Civil War General-Purpose Computing | Cory Doctorow | Talks at Google

Why HN readers recommended it

It is HN's go-to reference whenever device lockdown, DRM, or restrictions on installing software come up, with commenters noting how prescient it was.

This is a summary from the source dataset, not an endorsement by Hacker News or the video creator.

Video & recommendation details

Creator / channel

Talks at Google

Topic

general-purpose computing freedom

Format

talk

Level

general

HN recommenders in dataset

4

HN mentions in dataset

20

Recommendation years in dataset

2012–2026

These counts and years describe the included Hacker News records; they are not YouTube views or the video’s publication date.

From the original HN conversations

Excerpts from the recorded comments. Follow each source for the full comment and surrounding discussion.

• Always interested in what Cory Doctorow has to say. While this particular blog post isn't about DRM, his work is benefiting everyone (except those who would rather enrich themselves at the expense of humanity). It's probably bigger than you think. I highly recommend reading up …

• The book, "Little Brother," is available in multiple formats under Creative Commons licensing (free): [LINK] Also, you might enjoy Cory Doctorow's talk: "The Coming Civil War over General-purpose Computing" [VIDEO]

• > are you okay with me being able to spend two weeks on the dark-web researching how to make and detonate a bomb using totally innocent chemical purchases, and then your spouse, parents, relatives, or you, being an innocent victim of my exploding the results, …