neoLuddite

Neo-Luddite is a term used to describe proponents of skepticism toward or rejection of certain forms of modern technology and automation. The term echoes the 19th-century Luddites, English workers who organized to destroy machinery during the early Industrial Revolution, arguing that technology harmed their livelihoods. In contemporary usage, neo-Luddites may critique digital networks, artificial intelligence, surveillance capitalism, or the social and ecological costs of rapid technological change.

The label emerged in late 20th century and is applied across intellectual and activist spectra. It often signals a broader stance that favors slower or more deliberate tech development, human-centered design, or political regulation rather than outright rejection of technology.

Beliefs include concerns about unemployment and insecure work, erosion of privacy, erosion of autonomy, concentration of power in tech corporations, and environmental impact. Some advocate for de-automation, local production, or stronger safeguards; others call for democratic governance of new technologies, data ownership reforms, or moratoriums on certain applications.

Critics contend that neo-Luddite arguments can hinder innovation and economic efficiency, overstate risks, or misinterpret technological progress. Proponents counter that the critique is necessary to align technology with social values and risk management.

Neo-Luddite perspectives appear in academic discussions within sociology of technology, in labor and environmental movements, and in cultural critiques of digital life. The term itself is often used descriptively or pejoratively, rather than as a tightly cohesive movement.