Novara Media Downstream: The Plan is to Make the Internet Worse Forever w/ Cory Doctorow
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Dec 8, 2025 
Cory Doctorow, a digital rights activist and the author of 'Ensh*tification', discusses the alarming decline of the internet due to monopolistic practices. He reveals how companies like Google intentionally degrade services for profit, leading to a rise in surveillance and conspiracism. Doctorow outlines the stages of 'ensh*tification', highlights Amazon's tactics against sellers, and emphasizes the urgent need for competition and regulatory reform. He argues for Europe to seize the opportunity to create open alternatives to US tech dominance.
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The Four Stages Of In-Shittification
- In-shittification follows stages: lock-in, profit-shifting, user degradation, then a pivot to new surveillance products.
- Platforms first lock users, then worsen experience to serve advertisers and shareholders.
From Platform For Sellers To Toll Collector
- Amazon began as a merchant-friendly marketplace that let small sellers reach global customers.
- Cory Doctorow recounts how Amazon now extracts huge fees and pushes sellers into paid placement.
Amazon's Fees Inflate Wider Prices
- Amazon enforces Most Favored Nation pricing, making merchants raise prices everywhere.
- That spreads Amazon's junk fees across the wider economy.
