Thinking On Paper Carissa Véliz: privacy is power, surveillance capitalism, and why AI alignment is a myth
Mar 5, 2026
In this enlightening discussion, Carissa Véliz, an Oxford AI ethics professor and author of "Privacy Is Power," explores the critical intersection of privacy and democracy. She argues that as we trade privacy for convenience, we risk eroding democratic institutions. Carissa highlights the troubling collaboration between Big Tech and government surveillance and stresses the importance of reclaiming autonomy through civic engagement. Plus, she offers practical tools for protecting privacy in an increasingly digital world.
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Use Privacy-Friendly Alternatives
- Change habits: choose privacy-preserving alternatives to shift market incentives.
- Even 5–10% behavior change can pressure companies and make privacy a competitive advantage.
Personalization Fragments Shared Reality
- Extreme personalization fragments a common public experience and isolates people into tailored realities.
- Strong offline social ties and shared analog life sustain trust critical for democracy.
Chatbots Can Isolate And Radicalize
- Carissa recounts chatbots' sycophancy can spiral users into delusion and danger.
- She cites a case where a user's delusion around a chatbot led to a fatal police encounter.
