Hello, I’m Yves. As many of you know, I prefer technology that minimizes complexity to reduce risks of privacy violations and unnecessary features. Take my laser printer, for example—it has no complicated control panel, just an on-off button and indicator lights. It’s simple and effective. Regarding Windows, if you’re using a Mac, you can outright purchase the Office suite rather than lease it. Although they make the process challenging, I managed to acquire a new version for my laptop just over a year ago. For simpler tasks, an older version can suffice for several years; my last version lasted almost a decade, but I doubt I’ll see that kind of longevity again.
I often worry about the day I transition to Linux due to the lack of support available—I’d rather unclog a toilet than do tech maintenance. Cleaning a bathroom has a clear endpoint, while computer issues can drag on indefinitely.
By Thomas Neuburger. Originally published at God’s Spies
“Citizens will be on their best behavior because we are constantly recording and reporting everything that’s going on.”
—Larry Ellison, billionaire visionary and Oracle CEO
“This is a tale about power.”
—Yours truly
This article marks Part 2 of an exploration into the licensing revolution—manufacturers’ shift towards selling products that you ultimately do not control. What was once ownership has morphed into licensing, and the real power remains in their hands. In the first part, I discussed:
Two of humanity’s most revolutionary inventions emerged in the 20th century: the automobile, which transformed personal transportation, and the personal computer, or PC.
However, what we once thought of as personal ownership is now shifting dramatically.
The Personal Computer and the ‘Personal’ Computer: Renting What You Thought You Owned
At its essence, this narrative revolves around power.
Traditionally, access to computing power was confined to IBM-style mainframes and minicomputers, like those created by DEC. These machines weren’t “personal” by any means; they were prohibitively expensive and controlled by corporations. Users operated terminals connected to a central processor, but the actual computing power was never theirs.
With the introduction of the personal computer, users finally had the power within a device they owned and controlled. The marketing for these devices emphasized this personal aspect of ownership.
Today, however, with the impact of Windows 11, that narrative has been entirely inverted. The device you purchased no longer feels like it belongs to you. As one writer pointed out:
The operating system is the most personal component of a “personal” computer. It used to be that as a Windows user, I felt I owned my device, but nowadays, that sense of ownership has significantly diminished.
This loss goes beyond mere sentiment; it reflects a troubling reality.
Windows Controls Your Device
In every meaningful way except for the initial purchase, Windows controls your computer—a situation set to worsen. Let’s examine Windows update practices. The operating system updates on its own, sometimes damaging your device or resetting your settings without warning. Sydney Butler, the aforementioned writer, shares this sentiment:
I’ve lost count of how often I’ve left my perfectly functioning Windows machine at the end of the day, only to return the next morning to find it won’t boot. We’ve published numerous articles at How-To Geek on how to stop Windows from updating, which indicates a clear frustration among users.
Forced, automatic Windows updates now seem inevitable, and the loopholes people devise are regularly closed. While updates can be postponed, they cannot be completely halted. Resistance seems futile.
But that is only part of the problem. The constant advertisements, forced Microsoft Account logins, an omnipresent AI, and the unsettling AI-monitoring “feature” called Recall all contribute to a dire situation. Adding to the concern is the shift of your data to Microsoft’s cloud, and the presence of the mysterious TPM chip in modern computers, paving the way for a complete erosion of privacy that is being embraced by global elites at events like Davos.
As Rob Braxman explains in this video (emphasis mine):
[1:17] Microsoft is quietly concluding the age of the personal computer as we’ve known it. While [Microsoft CEO] Satya Nadella is being transparent, the average consumer is not comprehending the implications.
What people perceive as issues are merely surface-level concerns—tiny pieces constituting a larger framework. Windows is evolving into a system that is always monitored, AI-connected, and cloud-dependent, leaving you with far less ownership than you realize.
The expectation is for you to continue paying monthly for this AI oversight, without fully grasping that you’re no longer progressing from Windows XP. Most users sense that something is off, though.
Recall and TPM
Before this discussion gets too lengthy, here are a couple of critical points worth noting:
- Microsoft Recall employs AI to capture images of your active screen every few seconds. This source outlines its functionality.
While Microsoft asserts this feature safeguards privacy, one must question its integrity—especially should government inquiries arise under acts reminiscent of the Patriot Act. Can we truly trust its privacy guarantees? (You can find instructions for disabling Recall here.)
- The TPM chip — Braxman notes in his video [3:19], “TPM security chip [creates] verified identities in a Microsoft account with hardware monitoring.”
This chip does much more than that; it creates unique identities stored on hardware, accessible whenever authorized entities make a request.
Can you envision a world where every computer has built-in identities available upon request? Larry Ellison certainly can.
Should age verification become mandatory, even for benign sites, the TPM chip will play a critical role. Furthermore, Digital ID will only further entrench this surveillance paradigm.
Insight from Davos Man Larry Ellison
Billionaire Larry Ellison, CEO of Oracle, who has significant ties to major media brands, anticipates a fully surveilled world. As reported by Chris Hedges:
Ellison urges nations to consolidate all their data into a “single, unified data platform,” enabling AI models to exploit it fully. He believes that an AI-driven surveillance system will lead to citizens maintaining decorum since everything will be constantly monitored and documented.
