How tech giants are seizing control of the internet:
amazon, google, facebook, and other prominent companies are rapidly gaining dominance over the internet, according to media expert martin andree in his latest book. he argues that it is imperative to emancipate the internet from their grip.
andree asserts that these tech giants possess an insatiable thirst for power. within just a few years, they have established monopolies through unethical methods, manipulating web traffic and revenue to accumulate substantial profits. martin andree, a german media expert and author of "big tech muss weg!" (big tech must go!), sheds light on this critical issue.
in his book, andree suggests that resistance against these companies may still be feasible until 2029, after which it may become increasingly arduous or even impossible. he warns that failure to take action promptly could result in dire consequences for our democracy.
martin andree, who serves as a media researcher at the university of cologne, previously scrutinized the significant influence of major u.s. internet platforms in his 2020 book, "atlas der digitalen welt" (atlas of the digital world).
andree's research revealed that the majority of online activity is concentrated on a handful of websites, which account for 70% of internet traffic, while the remaining digital landscape resembles a vast graveyard.
the internet's "hostile takeover": andree contends that google, facebook, amazon, and their counterparts have executed a "hostile takeover" of the internet by exploiting regulatory loopholes and deceiving governmental institutions. this has resulted in a glaring and feudalistic system of regulation, allowing these companies to dictate e-commerce conditions and control the collection of user data.
through strategic lobbying tactics, they adeptly evaded regulatory efforts for an extended period.
furthermore, advertising naturally gravitates toward platforms with larger audiences and consumers. consequently, tech giants reap significant profits, which they exploit to acquire competitors, further enhancing their wealth. facebook's acquisition of whatsapp in 2014 and elon musk's billion-dollar acquisition of twitter (now x) serve as prime examples of this practice.
absolute control over the public: media companies, bloggers, public broadcasters, and even global corporations have become the primary victims of these tech giants. they face insurmountable challenges against such colossal entities. fewer people are visiting their websites, and when they share content on platforms like youtube or instagram, they do so on the platform's terms without the option to redirect users to their own websites using external links. andree cautions that in the near future, only a handful of u.s. platforms will determine the foundation of our political opinions.
moreover, the dominance of internet giants extends to the economy. the majority of sales and transactions now occur on these major platforms, subject to the terms dictated by these big tech companies. valuable user data flows into their grasp. andree highlights that this knowledge about customer preferences can be unfairly exploited for profit, undermining traditional manufacturers, as exemplified by amazon's "amazon basics" product line and apple's entrenched position in the financial industry with its payment service.
andree asserts that fair competition is now a thing of the past.
david versus goliath: while martin andree's criticism may appear sharp and, at times, alarming, it underscores the risks that the internet poses to democracy and the economy. since the tech industry's inception in the 1960s, cautionary voices have emerged, highlighting the initial goals of fostering freedom, exchange, and transparency worldwide.
however, few have comprehensively elucidated the consequences of this "brave new internet world" as andree has, clearly delineating the winners and losers and the significant risks it entails.
despite the somber outlook, andree remains hopeful. he contends that the concentration of power within internet corporations can be dismantled, and the internet can be emancipated. he advocates for the reintroduction of pluralism into web traffic and the elimination of existing misregulation.
liberating the internet: andree's blueprint for "liberating the internet" revolves around 15 fundamental principles. the plan emphasizes the enforcement of open standards to facilitate the sharing of videos, images, and texts across platforms. content providers must be granted the freedom to directly link to their websites, while tech giants should disclose their revenues and profits to ensure appropriate taxation by countries. additionally, it is imperative to guarantee that user data is accessible to all competitors. the responsibility now falls on legislators and regulators to take action.
andree concludes that these measures are cost-effective and can be promptly implemented if there is genuine determination to find a solution.
(note: this article was originally written in german.)
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