the growing chasm between the creative developer and the computer-illiterate user, a user who enjoys the content of the developer in blissful and often dangerous ignorance. This was wonderfully illustrated in a recent video by Google, where people in Times Square were asked what a browser and a search engine were. Few could say. Many didn’t seem to care; they were content to watch idly as the Internet grows at a frighteningly rapid pace with Web designers like me at the helm.

If the power of the developer is to be checked, the average user must become more computer literate. The Internet which is now a wild west can become more controlled and civilized with the help of its users. This does not mean heavy regulations on Web developers. Rather, this means the increased involvement and education of the layman on the Internet. If we want to build a better Web, we need to let the innovators forge ahead, but educate users in the process.

Akiva Bamberger is a Columbia College junior majoring in computer science and mathematics with a pre-medical concentration. He is president of the Association for Computing Machinery. Bits and Pieces runs alternate Wednesdays. opinion@columbiaspectator.com

Tags: Opinion, Akiva Bamberger, entrepreneurship, the Internet