This chapter explores the historical parallels between current big tech dominance and the Gilded Age, comparing the power dynamics and regulatory responses to industrial barons of the past. It questions if regulations like anti-trust laws should be applied to tech giants and emphasizes the need to protect public interest in the digital sphere.
As chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Tom Wheeler advocated for stronger legislation of big tech companies. In his new book, "Techlash: Who Makes the Rules in the Digital Gilded Age?," he says there's more to be done.