Information technology and capitalist development

Abstract

As the potential for a vast number of new services and products in the wake of IT developments becomes apparent, private capital is moving in to secure its exclusive exploitation for private profits. The article traces the development of existing Information Technologies through the organisational imperatives of the military and multinational corporations. It shows how nearly everywhere capitalist pressure is leading to privatisation of public ownership and control over information systems and how national and international capital is restructuring to exploit IT. In the context of capitalist competition and production for profit the exploitation of IT will worsen class, gender and international inequalities (although in this article the latter two are only briefly touched on). But 81 Gareth Locksley argues that IT still carries the seeds of a more equal society; the left has to rethink and appropriate IT and fight for its development under social control.