PHANTOM CLOUD

Digital technology relies on invisible infrastructures that remain unseen to most, with the cloud serving as an all-encompassing yet invisible storage system that is responsible for decisions, redefining privacy, power, identity, and seamless connectivity; yet at its heart is centralization of control that turns data into wealth while keeping people unreachable. However, as its flaws become apparent, a change is imminent--though not towards greater transparency nor into a completely different technological era where these hidden forces can be revealed and altered through human intervention.

Cloud computing revolutionized our world, opening cross-border data flows that power social media, AI, and logistics services. However, it also created bottlenecks - centralized systems holding sensitive information governed by entities with interests that might conflict with societal wellbeing. Soft control now operates through algorithms, behavior nudges, and digital gatekeeping to limit who has access to digital services without their consent; effectively redefining identities to predictive profiles without their knowledge or approval.

The cloud's influence lies in its interaction between machines and people as well as institutions and citizens, with globalization invisibly creating barriers, prioritizing controlling profits over fairness. Facing environmental challenges and inequalities necessitating innovation, it becomes imperative to develop creative solutions. Imagine power being shared without losing privacy while identities remained sovereign yet fluid?

The book presents post-cloud as not simply another period in our lives but rather an opportunity to systematically untangle the unknowable structures which shape them. By dismantling these invisible systems, we can regain control and transform our digital environment from passive to more actively engaging. But it's not all blindness: transparency exploration, human-centric design is also taking place.