I know this was meant as a joke, but I can't resist the temptation to point out that this is a subtle misinterpretation of the Shirky principle (which I'm sure

I know this was meant as a joke, but I can't resist the temptation to point out that this is a subtle misinterpretation of the Shirky principle (which I'm sure you're probably already aware since this was probably meant as a joke :p ). The Shirky principle doesn't necessarily say that companies will engage in malicious behaviour in this manner. It's mostly about how, consciously or not, they tend to focus on solutions that continually mitigate problems, but tend to ignore solutions that could forever eliminate those problems, thus ensuring that they remain relevant in the mitigation space rather than successfully eliminate the need for them to exist in the first place.