Beyond the Cloud reveals the materiality of information technology and its connection to Earth. Benjamin H. Bratton uses the term “Stack” to describe the super-system built from different layers including raw materials and minerals, technological tools, data transmission processes, networks, users and their interactions. The planetary scale megastructure can even override current forms of governance, however it cannot exist without the planet itself. The “hungry machine” thus digs deep into the Earth, feeding on its raw materials; it connects continents not only virtually, but also physically with cables running deep in the sea; exploits lithium mines; hides its databases in caves. From elements that required billions of years to be produced, we create devices that end up in landfills after a few years of use due to planned obsolescence. These devices no longer show any visible connection with their geological origin – we are faced with ontological veiling.

While the illusion that our data management processes are intangible is becoming stronger, our planet is increasingly signaling that digital infrastructures do have material implications that remain hidden from the user. What connection points can be linked back to the origin of the device?