Written by: Abdullah Alomairah

In the past,
a state — any state — was defined by four things:
land,
borders,
people,
and authority.

But today, the world is entering a different phase.

A phase in which entities may emerge that own no land,
yet possess something far more dangerous:
minds,
data,
influence,
and the ability to reshape the daily lives of البشر.

The question is no longer:
Are technology companies powerful?

But rather:
How do these companies gradually transform into “undeclared states”?

Or perhaps the deeper question is:

Are advanced nations moving in the future from the model of traditional governance
to a model of “technical administration”?
An administration that resembles giant technology companies in its speed, efficiency, and mechanisms.

Could that happen?

Perhaps the signs have already begun to appear.

Today, we are witnessing rapid transformations in:
governance,
administration,
services,
and decision-making,
through digital systems and smart technologies that have become part of daily life.

But what we are seeing now
may only be the beginning.

Because the answer does not begin with politics,
but with the details of life itself.

When a person wakes up in the morning,
opens a phone,
searches,
communicates,
shops,
watches,
moves around,
pays,
and works,

a large part of life is now passing through systems managed by technology companies, not governments.

And this is where the story begins.

The traditional state imposed its influence through:
law,
the military,
and borders.

Modern technology companies, however,
impose their influence through:
algorithms,
data,
and daily dependence.

In the past,
governments used to ask:
What does the citizen do?

Today, however,
some platforms know:
what a person likes,
what they fear,
what they buy,
when they become angry,
and what they may believe.

These are not merely pieces of information…

but a “psychological map” of human beings.

And here, artificial intelligence transforms from a technical tool
into a massive structure of influence.

More dangerous still is that these companies do not operate within the borders of a single state.

They enter:
homes,
markets,
universities,
media,
the economy,
and even human relationships…

without a visa,
without a passport,
and without checkpoints.

A state may need years to build external influence,
while a single application can reach billions of people within months.

And here, the definition of power changes.

In the past,
power meant:
the number of soldiers,
and the size of weapons.

Today, however,
power may begin with:
a search engine,
a social platform,
an operating system,
or a tiny electronic chip no one even sees.

That is why some modern wars are no longer fought only over oil or land…

but over:
chips,
data,
artificial intelligence,
and control of the world’s digital infrastructure.

Some technology companies now possess:
wealth exceeding the economies of countries,
databases beyond what governments own,
and influence over public opinion that may surpass entire media institutions.

Some have even begun approaching roles once exclusive to states:
launching satellites,
developing global communication systems,
managing information infrastructure,
and indirectly participating in cybersecurity and even geopolitics.

But the dangerous difference is this:

A state — theoretically — is subject to a constitution, borders, and political accountability.

Technology companies, however,
have become, at times, faster than the ability of laws to regulate them.

The world today is not witnessing the end of states…

but the beginning of a new era:
the era of parallel powers.

Powers that raise no flags,
possess no national anthem,
yet own something that may have become more important than all of that:

the ability to influence people…
quietly,
daily,
and without many realizing the scale of the transformation happening before them.

And perhaps for this reason…

the real question is no longer:

Who truly rules the world?

But perhaps the deeper question is:

Who controls the rhythm of life in the world?

Are they the manufacturing states?
Or the producing companies?
Or has the matter become larger than all of that?

Perhaps true power no longer lies merely in possessing technology…

but in the ability to manage its flow,
protect it,
and control its digital and security infrastructure within every state.

Here emerges the role of cybersecurity,
not merely as a technical protection tool,
but as part of national security and modern sovereignty.

But the greater question remains:

What if technology fails?

Not necessarily because of war,
an attack,
or a conspiracy…

but even because of a massive malfunction,
excessive dependence,
or the loss of the ability to manage alternatives.

The world today is more connected than ever before…

but it is also more dependent on invisible systems than ever before.

Therefore,
the real challenge may not simply be access to technology…

but rather:
how to manage it,
protect it,
and ensure the continuity of life when it fails.

After this discussion…

we return to the first question:

How do technology companies become “undeclared states”?

And perhaps the more sensitive question is:

Could some companies in the future become “states within states”?

The world is racing rapidly toward the future,
but not always while looking at the consequences of its steps.

And here, the challenge is no longer progress alone…

but progress with awareness.

An awareness that guarantees:
protection,
balance,
and the ability to compete,
without losing control over the very tools of life itself.

_____

Related Topic:
The 60-Minute War