Black Mirror: Imagining Future Tech

Netflix’s hit series Black Mirror depicts a time where future tech has controlled people without them knowing that they are being controlled. Future technology could figuratively expose every single detail of our lives; the answer to why, how, and when is a conundrum of the future itself. This hit series has speculated the ups and downs of the world’s future technology based on the interaction that occurs between the future technology and the future “mundanes” which then creates speculations and conspiracies that could develop traumatic thoughts to ‘fear’ future technology.

The show title, ‘Black Mirror,’ is not a misnomer as it refers to a state of the blank, dark image of electronic devices’ screens when they are off, as they reflect images; like mirrors.[i] The conspiracy surorunding technology is interesting since technology is commonly considered as “neutral”, especially in the case of the Internet which is accepted as an overwhelmingly positive or benevolent force.[ii] Technology will always be developed and invented from time to time to fulfill human needs.[iii] These innovations may materialize in many forms including artificial intelligence (AI), which could perform unique and interesting functions such as making sure your toast is slightly underdone, exactly like how you want it to.

In real life, the innovation of technology is based on the demand of society in the form of aspiration that comes from the outcome of the value within the society. Those forms of aspiration are “collected” and then “evaluated” by a unit such as the Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) which was coined in Europe and the United States.[iv][v] RRI processes every research and innovation (R&I) through specific dimensions to succeed their outcome on inventing new technology which is diverse & inclusive, anticipative & reflective, open & transparent, and responsive & adaptive to changes.[vi] These dimensions are engaged by all actors ranging from researchers, policymakers, educators, business and industry innovators, and civil society organizations to ensure the inclusiveness in all stages of R&I processes and in all levels of R&I governance (from agenda setting, to design, implementation, and evaluation).[vii]

The normative framework to evaluate every single R&I is based on the six policy agendas which include ethics, gender equality, governance, open access, public engagement, and science education to ensure that the research and innovation does not give any negative impact to the goals that existed.[viii] Looking at how the innovations are regularly assessed, evaluated, and based on these RRI principles, future technologies that exist in the famous series Black Mirror are mostly inapplicable. Innovations that replicate a dead person based on their digital footprints or create a smart device that uses AI derived from someone’s brain seem impossible since it violates certain rules that are made by the RRI. Therefore, we need to reconsider the development of future tech and prepare for the “consequences” that might follow.

However, we can still see the relevant events in the show with the phenomenon of technological penetration in our life. By understanding Michel Foucault’s concept of panopticism—the idea of society being “imprisoned” or controlled by another entity—in Black Mirror, we can grab the idea that technology has created a form of order where society obeys the regulations that are created by the technology.[ix] In this way, technology has controlled the body of each individual to feel the comfort provided by technology which Foucault described as ‘biopower.’[x] The explanation also shows that an asymmetrical surveillance system that is used by the “prisoners” also fits Foucault’s idea where someone is seen, but someone does not understand; where someone is an object of information, never a subject in communication. Relating this with the phenomenon of technological penetration in our daily lives, it seems like we are moving toward becoming an imprisones society, where we lose control over ourselves as we rely more and more to technology; just like what Foucault illustrated. Invisible cameras, omnipresent past events, no data privacy, machines deciding our essential mundane bodily activities, and safer yet creepier environment are still possible as long they don’t break RRI’s regulations.[xi]

Future technology as a new form of biopower that will eventually become a part of our daily lives will also, to some extent, control our daily life. People already bowed down to present technology where it already drained our data and transforming it into a public footprint to succeed the creation of Black Mirror’s imagination on future technology. Therefore, a question to ask ourselves is, are we too late to take back our control of technology?

Editors: Diah Ratna Pratiwi, M.Dev & Nabeel Khawarizmy Muna, SIP picture: The Common Sense Network

[i] Baxter-Wright, D. (2018). So THIS is why Black Mirror’s called Black Mirror. [online] Cosmopolitan. Available at: <http://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/entertainment/a14587741/why-black-mirrors-called-black-mirror/> [Accessed 26 Jan. 2018]

[ii] Quill, L. (2016). Technological Conspiracies: Comte, Technology, and

Spiritual Despotism, Critical Review, 28:1, 89-111, DOI: 10.1080/08913811.2016.1167407

[iii] Lamey, D. (2018). Past, Present and Future: The Evolution of Technology. [online] Discovertec. Available at: <http://www.discovertec.com/blog/the-evolution-of-technology> [Accessed 26 Jan. 2018]

[iv] Decker, M, Nora Weinberger, Bettina-Johanna Krings & Johannes

Hirsch. (2017). Imagined technology futures in demand-oriented technology assessment, Journal of Responsible Innovation, 4:2, 177-196, DOI: 10.1080/23299460.2017.1360720

[v] RRI. (N.a). WHAT IS RRI? Find out what RRI means, why it is important and how to foster it. [online] RRI. Available at: <https://www.rri-tools.eu/about-rri> [Accessed 26 Jan. 2018]

[vi] Ibid

[vii] Ibid

[viii] Ibid

[ix] Foucault, M. (1977). Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison. London, UK: Penguin Books.

[x] Foucault, M. (1990). The history of sexuality. London, UK: Penguin Books.

[xi] Hutson, M. (2016). Even Bugs Will Be Bugged. [online] The Atlantic. Available at: <https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/11/even-bugs-will-be-bugged/501113/> [Accessed 26 Jan. 2018]