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This headline is comical since we are well past “starting”. We had immense diversified conglomerates even before big tech, and they were already problematic. Wi

This headline is comical since we are well past “starting”. We had immense diversified conglomerates even before big tech, and they were already problematic. With Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Apple coming of age, the only new development is that the failure of antitrust enforcement in America (and elsewhere) is far more obvious and pervasive than even cynics imagined. With limitless capital, regulatory capture, massive patent war chests, and the ability to starve would-be competitors of talent (by spending a lot temporarily), the world is the mega corp’s oyster. A society which limits the growth of mega corps will automatically see numerous benefits like redistribution of wealth and power, redundancy/resilience in the economy, decentralization away from mega cities, an increased diversity of cultures, localized circular economics, and more. I think this is something both sides of the aisle (in America) could and should support, since it achieves some of the goals of directly redistributive policies but with the market as the mechanism, rewarding hard work/success. Outside of the US, other countries shouldn’t tolerate their customer bases being pillaged by international mega corps. It is a threat to their sovereignty, cultural independence, and limits innovation that could come from all those locations. We are super late on acting. Globally, we all should demand change from our politicians ASAP on this issue.

coldtea 6y ago
>With Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Apple coming of age Of them, the only one that is not actually threatening is Apple. I mean Apple controls many people's living (iOS developers), but ultimately everybody could just stop using Apple products tomorrow and no great harm would be done. They'd get a PC and an Android phone, and at worst lose some apps they've purchased. Apple is just a "luxury gadgets" company. You can do fine without an Apple phone/laptop/software. Whereas Google controls web ranking and digital advertising, Amazon owns a large part of retail, books, IaaS, and so on.. those are huge powers over markets and individuals...
- throwawaysea 6y ago
  Apple is perhaps the largest vertically integrated company. That hurts innovation outside of their walled garden. And they do some anti competitive things - for example keeping iMessage exclusive to their platform. And Apple does have their own Maps product. And soon, they will likely enter Search: https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/08/27/apple-may-launch-its-own-web-based-search-engine https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/08/27/apple-may-launch-... What I will credit Apple with is prioritizing privacy. They can afford to given their hardware margins perhaps.
arvinsim 6y ago
How would you propose to do this when most of the megacorps are publicly owned by shareholders? I think that's part of the problem. Perverse incentives.

coldtea 6y ago

>With Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Apple coming of age Of them, the only one that is not actually threatening is Apple. I mean Apple controls many people's living (iOS developers), but ultimately everybody could just stop using Apple products tomorrow and no great harm would be done. They'd get a PC and an Android phone, and at worst lose some apps they've purchased. Apple is just a "luxury gadgets" company. You can do fine without an Apple phone/laptop/software. Whereas Google controls web ranking and digital advertising, Amazon owns a large part of retail, books, IaaS, and so on.. those are huge powers over markets and individuals...

throwawaysea 6y ago
Apple is perhaps the largest vertically integrated company. That hurts innovation outside of their walled garden. And they do some anti competitive things - for example keeping iMessage exclusive to their platform. And Apple does have their own Maps product. And soon, they will likely enter Search: https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/08/27/apple-may-launch-its-own-web-based-search-engine https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/08/27/apple-may-launch-... What I will credit Apple with is prioritizing privacy. They can afford to given their hardware margins perhaps.

arvinsim 6y ago

How would you propose to do this when most of the megacorps are publicly owned by shareholders? I think that's part of the problem. Perverse incentives.