As @lightweight pointed out in an excellent blog post on this a decade ago;
"As such, the governments and businesses of the world are, in effect, subsidiaries of the Microsoft Corporation. This compromises their sovereignty and ability to make the best decisions on behalf of their citizens.'
https://davelane.nz/new-zealand-dependence-microsoft-corporation
@strypey @lightweight @AdminKirsty @artnacrea yeeep!
I did my part internally, including by repeatedly warning against the dangers of vendor capture; to no avail. The tech and procurement and management peeps don't care (or become indignant).
@aimee
> The tech and procurement and management peeps don't care (or become indignant)
This is the problem we need to solve. MBA pod people with buddies working for DataFarming corporations, and total dictatorial control over govt IT procurement ( @lightweight wrote a couple more thorough and well argued blog posts on this).
We need to go over their heads by making it a political issue and getting laws passed to protect digital sovereignty, as EU are. Thus the OP : )
@strypey @lightweight @AdminKirsty @artnacrea
I think that might be a wee bit offhand / untrue - I've worked with many folx in many milieus and I wouldn't generally use such descriptions. Plus calling people names or forcing stuff seldom works well, in my exp :)
@strypey @lightweight @AdminKirsty @artnacrea (That being said, I do like what the EU are attempting to do :))
@aimee sadly, a lot of EU folks think the EU is being way too limp & meek. And many are saying that the lobbyists will undo it all, too. I'm really hopeful that's not the case. But yeah, I think sometime leverage is needed and, if available, should be used without reservation. Sometimes the folks who know they should be doing better (but don't feel confident enough to do) end up empowered as a result..
@strypey @AdminKirsty @artnacrea
@lightweight @strypey @AdminKirsty @artnacrea Agreed 😊 Anything with people is definitely complex, especially as one adds more people, responsibilities, values and points of view, cuts resources, etc :)
@strypey @lightweight @AdminKirsty @artnacrea
I also think there's a tendency here and elsewhere to unfairly focus on fingerpointing at public servants, but not turn that same gaze to other local sectors, incl the private sector :)
(1/2)
I agree that ...
@aimee
> fingerpointing at public servants, but not turn that same gaze to other local sectors, incl the private sector
... is a big problem in NZ. But I don't think pointing out the cozy relationship between upper management in highly corporatised public agencies, and their counterparts in "private sector" tech companies fits that description.
