Who Controls Our Data: Maxim Ageev on AI, Techno-Fascism, and Economic Nationalism

In an era where digital footprints define our existence, the question of who controls our personal data has never been more pressing. Maxim Ageev, co-founder and CEO of De Novo, a prominent technology company, has raised alarming concerns about the intersection of artificial intelligence, corporate power, and personal privacy. His warnings about what he terms “techno-fascism” paint a sobering picture of a future where our own data could be weaponized against us, fundamentally reshaping the relationship between individuals, corporations, and governments.

The concept of techno-fascism, while provocative, describes a scenario where technological capabilities become concentrated in the hands of a few powerful entities—whether corporate or governmental—that can use sophisticated AI systems to monitor, manipulate, and control populations. Unlike traditional fascism, which relied on physical force and propaganda, this modern variant operates through algorithms, data collection, and digital infrastructure that most people interact with daily without fully understanding the implications.

The Rise of AI-Powered Surveillance Capitalism

Ageev’s concerns stem from the unprecedented scale at which artificial intelligence can now process personal information. Modern AI systems can analyze billions of data points in seconds, identifying patterns in human behavior that even the individuals themselves may not recognize. Every search query, social media interaction, purchase, and location ping contributes to increasingly detailed digital profiles. These profiles are then used not merely for advertising, as many assume, but potentially for more insidious purposes including political manipulation, credit scoring based on social behavior, and predictive policing.

The technology sector has witnessed a dramatic consolidation of power over the past decade. A handful of major corporations now control vast repositories of personal data collected from billions of users worldwide. This concentration of information wealth raises fundamental questions about democratic accountability and individual autonomy. When private companies possess more detailed information about citizens than governments themselves, traditional concepts of privacy and civil liberties require urgent reexamination.

Economic Nationalism and Data Sovereignty

Against this backdrop, a new wave of economic nationalism focused on data sovereignty has emerged globally. Countries from the European Union to China to Russia have implemented varying degrees of data localization requirements, demanding that citizens’ information be stored within national borders. This trend reflects growing recognition that data represents a strategic resource comparable to oil or rare earth minerals in the 21st century economy. Nations are increasingly unwilling to allow foreign corporations unrestricted access to their populations’ digital lives.

The implications for international business are profound. Technology companies now navigate a patchwork of competing regulations, each reflecting different cultural attitudes toward privacy, security, and state power. The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) established landmark protections for individual consent and data portability. Meanwhile, other jurisdictions have prioritized state access to data for security purposes, creating tensions between corporate practices and national requirements.

The Path Forward: Balancing Innovation and Protection

Experts suggest that addressing these challenges requires a multi-faceted approach combining technical solutions, regulatory frameworks, and public awareness. Encryption technologies, decentralized data storage, and user-controlled identity systems offer potential pathways toward preserving privacy while enabling technological progress. However, implementing such solutions at scale requires political will and international cooperation that remains elusive in an increasingly fragmented geopolitical landscape.

The stakes extend beyond individual privacy to the very foundations of democratic society. When AI systems can predict and influence human behavior with increasing accuracy, the boundary between persuasion and manipulation becomes dangerously blurred. Citizens must understand that the seemingly free services they enjoy online are exchanged for something valuable: their autonomy and potentially their freedom. As Ageev and other industry voices warn, the time to establish meaningful protections is now, before the architecture of digital control becomes too entrenched to reform.