In a review of three significant books, Nathan Smith examines proposals put forth by Tim Wu, Nick Clegg, and Tim Berners-Lee aimed at reforming the internet. Wu emphasizes the need to dismantle monopolistic tech companies through antitrust laws, highlighting successful historical precedents such as the break-up of AT&T and the antitrust case against IBM. He posits that existing legal frameworks could help restore competition and user benefit in an increasingly extractive digital landscape.
Contrastingly, Clegg advocates for regulatory approaches instead of punitive breakups, arguing that encouraging self-regulation within Big Tech could yield better results for consumers. He stresses the importance of transparency and user involvement in social media governance, while recognizing the significant power tech companies hold. In his view, reform without breaking up firms might avoid stifling innovation, although some question his credibility given his past at Meta.
Finally, Berners-Lee presents a vision of user empowerment through his universal data pod, Solid, giving individuals greater control over their personal data. Each author highlights the need for more user control, data privacy, and accountability, but whether their approaches will resonate in today’s polarized climate remains to be seen.
👉 Pročitaj original: MIT Technology Review Security
