The Interface Coup is a concept that describes the seizure of power through the control of technical systems, administrative interfaces, and procedural mechanisms. Unlike traditional coups that rely on force, the Interface Coup operates through existing systems, masking authoritarian control behind the appearance of legitimacy.
Interface Coup Mechanisms: A Visual Guide
Access Capture
Seizes control of key systems through administrative access
Process Paralysis
Makes resistance procedurally impossible
Infrastructure Lockout
Controls physical systems through technical interfaces
Technical Smokescreen
Uses complexity to hide power dynamics
Interface Coup Mechanisms
Access Capture
The systematic seizure of key administrative access points - including payment systems, personnel databases, and communication channels. Creates control through interface permissions rather than direct force.
Process Paralysis
Making systems too complex or opaque to effectively challenge while maintaining appearance of legitimate process. Uses technical requirements and bureaucratic complexity as barriers to resistance.
Infrastructure Lockout
Taking control of physical and digital infrastructure through technical access systems. Converts traditional infrastructure into control points through interface requirements.
Technical Smokescreen
Using technical complexity and jargon to obscure power dynamics. Presents system changes as neutral technical updates while implementing mechanisms of control.