The trust we place in Big Tech is a house built on sand, and the latest breach at Meta just proved it again.
This past week, news broke that hackers exploited one of Meta’s new AI customer support agents to hijack high-profile Instagram accounts. This wasn't some super-sophisticated attack that bypassed layers of human review. It was a failure of a system we were told would be smarter and faster. As a software developer, I see the technical failure. As a Christian, I see a much deeper problem: a failure of stewardship.
These events are more than just tech headlines. They are reminders that the tools we use are not morally neutral. In fact, AI is not neutral; our tools disciple us in subtle ways, shaping our habits and our assumptions about safety and trust. When we outsource critical functions to automated systems without sufficient wisdom, we are not being good stewards of the digital lives and communities God has entrusted to us.
The Bible calls us to be prudent and wise, not naive. We recognize that we live in a fallen world where theft and deception are realities, both online and off. Our approach to technology must be shaped by this truth. It is a modern application of ancient wisdom.
A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished. Proverbs 27:12 (KJV)
This isn't about fear. It's about faithfulness. Everything we have and everything we build, including our digital identities, ultimately belongs to God. This truth is at the heart of Christian thinking on technology, asking the fundamental question: Who owns this technology?.
But what can we really do?
I can hear the objection now. "I'm not a cybersecurity expert. I can't control what Meta does with its AI. It feels hopeless." I get it. The scale of these companies is massive, and we are just individual users. It's true that we cannot single-handedly fix their security models.
But helplessness is not a Christian virtue. While we can't control Meta, we are responsible for our own little corners of the internet. Our call is not to solve every problem in the world, but to be faithful with what is in our hands. This means taking practical, prudent steps.
| Area of Stewardship | A Wise Action |
|---|---|
| Account Security | Use a password manager and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) everywhere. |
| Information Diet | Be discerning about the personal information you share on social media platforms. |
| Corporate Accountability | Support companies and policies that prioritize user privacy and security. |
These are not just good tips; they are acts of stewardship. They are small ways we can "foresee the evil and hide" ourselves. As Christians, we should also be a voice calling for better standards, making a biblical case for stronger AI safeguards that protect the vulnerable.
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Read this week’s issueBeing a wise steward also means choosing our tools well. As you think and pray through how to apply biblical wisdom to your digital life, you can use a companion like FaithGPT to quickly search Scripture on topics like prudence, stewardship, and wisdom.
Our digital security is not just a technical problem; it is a discipleship issue.
