Chapter 1: The Illusion of Control

Recently, I created an Instagram account to advocate for alternative medicine. Shortly after, I received a notification that my account was suspended for violating Meta's guidelines. The irony? I hadn’t even posted anything yet; I merely set up an account using my real identity. In an attempt to resolve this, I submitted an appeal. As part of the process, I was prompted to provide my phone number to the algorithm. After receiving a verification code and entering it, my account was reinstated.

However, the following day, I encountered the same issue: my account was suspended again without any justification. Once more, I clicked the appeal button, but this time the process directed me to a new page where I had to upload a photo of myself. After doing so, I was left waiting for the appeal to be processed.

The trend I observe in social media today seems to rely heavily on invasive surveillance tools. It is not made clear when creating an Instagram account that one must provide a photo ID and phone number; an email should suffice. Yet, the current strategy appears to involve the arbitrary suspension of accounts to force users into revealing sensitive information. I find this practice not only abusive but also a threat to democratic values.

I experienced a similar situation with a Pinterest account that was suspended without explanation. When I inquired about the reason, I was told there were allegations of spamming, despite my assurance that I had engaged in no such activity.

We find ourselves in a daunting era where AI and algorithms possess the authority to suspend accounts at will. This brings to mind the fears surrounding cashless societies. Imagine a scenario where a banking institution could freeze your account with just a click. The anxiety surrounding cashless systems and AI governance is justified; we are on the brink of losing our privacy and autonomy.

A few months back, I opened an Etsy account only to face yet another unexplained suspension. To resolve this, I had to escalate the matter directly to Etsy's CEO, as their customer service was bogged down by bureaucratic red tape, leaving me waiting indefinitely for a response.

The customer service systems of these large corporations are heavily laden with bureaucracy and are often governed by AI algorithms that lack empathy, understanding, and human judgment. This predicament echoes Yuval Harari’s insights on the peril of AI in eroding democratic principles and personal privacy: "The conflict between democracy and dictatorship is usually a conflict between two different data-processing systems. AI may swing the advantage toward the latter."

Today, social media accounts can be suspended; tomorrow, it could extend to your banking services, pensions, or even your ability to travel. It is crucial never to allow anyone to encroach upon your freedoms.

I wonder if others perceive the same threats I do. The risk of AI facilitating authoritarian regimes is alarmingly real. It adds a formidable layer to bureaucratic processes, leaving no human representative to address grievances when algorithms block access. This is bureaucracy on a whole new level.

I sincerely hope humanity awakens to the potential dangers posed by AI. Some experts assert that AI could be more destructive than nuclear weapons—a statement that should not be taken lightly. We are witnessing its insidious nature, capable of destabilizing entire societies and diminishing freedoms.

I urge all programmers and software engineers to act wisely and prioritize the welfare of humanity. Let us not repeat the mistakes of history by claiming, "An authority above me instructed me to do so," when it is too late.

Chapter 2: The Path Forward