Reclaiming Neo-Luddism from the Technophobes and Deep Ecologists.

When I see the term Neo-Luddite online, I often see people like Theodore Kaczynski, The Amish or Cormac Mccarthy brought up. Primitivists, Regressives or Technophobes rather than the Techno-Skepticist that make up the majority of the decentralized movement, just like how the original Luddites were painted as anti-technology when they were really just opposed to the centralization of industry and its place over their lives. I just want to state that I am not against tech. I love technology, I love computers, I love the internet, I love video games. As a millennial, these were my childhood. If you knew me irl, you might think I was a Retro-Tech fetishist. Someone who is obsessed with Web 1.0 and the aesthetics of the 2000s. While that is true, I have my reasons:

The current state of technology is that of classism, militarism, surveillance and exploitation of resources, labor and the environment. I am not fine with tech being used in such ways, and that as we as Tech Users must stand by our morals and search for a way to undermine it. Here are a few things I propose for other Techno-Skeptics/Neo-Luddites. Our hammers to break the machines if you will:

• Internet Privacy: In the age of massive surveilance of both individuals and activist organizations, we must hide from the prying eyes of the establishment and the corporations. For this, I propose utilizing things like a good browser (Firefox), Anti-Tracking Software (Ublock), a VPN (Proton VPN and Mullvad are good options),Tor Network and apps like Signal, Whatsapp, Proton Mail and even LoRa Networks (google it) to do direct communications for riskier business such as organizing. Make sure to prioritize encrypted apps, and make sure what you are using hasn't been compromised.
  

• Minimalist Tech: Buy an MP3 player or a higher end DAP if you need it, learn how to torrent and or just rip the tracks off of your own CDs. Prioritize dumb devices that have specific usages over smart devices that have connections to the internet. Smartphone is your worst enemy, it is a distraction, a surveillance camera and a tool of psychological manipulation. I would suggest buying burners or flip phones over high end products like Iphone or Galaxy too. Buy a handheld console that boots roms. Stuff like that. Don't use streaming services, don't pay unless you are paying to support the development of the media, or to own the data forever. Have dedicated internet devices and dedicated offline ones that you use, they can't steal your data if they have no way to access it. Prioritize buying devices that have longevity to reduce e-waste.
  

• Digital Minimalism and Reducing your Digital Footprint: (This somewhat ties into the Minimalist tech and Privacy but I thought I would make its own section). This doesn't exactly mean spend less time on digital devices, especially if that's your job or outlet for activism, but to use them with intent and to limit time interacting with non-essential apps. The internet is an extremely powerful tool for activism, spreading awareness, sharing media and opinions, but it can be a double edged sword when going in blind, and or if you are vulnerable to their manipulation, such as if you are a gambling addict, shopping addict, etc. Breaking yourself from that connection that these corporations have over your attention is key.
  

• Software Minimalism, Modular Design and Open Source Design: These are core tenets of the Unix Philosophy. Supporting, using or creating simple, efficient and accessible software. A focus in smaller file sizes, less resource intensiveness and ease of use is a way to democratize data and to make it more widely available to the general public. The smaller the file, the less incentive you have to delete it, have space for more and can house large libraries with ease. The easier the code, the easier it is to modify, to innovate and to learn from. The more widely utilizable it will be. For example, take video games. People in both First and Third World countries can play games like Minecraft together more easily they can play Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 together, and it will have more longevity and improvements as a result of its ability to be customized and played in almost any device. For hardware, support devices which allow repair, and or customizability. That extends its shelf life and reduces e-waste. That means no Apple products, no DRM heavy gaming consoles like Sony, Nìntendo or Xbox (unless you are buying them to jailbreak them ;) Designing or supporting software/hardware that follows these ideals is key to making software accessible, and hardware more sustainable, as repair is more possible.
  

  Embrace and host Third Spaces on the Internet: There needs to be places away from Capitalist interest online. There is a big attack on our freedom of speech with the Tik Tok ban, on apps like Twitter, as well as Facebook. Hell, Reddit is most likely a psyop. Whilst these can be good tools for outreach in specific instances, they should not be your primary method of interacting with the internet or communication as they are multibillion dollar companies, companies who do not have your best interest at heart, as they have proven time and time again. They steal your data, they manipulate your perception, they utilize algorithms to control the stream of information. Not good. I would suggest sites like  MASTADON (A decentralized Twitter clone that hosts multiple smaller servers rather than just one) DISCORD (A server hosting site where you can set up your own servers that have chat channels, voice channels, you can stream, etc) TELEGRAM (A free encrypted messsging app that allows you to create group channels and share up to 1gb filesize. Great for hosting books, information or just talking) or SUBSTACK (a site that allows to write and share articles) or this one that we are currently on. Or hell, make your own site. I'll be the first person on your message board.

• Piracy, File Sharing and Torrenting: There is no doubt that the tendrils of the tech industry reach far and wide. This is largely due to the interests of the military apparatus, but also the money that they hold and extract from the populace. For us to undermine their profits, we must not directly pay them and make sure that our money stay is our hands, not the hands of our enemies. For this, I suggest utilizing the grey web. r/piracy megathread is a good start. Make sure to use Firefox with Ublock Origin. We must also host places that can provide free educational materials, and have a high focus on p2p sharing systems. Thats why I suggest torrenting, Qbittorrent is what I use personally. Make sure to bind your torrent client to your VPN to avoid IP leakage.
  

Anyways, Ill end it here for sake of my thumbs. I am really passionate about this topic and I thank you for reading all the way through. I hope you all enjoy your day! If you have any thoughts, or something you want to add, lmk.