Large technology corporations have shaped everyday life, but their power does not come without trade-offs. Algorithms that decide what we see, platforms that manage personal data, and systems that influence elections. Faced with this scenario, an inevitable question arises: should their creators be held accountable for the consequences of their inventions? The answer seems clear, but action remains elusive.
Open source and transparency as the first technical step 🔍
Public responsibility begins with software architecture. Implementing external audit protocols, publishing social impact reports, and ensuring that AI models do not replicate biases are not options, but requirements. Companies like Mozilla already do this with their privacy standards. If a delivery app knows where you live, the least you can do is review how it uses that information. Without transparency, the code becomes a black box.
The day a CEO apologized for the algorithm (and no one believed them) 🤖
It is touching to see a billionaire in a hoodie testify before Congress that their platform did not intend to radicalize anyone. It is like a plumber saying the water just escaped from the pipes on its own. Meanwhile, engineers fix bugs and shareholders watch their accounts grow. Perhaps the next technological revolution will not come with a patch, but with a sincere apology and, by the way, a tax to pay for the collateral damage.