Answering two criticisms of Privacy Fundamentalism, and then looking at Peloton’s S-1 and answering the question as to whether or not they are a tech company through the lens of disruption.
Privacy Fundamentalism
The current privacy debate is making things worse by not considering trade-offs, the inherent nature of digital, or the far bigger problems that come with digitizing the offline world.
Trump Orders Companies to Look for China Alternative, Apple’s Chokepoint, The Potential Tariff Impact
Apple’s risk in the trade war is becoming very real, with tariffs set to hit the end of this week. Tim Cook continues to leverage his relationship with President Trump, but that is only a temporary solution to a single chokepoint on the company’s business.
Why Cloudflare Matters, The Absence of Gatekeepers, Promotion Versus Moderation
More on moderation, including why Cloudflare is important systematically, a reminder that there are no more gatekeepers, which means moderation is always reactive, and why Facebook and YouTube still deserve the most scrutiny.
A Framework for Moderation
The question of what should be moderated, and when, is an increasingly frequent one in tech. There is no bright line, but there are ways to get closer to an answer.
8chan and El Paso, Cloudflare Drops 8chan, An Interview with Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince
Cloudflare dropped 8chan as a customer after this weekend’s shootings; CEO Matthew Prince explains the company’s thought process, the responsibilities of infrastructure providers, and what a sustainable Internet looks like.
Uber Layoffs, T-Mobile-Sprint Merger Approved, Additional Notes on the Merger
Uber’s layoffs were a necessary adjustment to a marketing strategy that made sense previously, but not today. Then, why the T-Mobile-Sprint merger should have been approved, and the secondary impacts of the decision.
Facebook’s FTC Settlement, Assigning Blame, Facebook’s Earnings
The FTC has released its complaint against Facebook, leading me to change my mind and put more blame on the company. Complaints about the FTC are still misplaced, though: the real problem is Congress. Meanwhile, Facebook continues growing undeterred.
Libra in Congress; Global Community, Revisited; Messianic Versus Money-Making
Libra had a chilly reception at Capitol Hill, which highlighted a fundamental tension between Internet companies and lawmakers. Then, why it was inevitable that Facebook would make Libra, and why it was probably the wrong choice.
Facebook’s FTC Fine, Apple and Microsoft’s Mistake, IBM’s Unbundling
Facebook’s FTC fine is being pilloried, but it really is large and unprecedented. Plus, why Facebook critics were asleep at the wheel. Then, Microsoft saving Apple has an analogy to IBM, and is a potential argument in favor of antitrust action.