THE RECKONING IS COMING: REGULATING BIG TECH

Cambridge Analytica. Russian hackers and election meddling. The Equifax data breach. Fake news. Twitter and Instagram harassment. Facebook mining our personal data and—best-case scenario— unabashedly using it to sell us stuff.

- NATHAN HURST

What’s a society to do? Ours has begun clamoring for boycotts, for regulation, and even for breaking up the biggest tech giants. For a decade (or two), the tech industry, led by the largest, most successful companies, has painted attempts to regulate it as stifling of innovation; an impediment to the new, utopian “technology will solve everything” system these benevolent founders seek to build. Maybe that’s true, but considering the aforementioned abuses, the “Don’t be evil” edict seems to hold less water, and #deletefacebook might finally be having its moment.

Presidential candidates have made trust-busting a part of their platforms. Europe and California have instituted legislation designed to allow citizens greater control over their personal data and how it’s used. Other states are following suit, buoyed by bipartisan support. It feels like major tech regulation is coming, but whether it’s a culmination of decades of regulatory decisions or just a step on the path is unclear.

‘FREE’ ISN’T FREE