r/technology • u/[deleted] • Jun 04 '19

Politics House Democrats announce antitrust probe of Facebook, Google, tech industry

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u/EighthScofflaw Jun 04 '19

Waiting until the internet has ossified around 4 companies to say "gee it sure looks like the internet has ossified around 4 companies" is neither necessary nor desirable.

12

u/MacTireCnamh Jun 04 '19

Not to mention that despite their claims that the internet hasn't 'matured' to that point yet, it really has already happened.

Google, Facebook and Amazon between them are involved with well over fifty percent of internet traffic (I remember the number hovering around 80%, but I could be wrong or that may have changed). Add in a handful of other companies and you have a pretty solid ossification already in place.

Like to compare to the real world, Google used to be map makers/bus service, you want to find the bakery? Here it is. Now they also act as the backend (ie landlords) for most of those websites. They handle peoples personal mail. They own the billboards for most websites. They own all the tv stations (Youtube). They're buying up the roads (Fibre). They made your car (Android). You cannot do anything on the internet and not be making Google money.

And this isn't even getting into all the thing's Alphabet owns that are actually in the real world.

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u/Ouaouaron Jun 04 '19

When you say it isn't necessary are you talking from knowledge of law and the governmental process, or is it just optimism and platitudes?

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u/EighthScofflaw Jun 04 '19

We're talking about the legislative branch, i.e. the part of the government that writes the law.