#97 The rise of the Neo Luddites

In the face of tech and AI hype, there's an emerging march away from technology taking place around the globe.

This week we explore recent developments fitting this trend, including a proposed law in Australia that give will employees a "right to disconnect" from work, and another that seeks to improve conditions for gig workers.

We also take a deep dive into the resurgence of the Luddite movement - a cohort of workers, critics, academics, organisers and writers who claim they are pushing back on technologies that exploit the vulnerable and extract the rewards of society for the benefit of a narrow elite.

Links:

Article about right to disconnect (SMH) https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/what-is-the-right-to-disconnect-a-bluffer-s-guide-to-the-new-laws-about-getting-contacted-after-hours-20240207-p5f32b.html

Article about right to disconnect and gig worker changes (ABC News) https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-06/right-to-disconnect-from-work-other-changes/103433418

Article on reaction to right to disconnect (ABC News) https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-11/peter-dutton-vows-repeal-right-to-disconnect/103453148

Australia Institute report on overtime and the right to disconnect in Australia https://australiainstitute.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Call-Me-Maybe-Not-2022-WEB.pdf

Atlantic article on rise of New Luddites (Atlantic) https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/02/new-luddites-ai-protest/677327/

Wikipedia article on Luddites https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luddite#:~:text=The%20name%20Luddite%20(%2F%CB%88l,%2C%20General%2C%20or%20King%20Ludd.

Article by Jathan Sadowski on Luddites (The Conversation) https://theconversation.com/im-a-luddite-you-should-be-one-too-163172

Podcast: This Machine Kills https://soundcloud.com/thismachinekillspod

Credits:

Editing and post-production by Martin Franklin (East Coast Studio) eastcoaststudio.com.au

Music by Bensound.com