koneterottaisuutta

Koneterottaisuutta is a Finnish neologism used to describe the growing entrenchment of machines, automation, and algorithmic systems in society. It denotes a sociotechnical condition in which mechanical processes and automated decision-making increasingly shape work, services, and daily life, influencing how people interact with technology and how institutions operate. The term is informal and not tied to a single academic framework, but it is commonly used in discussions about automation and digital culture.

Origins and usage: The expression appears mainly in Finnish online discourse, technology journalism, and some scholarly writings as a descriptive shorthand for a broader trend that has developed since the late 20th century. It is not a standardized term in Finnish sociology or STS literature.

Scope and manifestations: Koneterottaisuutta encompasses factory automation, AI-assisted management, platform ecosystems, and the design of everyday objects and public services to be machine-centric. It highlights shifts in labor, privacy, and governance, such as reduced human discretion in certain processes, data-driven surveillance, and the normalization of algorithmic routines in everyday life.

Debate and critique: Proponents view koneterottaisuutta as a useful lens to examine resilience, inequality, and accountability in a highly automated world. Critics warn that the term can be vague or determinist, conflating technology with inevitability and downplaying human agency, culture, and alternative visions for technology.

See also: automation, digitalization, algorithmic governance, human–machine interaction, technostress.