Rage Against the Muskine: Digital Luddism as Collective Action to Democratise Tech

Abstract

Digital technologies are widely celebrated as engines of progress, but mounting evidence reveals they deepen inequities, erode democracies, and concentrate power among tech elites. Digital hegemonies shape public discourse, influence elections, and entrench corporate logic into essential societal infrastructures. These challenges require Information Systems (IS) scholarship to move beyond its historical focus on technology’s business value – a focus rooted in a techno-utilitarian narrative that views technological adoption as inherently progressive while sidelining societal harms. We reclaim Digital Luddism, traditionally dismissed as irrational resistance, as a legitimate response to digital hegemony through three strategies: Resistance blocks harmful technologies through activism and legal challenges; Removal dismantles entrenched systems through external intervention; and Replacement builds ethical alternatives prioritising social justice and human dignity. Our study bridges historical and contemporary Luddism, challenging techno-utilitarianism and advocating for a more inclusive, equitable, and diverse digital future.