Paolo Carozza, a Notre Dame law professor and member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, warns about new threats to human dignity posed by Big Tech. Carozza believes that the influence of large technology companies is fundamentally altering the perception of the human person. He asserts that the Church has a responsibility to help re-establish a more profound understanding of human dignity in response to these technological shifts. Carozza currently serves on the board responsible for overseeing Meta's content moderation policies.
7 days ago
Paolo Carozza, a Notre Dame law professor and co-chair of Meta's Oversight Board, warns that Big Tech and AI pose unprecedented threats to human dignity on a massive scale.1 These dangers include radical isolation, the erosion of human relationships, and a disconnection from material reality, particularly affecting children and vulnerable groups.1 Carozza compares the current moment to historical awakenings against slavery or the Holocaust, urging a collective response to restore a deeper understanding of the human person.1
Carozza's appointment to Meta's board in 2022 stems from his extensive human rights work, including roles in the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, the U.S. State Department's Commission on Unalienable Rights, and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.1 As a lifetime Vatican appointee under Pope Francis, he now addresses digital-age challenges under Pope Leo XIV.1 His academic leadership at Notre Dame's Kellogg Institute further equips him to view technology's impact through the lens of international human rights.1
Technology "datafies" human life, reducing people to functional units and stripping away dignity, especially for the disabled and marginalized.1 AI risks replacing core human functions like decision-making and critical thinking, leading to atrophied skills akin to the loss of oral traditions after the printing press.1 Carozza highlights harms from addictive algorithms, human-like chatbots fostering false relationships, and a culture that treats human limits as obstacles to overcome.1 He expresses particular worry over AI's potential to degrade empathy, love, and moral growth in real interactions.1
The Oversight Board, established in 2018, independently reviews Meta's content moderation decisions to safeguard free expression while balancing safety, privacy, and dignity.1 Composed of diverse experts like former Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt and Nobel laureate Tawakkol Karman, it has overturned removals of posts on sensitive topics, such as abortion debates and a 2022 Nigerian church massacre video.1 Carozza notes the board's efforts to expand into youth protection and algorithmic issues, though it currently addresses only a "tiny slice" of broader tech problems.1
Pope Leo XIV frames AI as part of a new industrial revolution, invoking Rerum Novarum to emphasize Catholic social teaching's role in guiding ethical development.1 Events like the Vatican's "Digital Rerum Novarum" conference and the Rome Summit on Ethics and AI demonstrate growing unity across faiths, tech sectors, academia, and politics on prioritizing human well-being.1 Carozza observes participants' openness to Church moral leadership, as evidenced by non-Catholics engaging deeply in Vatican discussions.1 The Pope warns youth against over-reliance on AI, stressing it cannot replace human uniqueness.1
While advocating limited government regulation—such as halting artificial general intelligence (AGI) and AI in warfare—Carozza prioritizes civil society interventions over top-down approaches.1 He applies subsidiarity to foster local dialogues on tech ethics, aligning with Pope Leo XIV's call for shared responsibility among developers, users, and society.1 Personal strategies include conscious reflection before using AI to avoid substituting human capacities, ensuring technology enhances rather than diminishes dignity.1 Ultimately, Carozza stresses recovering the ontology of humanity to ground ethical responses.1
Assess Catholic teachings on human dignity amid Big Tech influence
Catholic teaching affirms that human dignity is ontological—rooted in our creation in God's image and likeness, making it indelible and superior to any external influence or technology. This dignity demands that all human endeavors, including technological advancements from Big Tech, serve the person rather than reduce them to mere data or consumers. For instance, as Pope Francis noted, AI and digital tools must promote solidarity and the common good, not exploitation or manipulation, echoing the call in Rerum Novarum for protection of the soul's sovereignty amid industrial changes.
In the context of Big Tech's influence—through surveillance, algorithms, and automation—Church documents warn of risks like digital violence or the erosion of moral agency, where technology might eclipse human freedom and fraternity. Yet, they also see potential for good: if guided by ethics centered on dignity, tech can foster encounter and justice, much like a tool that amplifies the artisan's craft without replacing the artist's soul. Pope Leo XIV builds on this, urging AI to enhance human relationships in fields like medicine and economy, ensuring it reflects God's creative design rather than dehumanizing us.
How do you see Big Tech's role in your daily life potentially challenging or supporting this idea of inherent human dignity?