Then-Google CEO Eric Schmidt was friendly with the Obama team. Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images The biggest Big Tech companies have played an increasingly commanding — many think too commanding — role in most Americans’ daily lives over the last few years.
Listen, I recognize that there’s great value in many of these companies, and I’ve gotten great value in my life from them. But it’s not clear to me that Facebook needs to own WhatsApp and Instagram. But I think it is clear to me that when Facebook was making bad decisions about political ads or bad decisions about privacy, we would have been a better country if Instagram and WhatsApp could have offered competitive alternatives. And I don’t think that makes you anti-competition or Big Government.
But I think the right question is, with what we know now, with what we’ve seen, what type of an economy do we want? And I think one thing you’ve said, which I think is right, is, you can’t rely on the kindness or the good spirit of others. People will compete in the way they are allowed to compete. It’s up for us to put structures in place. And I think you were right that we didn’t see what could happen with Big Tech.
But my view, Kara, is that part of trying to talk about what your end goal should be is that none of us should hold on to past policy positions. We can debate what one should have done or should have known. But I think we know now that this is a real issue in our economy.Sperling: It threatens our basic values, and I think what has been good is to see the rise of a kind of new antitrust policy that is reminding people that it’s not just about price and consumer welfare.
It’s up to the government to set those rules, to ensure that level of economic dignity. So ensuring that there’s not too much economic domination in the private sector is not a new or fringe issue. It was the driving issue of the progressive era.
karaswisher genebsperling Add that to all the bankers and others who made our economy collapse in 2008. DOJ does not like hard cases because they adversely impact their statistics
nicholson_rm karaswisher genebsperling The board is staffed with an array of legal authorities, free speech advocates, journalists, & a Nobel laureate.Helle Thorning-Schmidt,who co-chairs the oversight board,formerly served as prime minister Denmark & as CEO of Save the Children International
genebsperling karaswisher Google, Amazon and Facebook generate enormous amounts of consumer surplus and all three are using some of their profits to drive technology forward to the benefit of us all.
karaswisher genebsperling These companies have gone to great lengths to mislead Americans, and undermine our basic principles. They have taken technology developed to fight terrorism and wars overseas and used them against us on our own soil. How many times do they have to show us their intentions.
karaswisher genebsperling It would be a bit crap without tech leaders. Imagine 150 search engines competing, majority with shit results, Oh, there was, Google won. Imagine if there were 10,000 online shops not all sold everything and deliveries were shit. Oh there was, Amazon won. Ditto Apple. SRuhle
karaswisher genebsperling Yes, punish businesses for making products and services that an enormous amount of people like!!!!
karaswisher genebsperling So the reward for building a large innovative company is to be held back? I don't think this is how capitalism works. As long as they are not a monopoly what is the actual issue with Amazon, Google and Facebook? If you don't want them to collect information. Don't use them.