Should regulators be able to see the future, and a reminder that Aggregators are good for customers and suppliers. Then, Spotify starts selling demand, and potentially podcasts.
Justice Department Sues to Block Visa Plaid Acquisition, Plaid’s Potential, Scalability and Antitrust
The Justice Department gets it right again with another lawsuit, this time against Visa’s acquisition of Plaid.
Tech Under Biden, Prop 22 Passes, Uber’s Missed Monopoly
It appears that Vice President Biden will win, and that Republicans will hold the Senate, which is the best possible outcome for big tech. Plus, Prop 22 saves Uber, and also hurts it.
Is the Internet Different?
A response to a critique of Aggregation Theory, and a defense of debate on an Internet devoid of gatekeepers.
United States v. Google
The Justice Department’s lawsuit against Google is appropriately narrow, and if it fails it gives a template for Congressional action.
Facebook’s Missing Monopoly, Facebook Takes Down QAnon, Facebook Versus Turkey
Calling Facebook a monopoly in the antitrust sense doesn’t make any sense, because digital goods aren’t a zero-sum game. Facebook, though, is increasingly American in the way it operates.
Anti-Monopoly vs. Antitrust
What matters about the Congressional report on tech and antitrust is that it exists, not the specific details.
Widgetsmith, Apple’s Curation, Google’s Reported Clampdown
The story of Widgetsmith, why Apple doesn’t have to worry about curation, and why Google is happy to follow along.
Facebook’s iOS 14 Announcement, Understanding the IDFA, The Real Showdown
What was interesting about Facebook’s iOS 14 announcement was not what it said about the IDFA, but what it didn’t say about Apple’s broader policies.
Apple-Epic Follow-up, A Brief History of Epic Games, Apple’s Hammer
Apple is reverting to form, trying to control everything. It is also threatening all of Epic’s business, not simply Fortnite.