Opinion: The Boston Tea Party’s warning for Facebook and Google


Antitrust suits against Big Tech could drag on for years in court and ultimately fail. — AFP

Back in November, it was possible to dismiss the Trump administration’s antitrust suit against Google as too weak, too narrow and too late. But now more than 40 US states – and the US Federal Trade Commission – have filed suit against another tech giant: Facebook. It seems unlikely to be the last major lawsuit against technology giants.

Though these cases are ostensibly about antitrust violations, they are a sign of something bigger: the revival of a longstanding antimonopoly tradition in the United States. This particular view of large, powerful corporations – as threats to the political order – has repeatedly played a significant role in the nation’s history.

Subscribe or renew your subscriptions to win prizes worth up to RM68,000!

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month

Billed as RM148.00/year

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
   

Next In Tech News

South Africa's MTN launches affordable 5G smartphone
EV maker VinFast narrows Q3 losses, beats revenue estimates on strong demand
UK police forces quietly withdraw from X platform amid content concerns
Trump eyes "AI czar", Axios reports
French genAI startup LightOn rises on market debut
Explainer-What's behind the private equity battle for Fuji Soft?
US finalizes $7.86 billion chips manufacturing award for Intel
TikTok influencer arrested after allegedly documenting stolen items
What if we could use video games to get kids to exercise more?
The world’s pioneering tech cop is making her exit

Others Also Read