The Coming War on General Computation (2011)
Cory Doctorow's prescient 2011 talk posits that the copyright wars were merely a warm-up act for a larger, inevitable conflict against general computation itself. He argues that attempts to regulate how we use our computers inevitably lead to surveillance and censorship, transforming our devices into instruments of control. This piece resonates deeply with HN's long-standing concerns about digital rights, privacy, and the open internet.
The Lowdown
In a captivating 2011 address, Cory Doctorow issues a stark warning: the battles over copyright were just the opening skirmish in a much larger "war on general computation." He argues that the inherent nature of general-purpose computers and networks makes them fundamentally resistant to specific, limited controls, and that attempts to impose such restrictions invariably lead to invasive technologies and censorship.
- The Flawed History of DRM: Doctorow traces the evolution of Digital Rights Management (DRM) from physical disk protections to sophisticated software-based systems. He highlights how every attempt to restrict copying failed because legitimate users were inconvenienced, and determined "pirates" easily bypassed the measures, often aided by fundamental computing expertise.
- DRM 1.0 and Legislative Overreach: By 1996, the dream of an "information economy" led to laws like the WIPO Copyright Treaty, which criminalized bypassing copy protection. Doctorow sarcastically notes that these laws were supposed to end illegal copying forever, but reality proved otherwise; copying only became easier, while the laws enabled censorship without due process.
- The Regulator's Blind Spot: Doctorow explains that regulators typically rely on a heuristic where features can be removed from specialized technologies (like a hands-free phone from a car) without fundamentally altering their nature. However, this heuristic fails for general-purpose computers and the internet because software and protocols are intrinsic to their general utility, not mere add-ons.
- Appliances as Spyware: The push for "appliances"—computers designed for single, controlled tasks—is not about simplification, but about creating fully functional computers laden with rootkits, spyware, and code-signing to prevent user control. Examples like Sony's rootkit-laden CDs and the Nintendo 3DS bricking itself illustrate this convergence of DRM and malware.
- Network Control Equals Surveillance: Similarly, efforts to control networks (like SOPA) to prevent copyright infringement inevitably converge with surveillance and censorship technologies used by authoritarian regimes, demonstrating a dangerous alignment of interests.
- The Real War Ahead: Doctorow contends that copyright is a "soft target" because it's not taken seriously by most policymakers. The true "war" will come when more powerful lobbies—from automotive, biotech, and agriculture industries—demand controls over "computers we ride in," gene sequencers, and 3D printers that can produce anything from weapons to biological agents. These powerful groups will seek to restrict general computation for their own economic or security interests.
- The Stakes: The speaker emphasizes that the fight for open, auditable, and user-controlled general-purpose computers and networks is paramount. Our future freedom depends on preventing these devices, which are increasingly intertwined with our lives (e.g., hearing aids, self-driving cars), from becoming tools that betray our trust and work against our interests.
Doctorow concludes with an urgent call to action, reminding the audience that while the copyright wars were a mere "mini-boss," they served as crucial training. To secure our freedom in the looming war on computation, we must actively support and fight for open systems and the organizations dedicated to protecting digital rights, for these are the "ammunition" we'll need for the greater battles ahead.