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New Tech, Old Laws
The biggest issues presented to gridlocked governments by agile tech companies.
Published on December 22, 2020
Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future
Ashlee VanceSelf-driving cars are supposed to be much safer, but after hearing about some high-profile Tesla crashes, and thinking of how buggy software typically can be, perhaps you have some fear of the fully-automated future. This is the story behind the visionary who went from making billions selling PayPal to creating ambitious companies like SpaceX and Tesla. Essential reading for anyone curious about the ways tech — and the innovators behind it — shape the future.
Uberland: How Algorithms Are Rewriting the Rules of Work
Alex RosenblatThis is for anyone who wants to learn more about how “the gig economy” has reshaped the relationship between employer and employee, and what effects this has had on labor laws and many other pieces of legislation. Author Alex Rosenblat rode for thousands of miles with Uber drivers across the land to get their side of the story over the past few years. Uber and its competitor Lyft both went public with much fanfare in early 2019.
Digital Gold: Bitcoin and the Inside Story of the Misfits and Millionaires Trying to Reinvent Money
Digital Gold: Bitcoin and the Inside Story of the Misfits and Millionaires Trying to Reinvent Money
Nathaniel PopperTech companies are shaking up where and how people spend their money, but Bitcoin is disrupting money itself. Learn more about the top cryptocurrency and how Bitcoin and its competitors are poised to disrupt the backbone of the economy.
The Idealist: Aaron Swartz and the Rise of Free Culture on the Internet
Justin PetersThere are more TV shows, music, books, and other arts easily obtainable thanks to the Internet than ever before. And much of the time, through piracy, anyone can get what they want for free. The shift from physical to digital has led to a crisis about what’s stealing and how to stop it. The story of Aaron Swartz spreads light on many aspects of piracy and copyright law and how our old ways of thinking about intellectual property may not make sense on the Internet.
The Industries of the Future
Alec RossThis list has run through a lot of topics at the forefront of politics right now regarding tech, yet there are still so many more moral questions out there to ponder as science continues to advance by leaps and bounds. Get a more holistic view of the immediate issues with this read from Alec Ross.