Who are the new Luddites?

The original Luddites were a movement of textile workers in 19th century England who saw the induction of automated machinery onto their work, not as an improvement, but rather as a means for merchant capitalists to leverage exploitation, child labour, and the general en-shitification of their craft. They called themselves Luddites after a legendary (and probably apocryphal) rebel textile worker named Ned Ludd. Well, Ned is back…… With hatred of big tech and AI hitting the mainstream, it makes a lot of sense that something like the Summer of Ludd would emerge in this particular moment. Everywhere I go, there is an overwhelming sense that the Silicon Valley experiment is on its last legs. The companies that once aimed to make good products and postured as democracy-loving and progressive now open ally themselves with fascists, actively enshittify the internet with slop, and force-feed us annoying AI features that nobody wants. In response, the new Luddites seek not to abandon…