The technology sector is uniquely positioned to empower individuals in a number of ways, and it is up to the leaders in Silicon Valley to define how tech contributes to the greater American good, writes California state Rep. Ro Khanna, a Democrat, in an op-ed for The Washington Post.
Many of Silicon Valley's platforms and products are widely used throughout the country. With such a wide reach, developers are responsible to "answer the nation’s call to advance the common good" — from expanding job opportunities to ensuring information accuracies, Mr. Khanna writes.
Tech companies should invest in all Americans, regardless of geography. They could train the citizenry in tech skills necessary for jobs in manufacturing, retail and construction to prepare the nation as the software revolution continues, he adds. Firms should also expand their recruitment pools beyond the Ivy League to historically black colleges and universities.
"The industry has a long way to go in creating workplaces free of misogyny and sexism and to embrace gender equity," he writes. "But the challenge for Silicon Valley goes beyond expanding economic opportunity."
The tech industry is also responsible for exposing consumers to multiple perspectives and preventing political echo chambers. Technology, he argues, can provide people with the tools necessary to expand their thinking.
"Technology offers us hope for a new prosperity and understanding for this century. But it will take enlightened leadership. More than stock prices or product launches, Silicon Valley's legacy will be defined by whether tech leaders step up to contribute to the larger American experiment," Mr. Khanna writes.
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