Bonner County Republican Women Inc. recently hosted Michael Ashley who warned the group about the dangers of Technofascism 

We Can Change That Story!

Michael Ashley spoke to the Bonner County Republican Women's group at their September Luncheon. Ashley warned of the dangers of technofascism. In this address, he highlighted the dangers of unchecked technological power and urged individuals to take a stand against the erosion of their rights and freedoms. He called for transparency, accountability, and ethical considerations in developing and deploying technology.

He defined technofascism as the use of technology to control and manipulate people. Technofascism is the term that describes this disturbing fusion of technology and authoritarianism. Governments and corporations can wield unprecedented influence over individuals' lives through digital surveillance, data manipulation, and the suppression of dissenting voices.

He argued that technofascism is already here and that we must act now to stop it. According to Ashley, a creeping amalgamation of technology and authoritarianism threatens to reshape our society's fabric.

The Emergence of Technofascism

Ashley provided some history by describing that the world is in the midst of a technological revolution. The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, surveillance systems, and data mining technologies has ushered in a new era of possibilities. However, these advancements come at a price - the erosion of privacy, the concentration of power, and the potential for authoritarian control.

Ashley gave several examples of technofascism in action. He pointed to using facial recognition technology to track people's movements, using social media to spread propaganda, and using algorithms to manipulate people's behavior. He argued that these technologies are being used to create a surveillance state where people are constantly monitored and controlled. One recent example he mentioned included the trucker's strike in Canada where even small donors' bank accounts were closed, businesses punished and much more when Justin Trudeau used technology to fight back. On a personal level he was recently part of the community that successfully fought the implementation of a new potential regional traffic management center in Coeur d’Alene.

Ashley also warned about the dangers of artificial intelligence. He warned that AI could be used to create social credit systems that would track people's behavior and reward or punish them accordingly. He argued that AI can create autonomous weapons systems.

Ashley hopes his warnings serve as a wake-up call about the dangers of technofascism. He urges his audience to take action where possible to stop technofascism's spread and build a more democratic and just society.

How We Can Change the Story

Ashley's speeches were a call to action, and there are many things that we can do to change the story of technofascism. Here are a few ideas:

• Educate ourselves about the dangers of technofascism. The more we know about the risks of technofascism, the better equipped we will be to fight it.
• Support organizations working to protect our privacy and rights online.
• Demand that our governments and corporations use technology responsibly. We need to demand that our governments and corporations use technology in a way that respects our privacy and our rights.
• Build a more democratic and just society. The best way to fight technofascism is to build a more democratic and just society. Work to create a culture where everyone has a voice and is treated with respect.

He said, "Technofascism is a real danger, but it is not inevitable. We can change the story by educating ourselves, supporting organizations that protect our privacy and rights, demanding that our governments and corporations use technology responsibly, and building a more democratic and just society. "

About Michael Ashley:

A former Disney screenwriter, Michael has written nearly 50 books on many subjects, including five on artificial intelligence. He co-authored Own the AI Revolution (McGraw Hill), which launched at the UN and was named by Soundview as one of 2019's top business books. A columnist for Forbes and Entrepreneur, Michael serves as a member of City AI, enabling the responsible development/application of artificial intelligence. His talk concerns topics raised in his new co-authored book, Neuromined: Triumphing over Technological Tyranny (Fast Company Press). He's also the creator of the Substack article, The Great Wake-up.

Here is a link to his Forbes article about the danger we face with de-banking:

Financial De-Platforming: The Scary Threat We Need To Talk About