The Unabomber's Enduring Influence

Theodore John Kaczynski, otherwise known as the Unabomber , committed suicide in prison on June 10, 2023 aged 81, because he was suffering from late stage cancer. Kaczynski infamously carried out a 17-year bombing campaign in which he targeted academics, businessmen, and random civilians. His attacks resulted in three deaths and 23 injuries, and his capture in 1996 marked the end of what is often described as the longest and most costly manhunt in American history.

Kaczynski’s reasons for carrying out the attacks are detailed in his 1995 manifesto , "Industrial Society and Its Future,” which was published by The New York Times and The Washington Post. His manifesto makes several arguments.

• Technological progress leads to psychological and social problems: Kaczynski argues that the development and widespread use of modern technology have negative psychological and social consequences. He suggests that individuals become alienated, disconnected from nature, and suffer from psychological disorders due to the pressures and demands of the technological system.
• The destruction of nature: Kaczynski highlights the detrimental impact of industrialization and technological progress on the natural environment. He criticizes the exploitation of natural resources, pollution, and the overall disruption of ecosystems caused by industrial society.
• The loss of freedom and autonomy: Kaczynski contends that industrial society and technology diminish individual freedom and autonomy. He argues that individuals become dependent on the system, trapped in a cycle of work and consumption that perpetuates the existing power structures. He sees technology as a tool of control wielded by a small elite, leading to the erosion of personal liberties and the rise of surveillance and social control mechanisms.
• The powerlessness of individuals: Kaczynski asserts that the power of technology and the industrial system lies in the hands of a few, while the majority of individuals are rendered powerless and subjugated. He argues that technological progress has created a society in which people are reduced to passive consumers, disconnected from meaningful activities and control over their own lives.
• The need for a revolution: Kaczynski concludes his manifesto with a call for a radical societal transformation. He argues that only a revolution against the industrial-technological system can bring about meaningful change. While acknowledging that such a revolution is unlikely to happen, he believes it is the only way to overcome the problems he identifies. Kaczynski suggests that individuals must reject technology, dismantle the industrial system, and return to a simpler and more sustainable way of life.

Based on his manifesto Kaczynski is sometimes (incorrectly) thought of as a leftist, anarchist, or radical environmentalist . This is because his ideas are influenced by a variety of political and social theories and historic events – revolutions in particular. He is in fact an anti-technology radical whose core ideology is developed from the work of French philosopher Jacques Ellul who wrote extensively on the dangers of technology, saying that some people are so captivated by the potential of technology that they do not see the associated risks. For Kaczynski this manifested in the belief that technology cannot not be controlled, that industrial society cannot be reformed, and the techno-industrial system must be destroyed.

Many of Kaczynski’s views resonate with today’s societal concerns about advanced technologies. However, because of the wide variety of sources he draws from, some of his ideas also overlap with the ideologies of other extremist groups and he has found followers amongst the extreme left and right.

Kaczynski’s current influence on radical groups

Extreme Right

Kaczynski’s writings became popular amongst the extreme right because of his visceral criticism of the political left. However, in recent years his views on the environment have influenced eco-fascists and his ideas on the systematic collapse of society inspire those that advocate for accelerationist violence. Anders Breivik who carried out the attack in Norway in 2011 plagiarised Kaczynski’s writings for his own manifesto that was later copied by Brendan Tarrant (the Christchurch mosque attacker) and Payton Gendron (mass shooter at a supermarket in Buffalo).

Influential figures in the extreme right such as Brandon Russell, the founder of Atomwaffen Division, refer to Breivik, Kaczynski, and Timothy McVeigh as the father, son, and holy ghost . Kaczynski’s following amongst influential members of the extreme-right highlight the potential importance of his ideology to the community. His ongoing popularity can be seen through the proliferation of memes that often refer to him as “Uncle Ted” or are a parody of Ted Talks. Followers of Kaczynski also refer to themselves as being “Ted pilled,” a derivation of red pilled from the film The Matrix . The red pill allowing you to see the world as it really is.

Extreme-Left

Kaczynski’s criticism of the political left means that he is generally less influential amongst these groups. However, some militant anarchists have used his writing as part of their narratives against industrial society and capitalism, as well as some of the environmental concerns they have. Attacks such as the attempted bombing of an IBM nanotech facility in Switzerland, the shooting of a nuclear-energy executive in Genoa in 2012, and a parcel bomb targeting the head of an Italian weapons manufacturer appear to have ideological links to Kaczynski. As Kaczynski's ideas continue to inspire radical groups, anarchists may engage in acts of violence against symbols of capitalism using IEDs, parcel bombs, and vandalism. Statements of responsibility from these groups are likely to contain anti-technology rhetoric with multinational technology companies remaining high on their list of targets.

