Forged in War: How a Century of War Created Today's Information Society

The book "Forged in War" explores how modern warfare has shaped information dissemination technology and its impact on society. It argues that devices we use, such as computers, cell phones, and the internet, were developed as a result of military conflicts and now play a central role in both declared and non-declared conflicts. The book also examines the data industry, which trades our attention for news and entertainment, and how it has evolved into a complex art and science of message targeting and content ownership.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 15 February 2024
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in a more comprehensive look at information dissemination technology, its context, and its impact on the way we now live. Library Journal, Starred Review

Many of the tools and media we consider to be a part of the Information Age, such as computers, cell phones, the internet, encryption, and more, have their origins in modern warfare. These tools began to emerge during World War I, when England cut off underwater cables to Germany and isolated it, and they accelerated through World War II and the Cold War. Today, they play a central role in both declared and non-declared conflicts, such as election interference and cyberbattles.

We purchase phones and smart speakers because they are new and offer exciting possibilities. Voice assistants like Siri and Alexa make our work easier and help us answer those nagging trivia questions. However, these devices are not just tools; they are data gatherers. They collect, repackage, and monetize our questions, purchases, photographs, web surfing, to create a data industry that is now larger than the oil industry.

Well over 100 years ago, the data industry established a business model that trades our attention for news and entertainment. This model has evolved into a complex art and science of message targeting and content ownership that has fractured communities while simultaneously concentrating media ownership in the hands of a few massive corporations.

Forged in War takes a critical look at the systems we use and how we ended up in a society that values data over personal liberty and commerce over the public good. It tells a compelling and previously untold story of how our ideas of information and knowledge reflect the century of war that has militarized our worldview.

Author David Lankess' work has been funded by organizations such as The MacArthur Foundation and The Institute.

ISBN-13: 9781538192214