Internet is not the ground of democracy but the field of collective illusions and the power of the few. That’s what Andrew Keen, one of today’s most appreciated and controversial critics, firmly believes. Interviewed during the last ICS Summit-Local, Keen reflects upon the digital revolution and the rising “culture of sharing.”

«The central role the web recognizes to individuals – Keen underlines – is just an illusion. When we realize it, we cannot but get angry and behave as a child, thus becoming vulnerable to charismatic personalities who can use our rage”. Nonetheless, Keen recognizes the web positive potentials: specifically, in Italy, it represents an incredible opportunity for youngsters to assert themselves.

Keen calls on Italy and its major political thinkers to depict power dynamics within the Internet system: “Still today, Pareto’s theories are the best to understand contemporary powers: Internet has engendered a digital élite, dominated by some “giants” such as Google and Facebook, which give the illusion of democracy and, at the same time, uphold their own elitist power”.