Future Radicals

Kaczynski’s ongoing popularity amongst certain groups primarily stems from people’s fears over new and emerging forms of technology. Kaczynski’s writing on the impact of technology on mental health, the climate and the environment, and other developing issues such as artificial intelligence are all pressing contemporary concerns, and he is likely to influence future anti-technology radical movements.

In a 2008 publication “Technological Slavery: The Collected Writings of Theodore J. Kaczynski,” he expresses his views on the dangers of modern technology and the need for a radical movement to challenge it. Kaczynski claims he is making four main points from his writing.

1. Technological progress is leading us towards inevitable disaster
2. Only the collapse of the modern technological system can prevent this disaster
3. The political left is the first line of defence against revolution
4. A new revolutionary movement dedicated to the elimination of technical society is required

Kaczynski argues that freedom and technological progress are incompatible, and he believes that the system has no choice but to regulate human behaviour to function. This is very similar to groups that are concerned about the potential dangers of AI and other technology. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 61% of respondents believed AI poses risks to humanity, and an open letter from the Future of Life Society, signed by influential figures like Elon Musk, called for a six-month pause on the development of AI more powerful than Chat GPT-4 in April 2023. There are also calls for greater regulation of AI with more than 90 percent of Chief Risk Officers saying that the regulation of AI technologies should be accelerated. After Kaczynski’s death, Elon Musk Tweeted in reference to Kaczynski that he “might not be wrong,” giving a highly influential voice to Kaczynski’s views.

Of course, anti-technology radicalism is not a new thing. The 19th century Luddites are probably the most renowned and Kaczynski himself has already inspired some anti-technology groups , most notoriously Individualidades Tendiendo a lo Salvaje (ITS: Individualists Tending towards Savagery). ITS is a Mexican group who sent parcel bombs to scientists and spurred offshoots in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Greece, and the UK. But the concern over the rapid advancement of technology means that ITS may only have been the beginning and we can look to Kaczynski’s writings to understand how these groups might organize.

In his book Anti-Tech Revolution: Why and How , Kaczynski sets out to provide strategic guidelines for an Anti-Tech movement. He proposes that a movement opposing the techno-industrial system must adopt values fundamentally incompatible with the survival of technological civilization, drawing parallels with the values that emerged prior to the French and Russian Revolutions. While the book lacks specific details and sometimes repeats points, it does offer an outline of ideas on how an anti-tech revolution could occur.

Kaczynski suggests that the movement might initially be small and not taken seriously and suggests using targeted propaganda to inform potential recruits and the wider population about the ideology. Collaboration with similar groups is encouraged for recruitment, direct action, and potential infiltration, with the aim of transforming these groups into anti-tech factions. Furthermore, he draws comparisons with Jihadists and other terrorist groups and their “commitment” to the cause. This could easily be interpreted as a call for violent activity, and Kaczynski’s use of direct violence in order to support his ideology is what makes him unique and his views important. He states that those who consciously promote technological progress and economic growth, including scientists, engineers, corporation executives, and politicians, are “criminals of the worst kind.” Even arguing that their actions are more harmful than those of infamous dictators like Stalin or Hitler. While these views are extreme, they will likely resonate with some due to the perceived existential nature of the issue, potentially pushing them to more violent actions.

As the deployment of new and emerging technology such as artificial intelligence increases so will resentment against it and a new more extreme branch on anti-technology radicals is likely to emerge. Not exactly radical, but the group Safe Street Rebel in San Francisco already targets and disables Waymo and Cruise driverless “robotaxis” because of a range of concerns that include safety, labour rights, and surveillance. Automotive workers in the U.S. are threatening to strike, partly over the use of robotics in the manufacture of electric vehicles, and writers in Hollywood writers who are on strike are concerned about the potential use of AI to write scripts. These issues already highlight growing unease around the deployment of technology over workers.

If anti-tech groups align to Kaczynski’s doctrine and become violent, then analysts should anticipate a sustained campaign of activities that will include physical violence using letter/parcel bombs, IEDs, and other targeted attacks against individuals and property. Propaganda that utilizes influential individuals and groups, mis/dis information campaigns about the dangers of new technologies, cyber-attacks and new and innovative risks that exploit the very technology that these groups seek to destroy.

Kaczynski’s legacy on radical groups of different kinds is complex. His ideology reflects today’s concerns over the societal impacts of technological advancement but has also influenced a range of extremist ideologies. Now his ideas may take on renewed significance potentially leading to the emergence of new, radical anti-technology movements that will challenge the security of businesses across multiples sectors.

This is a guest post from Ross Hill , the executive manager of Insight Forward . If you're interested in his superlative intelligence services, please follow the page and reach out.