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If I were to divide large tech companies between "good" and "bad", the only one I would classify as "bad" is Facebook. Most are neutral-to-good. Facebook has a
by fchollet 8y ago
If I were to divide large tech companies between "good" and "bad", the only one I would classify as "bad" is Facebook. Most are neutral-to-good. Facebook has a huge societal and human cost and has hardly any benefits to show for it (unlike, say, fossil energy companies, which are a threat to civilization but at least serve a useful role by fulfilling our energy needs).
Facebook is a democracy-threatening, attention-wasting, extractive institution, with a deeply unethical leadership. Most tech companies are neutral -- Amazon, Microsoft, Uber etc., I assume they're doing business for profit and not social good, but they do provide value and largely play by the rules. Some other companies I would classify as "good" as they provide considerable value to society as a by-product of doing business, like Apple and Google (disclaimer: I work for Google, and I am quite happy about that).
Facebook is the only large tech company I can think of that is just plain evil. There's no other like it. It's in a league of its own.
- Steltek 8y agoI would easily throw Uber into the evil category. "Contractor" loophole to evade minimum wage (min. wage being already pretty pathetic), Greyball, and a general culture of knowingly ignoring laws cultivated by it's founder.