US tech workers pledge to not help build a data-base of religion, should president Trump carry out his campaign promise to build such an index of Muslims. Neveragain.tech is signed by thousands of software developers (and sympathisers) who fear that their employers may be called upon to release personal information of the users of their services relating to race, religion or national origin. The pledge recognises the historic role of technology in genocide and ethnic persecution such as the Holocaust, the internment of Japanese Americans in WWII and others.
Netopia supports these brave tech workers who have taken this strong stand. Their resolve may be tested though, should some of the more pessimistic interpretations of the Trump agenda play out, as only one of the eight big Silicon Valley companies clearly ruled out helping such an effort, according to one survey. (Twitter was the odd one out, though there may be some method problems as five of the others did not answer rather than actively decline to comment).
If you ever looked for a case that technology is made by humans, its evolution guided by human choice and ideology, it would be difficult to find a more beautiful way to make that point. A message of hope for the new year, in spite of so many discouragements in 2016. Let’s make 2017 better. Happy new year!
