Google, Facebook, Amazon: our everyday lives now pass almost entirely through those digital platforms. But their power does not stop there...

In recent years, a growing relationship of mutual dependence has emerged between states and Big Tech, rooted in the evolution of the U.S. military–digital complex. This nexus enables the development of autonomous weapons systems, the conduct of full-scale military operations, and the use of artificial intelligence for intelligence and surveillance purposes. We are witnessing the rise of a new form of “digital imperialism,” in which states facilitate access to data generated by the collective and actively support the expansion of digital platforms into foreign markets. The existence of “revolving doors,” allowing the same individuals to move between leadership roles in major technology corporations and military or security institutions, is emblematic of this convergence. Developments in the United States find a parallel in China, where a comparable relationship links domestic Big Tech firms and the Communist Party.
This form of digital imperialism not only produces profound economic and social inequalities but also constitutes a structural driver of geopolitical tensions among competing centers of global power.