Brian Merchant has written a book about the Luddite revolt in England at the beginning of the 19th century and its similarities with current technologies. The labor revolt over the loss of rights was more important than the destruction of textile machines.

Merchant suggests that the myth of Ned Ludd is in some ways more dangerous to the elites and the wealthy than that of Robin Hood, which is a little more nebulous and open to oppression. “I think that that Robin Hood says: go ahead and break the machines and give to the poor’s oppression,” says Merchant.