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.
Antitrust Politics
Analyzing the politics of the antitrust hearing featuring the CEOs of Apple, Amazon, Google, and Facebook.
The Antitrust Hearing, The Role of Congress, CEO Questions
Congress is exactly where discussions about tech and society should be happening. Then, a list of questions for every tech CEO.
The TikTok War
How TikTok exposed Facebook’s blindspot, thanks to its Chinese roots, and why those Chinese roots make TikTok a genuine concern.
SoftBank Rescues WeWork, Owning WeWork, Zuckerberg in Congress
SoftBank is rescuing WeWork in a very strange transaction, then re-visiting what I have written about WeWork. Plus, Zuckerberg’s appearance in Congress confirmed why Libra is the wrong approach for the company.
Facebook’s FTC Settlement, Assigning Blame, Facebook 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.
The First Post-iPhone Keynote, More on Antitrust and Tech, Developers Sue Apple
Why a better name for Apple’s Audacity was “The First Post-iPhone Keynote”; then, why a broad focus on tech by antitrust authorities is good for Google, and the implications of the Supreme Court getting *Pepper* wrong.
The State of Technology at the End of 2018
The State of Technology, at least in the enterprise space, is strong; consumer tech is another story, and it is time to question the dominance of big companies like Google.