I really like the firt two paragraphs of the above, but I completely disagree with this:
Quote:
Companies like Facebook and Twitter have at least as much power as many governments
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Maybe indirect power, but definitely not direct power. Power to influence - be it through money or through words - but not power to do.
And even with this pretty large caveat, I don't think your statement applies if you compare FB's power in an individual state to the power of that individual government. Debatable.
There's, of course, its global power, undeniably strong.
And btw this is nothing new either; cartels, monopolies - private companies have had huge power. Legislation was made to reign them back in and prevent it from happening (to varying degrees of success I'm sure).
This is happening right now in the EU (probably also in other places but this I know first hand) - a bit late, the WWW has been the New Wild West for a little too long - long enough for companies to grow to indecent proportions on people's privacy - and maybe somewhat less effective than desired - but it is happening.
There is, of course, the thing that politicians actively use Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and even TokTok, too. I find that highly problematic.
And BTW, (safer or at least smaller) alternatives exist, and are slowly gaining users.
And some governments (EU) are actively supporting & developing open, safe, privacy-respecting software.