Harvard historian Jill Lepore warns tech firms replacing democracy
Harvard historian Jill Lepore's upcoming book argues that private tech corporations have gradually usurped the functions of democratic nation-states, a shift she calls 'a return to tyranny and mystification in the form of rule by algorithms, corporations, machines.'
👁 112 reads
Harvard historian Jill Lepore, a Pulitzer Prize-winning staff writer for The New Yorker, has authored an upcoming book titled The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State that examines how private technology companies have gradually assumed roles traditionally held by democratic governments. Lepore describes this shift as a dangerous transformation toward what she calls “a return to tyranny and mystification in the form of rule by algorithms, corporations, machines.”
- Lepore's upcoming book 'The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State' traces the idea of government by machines across centuries and through science fiction
- She argues the deliberate corporate usurpation of state functions has become purposeful only in the last 20-25 years, starting in the United States
- Lepore singles out Elon Musk as a Silicon Valley leader ushering in a future drawn from misread pulp science fiction and comic books
What the Book Argues About Tech Companies and Government
In her analysis, Lepore traces a historical process where the functions that citizens expect from elected, accountable government institutions have been quietly transferred to private corporations. These functions might include decision-making about public spaces, content moderation that affects public discourse, infrastructure management, and data collection that was once the domain of census bureaus and public agencies. Speaking on TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, Lepore explained that this transformation has been “largely accidental” for most of its history, becoming “purposeful and deliberate” only in the last 20 to 25 years. She emphasized a crucial point about democratic legitimacy: “No one consented to that.”
The book takes a long historical view, tracing the concept of machine-led governance across centuries and through science fiction literature, while also examining what Lepore describes as “the notion that this is an inevitable failure.” This suggests her work explores not just how we arrived at this moment, but why governance by algorithms and corporations may be fundamentally flawed.
Technology Versus Corporate Power
Lepore, who recently won a Pulitzer Prize for her history of the U.S. Constitution, made clear distinctions in her critique. She is not arguing against technology itself or technological progress. “My beef is the ways in which private corporations have increasingly taken on the functions of the state,” she explained. This distinction matters for anyone using AI tools or technology products: the concern is not about the tools themselves, but about who controls them, how decisions are made, and whether users have any democratic say in policies that affect their lives.
She specifically mentioned Elon Musk among Silicon Valley’s “charismatic or not-so-charismatic leaders,” noting that his preferred cultural references “completely defeats and defies all of his political beliefs.” This observation points to contradictions Lepore sees in how tech leaders present their ideologies versus the actual implications of their corporate governance models.
What This Means for People Using AI Tools
For everyday users of AI systems and digital platforms, Lepore’s argument raises important questions about accountability and consent. When algorithms make decisions about what content you see, what opportunities are presented to you, or how your data is used, those decisions are made by private companies without the checks and balances that apply to government agencies. Unlike elected officials, corporate executives are accountable primarily to shareholders rather than citizens. Understanding this shift helps users recognize that many aspects of their digital lives are governed by corporate policies they never voted on and terms of service they may not have meaningfully consented to.
Google · Your sourcesQuantslant higher in your Google - one clickAdd to preferred sources →Frequently Asked Questions
When does Lepore say tech companies began deliberately replacing government functions?
According to Lepore, while the process has been “largely accidental” for most of its history, it became “purposeful and deliberate” only in the last 20 to 25 years.
Is Lepore against technology itself?
No. Lepore was careful to separate her critique from a rejection of technology. She stated: “My beef is the ways in which private corporations have increasingly taken on the functions of the state,” making clear her concern is about corporate power rather than technological advancement.
What is the title of Jill Lepore’s upcoming book?
The book is titled The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State and examines how private tech corporations have replaced democratic government functions through what she describes as “rule by algorithms, corporations, machines.”
More on this from QUANTSLANT
news·New Mexico court orders Meta to pay $567M more, total $942M