“We were (and still are) witnessing the collision of general-purpose technologies.” Azeem Azhar believes that technology and societal change are more closely intertwined than they have ever been in history. But some of these technologies, he worries, could cause civil and national unrest due to the ensuing destabilisation they’ll cause. These new technologies will shift power from certain groups onto others, break the status quo, and cause political unrest in others because of said technologies ability to strip individuals of their agency, putting them at a heavy disadvantage. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
