“Silicon Valley technology giants such as Facebook and Google have grown so dominant they may need to be broken up, unless challengers or changes in taste reduce their clout, the inventor of the World Wide Web told Reuters,” Guy Faulconbridge and Paul Sandle report for Reuters.
“Tim Berners-Lee, a London-born computer scientist who invented the Web in 1989, said he was disappointed with the current state of the internet, following scandals over the abuse of personal data and the use of social media to spread hate,” Faulconbridge and Sandle report. “‘What naturally happens is you end up with one company dominating the field so through history there is no alternative to really coming in and breaking things up,’ Berners-Lee, 63, said in an interview. ‘There is a danger of concentration.'”
“But he urged caution too, saying the speed of innovation in both technology and tastes could ultimately cut some of the biggest technology companies down to size. ‘Before breaking them up, we should see whether they are not just disrupted by a small player beating them out of the market, but by the market shifting, by the interest going somewhere else,’ Berners-Lee said,” Faulconbridge and Sandle report. “Berners-Lee expressed dismay at the way consultancy Cambridge Analytica obtained the personal data of 87 million Facebook users from a researcher. That scandal, he said, was a tipping point for many. ‘I am disappointed with the current state of the Web,’ he said.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Obviously.
Imagine if your livelihood depended on one company that had not only monopolized web search (and, thereby, basically controlled how new customers find you), but also controlled the bulk of online advertising dollars which funded your business and which they could pull, simply threaten to pull, or reduce rates at any time? Now also imagine if you believe this monopolist basically stole the product of another company that is the very subject of your business? How much would you criticize the monopolist thief’s business practices?
You might guess that it would be a tough road to walk. (We’re only imagining, of course!)
That would be a good example of why monopolies are bad for everyone… Stop using Google search and Google products wherever possible. Monopolies are bad for everyone. — MacDailyNews, July 14, 2016
SEE ALSO:
The Boston Globe Editorial Board: Break up Google – June 16, 2018
Google’s Eric Schmidt wore staff badge at Hillary Clinton’s ‘victory’ party – November 16, 2016
WikiLeaks emails show extremely close relationship between Clinton campaign and Google’s Eric Schmidt – November 1, 2016
Eric Schmidt-backed startup stealthily working to put Hillary Clinton in the White House – October 9, 2015
Edward Snowden’s privacy tips: ‘Get rid of Dropbox,” avoid Facebook and Google – October 13, 2014
Eric Schmidt says Google ‘far more secure’ than Apple, denies harvesting data – October 3, 2014
Google’s Eric Schmidt spurns Obama cabinet post offer – December 11, 2012
Obama to reward Google’s Schmidt with Cabinet post? – December 5, 2012
Google outfoxes U.S. FCC – April 17, 2012
Google Street View cars grabbed locations of cellphones, computers – July 26, 2011
Glenn Beck: Be wary of Google, they way they think is creepy (with video) – February 17, 2011
Consumer Watchdog calls for probe of Google’s inappropriate relationship with Obama administration – January 25, 2011
FCC cites Android ‘openness’ as reason for neutered ‘Net Neutrality’ – December 22, 2010
U.S. FCC approves so-called ‘net-neutrality’ regulations – December 21, 2010
Google CEO Schmidt: If you don’t like being in Google Street View then ‘just move’ – October 28, 2010
Consumer Watchdog ads mock Google CEO Eric Schmidt (with video) – September 2, 2010
Google CEO Schmidt: Change your name to escape ‘cyber past’ – August 18, 2010
Wired: Google, CIA Invest in ‘future’ of Web monitoring – July 29, 2010
37 states join probe into Google’s questionable Wi-Fi data collection – July 22, 2010
Google Street View Wi-Fi data included passwords and email – June 18, 2010
“Imagine if your livelihood depended on one company that had not only monopolized web search (and, thereby, basically controlled how new customers find you), but also controlled the bulk of online advertising dollars which funded your business and which they could pull, simply threaten to pull, or reduce rates at any time?”
Exactly! I’ve long advocated Google, at least in search and related topics, be regulated as a public utility.
But why stop there…?
Replace “Web Search” with “iOS App Development” and nothing changes. For the Apple fans out there any defense of Apple applies to Google too. One yardstick!
Here’s a funny thought. Facebook and Google become so ‘indispensable’ to people that they figure out how to convince enough citizens to vote on their behalf, more-so than for the political parties. They then use that influence to:
a) use their international influence to take over the world and make it a better place.
b) take over the world and make all the monies.
c) ?
In the past, monopolies like AT&T were broken up because the consumer had no access to competing services and thus had to subscribe to them or do without. With Google and Facebook which IMO are monopolies, not by force but simple user choice, the same reasons for breaking them up does not exist. Anyone can switch to a different search engine or social media platform instantly, whether they want to is another story.
That’s true, but then there’s the “sticky” data and legislation such as “Right to be Forgotten” and the like.
“IMO are monopolies”
The exclusive possession or control of the supply or trade in a commodity or service. No, they’re not monopolies because, as someone wisely said, anyone can switch to a different search engine or social media platform.
“Old Guy who invented internet doesn’t like clouds, demands kids off lawn”
I am concerned about the power that AOL has….oh… well, I’m concerned about the reach of Geociti— really? Well, what REALLY concerns me is how MySpace has usurp… gone, too?