The Contemporary Dystopia of a Virtual Mirage

Abstract

Social networks and the technologies associated with them present challenges that affect societies individually and collectively. Artificial intelligences (AI), associated to the economic system known as surveillance capitalism, process and market millions of users‘ personal data, deciphering their interests, and predicting what content must be shown to maintain their uninterrupted attention. Prolonged use of social networking exposes users to psychological manipulation by the promotion of ideas and products of AI owners. Using algorithms, these technologies self-regulate themselves and display content aligned with users‘ interests, despite AI‘s inability to discern between fake and real news. This results in social polarization, undermining users‘ autonomy, and risks to human well-being. I argue that the effects of social networks are incompatible with Kantian and Utilitarian ethical theories, and therefore urge regulation of surveillance capitalism.