Re:'How to destroy surveillance capitalism,' a book-length r...
by bsder on Thursday August 27, 2020 @02:32AM
(#24290689)
> but would the world be that different if Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and WhatsApp were independent companies?
I think it would.
If YouTube were independent, Google would have to try to invent it and then compete against YouTube. Or, perhaps, YouTube would be simply unsustainable without the infinite coffers of Google to support it. At which point we might get a smattering of paid video services that were actually viable.
If a business couldn't automatically get sold to a FAANG, you might actually have to make decisions to run it rather than lottery out. If you are running the business, you might actually eclipse one of the established companies.
Google is not in some inherently unassailable position.
Google has a TERRIBLE customer service record and pisses people off immensely. Google Cloud could be completely displaced by a competitor--if it weren't backed up by Google's immense amount of cash from other divisions. Gmail is a commodity and could certainly be displaced if it had to operate independently. etc.
> The only way to escape is to own digital infrastructure that you rely on and that possibility only exists with free and open source software.
While I agree, if we don't get the common people on board, the end result will be service too expensive for most of us (current example: running fiber to your house).
I think it would.
If YouTube were independent, Google would have to try to invent it and then compete against YouTube. Or, perhaps, YouTube would be simply unsustainable without the infinite coffers of Google to support it. At which point we might get a smattering of paid video services that were actually viable.
If a business couldn't automatically get sold to a FAANG, you might actually have to make decisions to run it rather than lottery out. If you are running the business, you might actually eclipse one of the established companies.
Google is not in some inherently unassailable position.
Google has a TERRIBLE customer service record and pisses people off immensely. Google Cloud could be completely displaced by a competitor--if it weren't backed up by Google's immense amount of cash from other divisions. Gmail is a commodity and could certainly be displaced if it had to operate independently. etc.
> The only way to escape is to own digital infrastructure that you rely on and that possibility only exists with free and open source software.
While I agree, if we don't get the common people on board, the end result will be service too expensive for most of us (current example: running fiber to your house).