Marietje Schaake, a former Dutch member of the European parliament, has written a new book titled “The Tech Coup: How to Save Democracy from Silicon Valley.” She discusses the increasing power and influence of big tech companies, which differ from previous monopolies in the variety of sectors they influence. These companies, like Google and Facebook, have tentacles in many aspects of people’s lives, from data to infrastructure to AI.
Peter Kyle, the UK’s technology secretary, suggested governments treat big tech companies more like nation states, but Schaake believes in strengthening democratic oversight instead of showing humility. She points out that the election of Donald Trump has brought tech interests closer than ever to political leaders, affecting policies and decision-making.
Schaake criticizes politicians for not standing up to big tech interests, attributing this in part to intimidation and a deliberate framing by tech companies that portray governments as incompetent in dealing with technology. She highlights Senator Elizabeth Warren as one of the few politicians taking a stand against excessive corporate power.
In terms of the UK’s position with big tech post-Brexit, Schaake believes it is a deliberate choice to attract investment. She emphasizes the need for people to recognize the loss of sovereignty to US tech companies and calls for action to address this dependence on Silicon Valley. Overall, she warns that inaction will not lead to improvement in this challenging situation.
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Photo credit www.theguardian.com
