Have the techno-libertarians taken over?
January 2, 2026
14 min
1772
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1,857 of 2,041
Episode 1772 · January 2, 2026
Have the techno-libertarians taken over?
0:00 / 14:43
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The Messy Conservatives Episodes Around January 2, 2026
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14:43This episodeHave the techno-libertarians taken over?
Summary
<p>In the 1990s, a small group of men in Silicon Valley imagined a world without governments or rules – a world run by code. They called themselves the <em>cypherpunks</em>, and they believed technology could replace politics entirely.</p> <p>Those ideas didn’t stay online. They shaped the culture of the tech industry, which in turn has reshaped Western civilisation itself. Now, the billionaires behind it all are trying to remake democracy in their image.</p> <p>Today, writer and contributor to <em>The Monthly</em>, Elmo Keep, on how Silicon Valley’s most dangerous philosophy escaped the internet and entered the real world.</p> <p> </p> <p>If you enjoy <em>7am</em>, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at <a href="http://7ampodcast.com.au/support">7ampodcast.com.au/support</a>.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Socials:</strong><strong> </strong>Stay in touch with us on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a></p> <p><strong>Guest:</strong> Writer and contributor to <em>The Monthly</em>, Elmo Keep</p> <p><strong>Photo: </strong>REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
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