How American Big Tech guards the profits it extracts around the world
“So far, the investigative project, known as “Big Tech’s Invisible Hand,” has mapped nearly 3,000 “influence actions” by the tech industry. This reporting has revealed, among other things, the elaborate web of intermediaries and lobbying used to influence Latin American regulators, how Google obtained leverage over the news media, and how proponents of building more data centres made a series of dubious claims about their benefits.”
A very interesting read, and it is true there is huge money involved, and that Big Tech does reach right into every home and business, unlike the ways that Big Tobacco, Big Pharma, or Big Oil ever did. Big Tech often gets to influence what we read and see, and whether our posts ever get seen or not. The other Bigs relied on propaganda and PR, but all at arm's length.
I saw Big Tech at work in their early days with lunches etc but once they were rebuffed by tech experts inside organisation, we saw them bypass those levels and go straight for the jugular in terms of the end decision-makers (those who are not tech savvy).
So yes, it is extremely worrying, actually. Big Tech ultimately wants lock-in with their products and to be able to increase profits (maximising shareholder value). They don't want to take over, or run the world. But they have no qualms about the damage they cause whilst pursuing profits.
The other problem is it is nearly impossible for newer startups to usurp them, because if they can't compete, they will buy them out.
It is something to be aware of, but unlike voting (or not) for politicians, somehow billions of users would have to act in unison to ignore Big Tech and use alternatives. That is just not going to happen either.
Legislation? Well, politicians are receiving lunches and being “educated” by Big Tech. It's a vicious circle.
See
How American Big Tech guards the profits it extracts around the world – The Markup
A consortium of journalists is revealing how the industry influences governments in Latin America and globally.
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