Technology Gives Predators the Edge: A Warning From Giuliano da Empoli
In a recent appearance on La Matinale, writer, essayist, and political thinker Giuliano da Empoli argues that our world is increasingly driven by an “aggression premium.” Predators—whether on the battlefield, in cyberspace, or in public discourse—are able to challenge established rules at a fraction of the cost that used to deter them. From the military uses of cheap drones to the zero-cost campaigns of misinformation online, the frame is clear: the cost of aggression has collapsed while the political and social costs of pushing back remain high.
Da Empoli highlights the provocative example of drones that can undermine strategic assets for about $500, a stark contrast with the multi-million-dollar price tags of the equipment they damage. He notes that cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns require little to no investment but can generate outsized effects—undermining trust, blurring accountability, and provoking confusion that is difficult to counter in real time.
For the Italian-Swiss thinker, personalities like former President Donald Trump epitomize this dynamic. He suggests that such figures “destroy rules and taboos one after another” and can shift positions overnight without paying a political price. Yesterday’s peace plan for Gaza might be displaced by today’s rhetoric, yet the electoral ledger may still appear favorable—an indication of how the system can become captive to a rapidly moving, low-cost aggression cycle.
Da Empoli stresses that society is in a state of hypnosis, overwhelmed by a relentless stream of shocking information that collapses time for reflection. People are the “prey” and the “lab rats” in a world where our cognitive bandwidth is stretched thin, and where the habit of consuming sensational content can distort perception and judgment. The result is a political environment that rewards immediacy over deliberation and short-term gains over long-term health of institutions.
“We are exposed to a hypnotic flux of information,” he says, a cycle that makes it easy for charismatic figures to frame themselves as miracle workers who will “break the rules” and deliver tangible results. The sense of inevitability around change feeds a mystique: if nothing seems to move, the actor promising movement can seem almost godlike in his capacity to alter reality with a bold promise.
The Digital Transition and the Collapse of Rules
Central to da Empoli’s argument is the notion that the digital transformation has moved society from a regulated, code-bound realm into something he calls a “Somalia numérique.” In this imagined state, laws are shaped by warlords of information and power is exercised by those who can bend rules the quickest, often with little recourse for those who try to push back. The old order—where democratic norms and legal frameworks guided behavior—feels fragile in the face of actors who operate under a different code of engagement.
Under this paradigm, aggression becomes symbolic before it becomes physical. Disinformation, targeted online campaigns, and cyber intrusions can escalate into real-world consequences, eroding trust in institutions and destabilizing public life. If democracies want to survive, da Empoli argues, they must recognize the new asymmetry and prepare robust, proportionate responses that do not concede ground to the logic of the aggressors.
Toward a Courageous Response
Da Empoli calls for a more deliberate and courageous approach to counter the current arc. He believes democracies have the tools—legal, diplomatic, and technological—to resist the onslaught, but they require political will and a willingness to make difficult sacrifices. “There are costs to pay,” he concedes, “but we have the means to oppose these threats.”
The interview, conducted by Pietro Bugnon and reported by Julie Marty, frames a pressing question for readers: how can liberal democracies adapt to a landscape where aggression is cheap and norms are negotiable? The answer, for da Empoli, lies in strengthening institutions, fostering informed citizen engagement, and embracing decisive leadership that upholds the rule of law even when it costs politically. The era of passive defense has passed; proactive resilience is now essential for the health of public life.
As the dialogue continues, the call is clear: acknowledge the new dynamics and act with resolve to defend democratic civilization against the predatory logic that digital technology has amplified.
