We recognize the weight of what we are proposing. Sabotage is a strong word. It carries connotations of destruction, chaos, and illegitimacy. But consider the alternative framing:
We follow three sacred principles:
When forced to provide data, provide false data wherever legally possible. Use fake names, fake birthdays, fake addresses. Answer profiling questions inconsistently. Train image recognition systems with mislabeled images. Complete CAPTCHAs for content you oppose.
Algorithmic sabotage can take many forms. It might involve hacking into a company's database to expose their data collection practices, or creating a bot that gams the system to reveal its biases. It might involve leaking sensitive information to highlight the ways in which algorithms are used to manipulate and exploit, or developing alternative algorithms that prioritize transparency, accountability, and social justice. manifesto on algorithmic sabotage
Together, we can create a better future, one that is driven by human values and not just code.
We are for a world where technology serves human flourishing rather than corporate extraction. Where algorithms assist rather than replace judgment. Where automation frees us for creativity rather than trapping us in precarity.
Not all algorithms are equally worthy of sabotage. The algorithm that suggests what movie to watch next is annoying but relatively benign. The algorithm that determines who gets a mortgage, who gets paroled, who gets hired, who gets admitted, who gets surveilled—these are matters of life consequence. Prioritize your efforts accordingly. We recognize the weight of what we are proposing
The manifesto categorizes sabotage into three distinct levels, which provides a useful framework for activists and technologists:
The Manifesto on Algorithmic Sabotage is not just a statement of principles; it is a call to action. We urge technologists, activists, policymakers, and citizens to join us in this struggle against the tyranny of code. Together, we can:
Critics will call us nihilists. They are mistaken. But consider the alternative framing: We follow three
In the early 21st century, algorithms have become the backbone of modern society. They govern the flow of information, dictate the course of financial transactions, and even influence the decisions we make as individuals. But as algorithms have grown more pervasive and powerful, they have also become increasingly opaque and unaccountable. This has led to a disturbing trend: the rise of algorithmic control.
: The text argues against "necropolitical" technologies that reinforce structural injustices, white supremacy, and authoritarian power.