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That's the question at the center of all this, isn't it. Who actually holds the power here, the state, or the company whose information they hold could severely
by julianlam 6y ago
That's the question at the center of all this, isn't it. Who actually holds the power here, the state, or the company whose information they hold could severely embarrass anyone who opposes them?
I can't even begin to imagine what similar companies in NA (e.g. Facebook) have on our elected officials.
- hnracer 6y agoAre there examples of large public companies releasing compromising information on elected officials in response to political threats or pressure?
- Cyph0n 6y agoThe Church of Scientology debacle is a good example.
- hnracer 6y agoApologies, I meant to say large public companies in my OP, i.e. those listed on the stock exchange. I'd be interested if there was any examples of those using compromising political information for leverage. I understand however that if it happened we may not have heard about it.
- ethbr0 6y agoIf one's willing to entertain conspiracy theories, none of that material would be put out under FAAMG branding, but rather lesser outlets would conveniently obtain a copy. That said, the idea is pretty hard in the way of conspiracy -- simplest reduction: why would tech companies take the risk of getting involved in that way at all? When they're already making money hand over fist?
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- Proven 6y ago> Who actually holds the power here, the state, or the company whose information they hold could severely embarrass anyone who opposes them? Good joke. > I can't even begin to imagine what similar companies in NA (e.g. Facebook) have on our elected officials. None, because those criminals aren't prosecuted. Look at the Bidens.
- ENOTTY 6y agoWe shouldn't forget that Bezos himself was the one who got blackmailed very recently. It wasn't a tech company that did it, but it was a right-wing media outlet with an axe to grind.
- jkingsbery 6y agoI don't think the National Enquirer is a "right-wing media outlet," so much as a sleazy tabloid whose owner happened to be friends with Donald Trump. See e.g., https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-the-national-enquirer-covered-trump-in-the-90s/ https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-the-national-enquir..., in which the same owner tat tried to blackmail Bezos started publishing in 1999 "Why I should be President" articles from Donald Trump, during which time Trump was (briefly) a member of the Reform Party before he became a Democrat.