Published on November 1, 2024 at 05:37. / Modified on November 1, 2024 at 4:16 p.m.
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The tech industry's usual political discretion was shattered during the 2024 US presidential election.
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The rallying behind Donald Trump of several influential figures in Silicon Valley demonstrates an evolution within a sector which was almost unanimously supported by the Democratic camp over the last three decades.
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A situation which reminds us that the neutrality of technology advocated by manufacturers does not translate into reality, according to sociologist Olivier Alexandre and independent researcher Ophélie Coelho.
The American presidential election which will take place this Tuesday, November 5 will go down in the annals of Silicon Valley. The technology industry, which has distinguished itself over the past thirty years by discreet but significant support for Democratic candidates, has ostensibly displayed its divisions in recent weeks. To the point that even the Washington Post has given up taking a stand in favor of Kamala Harris. A decision which would have been imposed by Jeff Bezos, owner of the newspaper and founder of Amazon, according to the American press. The billionaire would seek to avoid alienating Donald Trump whose chances of re-election remain high.
Other personalities from Silicon Valley have completely rallied behind the Republican candidate and have not hesitated to make it known publicly. That entrepreneurs in this sector lean to the conservative side of the American political spectrum is not surprising, nevertheless recalls sociologist Olivier Alexandre, research fellow at the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). This was the case for the main players in Silicon Valley, such as Hewlett-Packard and Intel, until the early 1990s. So many companies which have also benefited from the support of the American state, from their creation to today. 'today, through Army research budgets and orders from the U.S. Department of Defense.
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