In April 1980, in Toulouse, the offices of Philips Data Systems and CII-Honeywell-Bull were set on fire by unknown culprits. French authorities scrambled to identify the responsible party, initially suspecting militant group Action Directe. However, a clandestine group called the Committee for Liquidation or Subversion of Computers (Clodo), composed of IT workers, clarified their involvement through a detailed communique. They highlighted the dangers of IT and telematics, referring to computers as tools of domination and control used by the powerful.
Machine in Flames, a 2022 documentary, shed light on Clodo, sparking interest in their tactics and motivations. Co-director Thomas Dekeyser believes that Clodo’s focus on techno-refusal offers a unique perspective on digital politics, standing out from the mainstream approaches that often work within existing systems. He aims to explore the historical resistance to technology, examining the diverse motivations behind opposing certain technologies.
Dekeyser’s upcoming book delves into the concept of techno-refusal, challenging the idea that those who resist technology are merely anti-modern. He argues that the refusal of technology is tied to a broader struggle for defining humanity in the face of advancing technologies. From the Luddites to Clodo, various groups have resisted technology with differing motivations, but all share a common theme of questioning the impact of technology on human identity.
Noting the prevalence of cybernetic logic in modern technology, Dekeyser highlights how AI’s deterministic nature can stifle the creation of new futures by perpetuating existing biases. He argues that AI’s predictive capabilities aim to neutralize unpredictable events, limiting possibilities for change and resistance. The history of technology is intertwined with the history of resistance, from Archimedes destroying his own inventions to the Luddites rebelling against new labor devices.
While Clodo’s tactics may not be as straightforward in today’s interconnected world, Dekeyser praises their efforts to highlight the materiality of technology and challenge dominant power structures. Groups like the Volcano Group continue to engage in technological sabotage, drawing attention to the need for alternative forms of technology that break away from capitalist and militaristic influences. Dekeyser emphasizes the importance of prefigurative technology, where the means used to enact change align with the desired ends, rather than reproducing existing systems of control. He suggests that developing alternative technologies from scratch may offer a more transformative approach to resisting the harms of contemporary technology.