Ethical and Political Delusion in the Model of Cloud Computing

Abstract

Cloud Computing (CC) is not just a revolutionary development in information technologies (IT), but also a powerful metaphor and new sociotechnical paradigm, one that is, at least theoretically, intended to empower users. Transformations on this scale raise serious ethical and political dilemmas that need to be addressed. This chapter argues that such dilemmas have to do mainly with the very nature of cloud computing as an inherently political technology (a technology that is strongly compatible with certain models of social organization). It is argued that CC is an inherently political technology in the strong sense (it requires a set of political and social requirements to function properly). Once fundamental decisions are taken, changing the influence and public understanding of its social impact will be extremely difficult to achieve.