Digital Decay: The Enshittification Crisis

An absurdist video released by the Norwegian Consumer Council highlights the serious issue of 'enshittification,' the gradual deterioration of digital products and services. This phenomenon, coined by author Cory Doctorow, describes the deliberate degradation of online platforms, from increased ads on social media to lagging software updates.

In late February, a coalition of over 70 groups and individuals globally joined forces. They petitioned policymakers in 14 transatlantic countries to enact measures against enshittification, arguing it's a result of policy choices, not an inevitability. Finn Lützow-Holm Myrstad of the council emphasized that a better internet is possible.

The campaign, supported by a detailed 80-page report, has garnered significant attention, with the video reaching millions of views. Consumer councils in Norway and 12 other nations, alongside US civil society groups, have called for increased consumer power over products and easier service migration.

Policymakers are urged to strengthen consumer protection laws, enhance data privacy enforcement, and foster competition through public procurement favoring alternatives to big tech. The goal is to ensure consumers have genuine choices and that market forces better regulate digital practices.