What Are the Main Problems With Platforms and Platform Companies?

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Re ode sits down with Matthew lawrence and thomas hannah to talk about their new report, a common platform. The report looks at how platforms could be re-oriented to serve the public good instead of serving massive corporations. Re ode: What are the main problems that you see with these platforms? And what is your broader vision for changing them?Matthew Lawrence: I think we're in danger of turning all our life into data that can be bought and sold and used in various ways.

Paris Marx is joined by Mathew Lawrence and Thomas Hanna to discuss the problems with platforms, why antitrust alone is not enough to fix them, and how we can encourage the creation of democratic platforms that serve the public good.

Mathew Lawrence is the founder and director of Common Wealth. He’s also the co-author of “Planet on Fire: A Manifesto for the Age of Environmental Breakdown.” Preorder it now from Verso Books and follow him on Twitter as @DantonsHead.

Thomas Hanna is the research director at The Next System Project. He’s the author of “Our Common Wealth: The Return of Public Ownership in the United States.” Follow him on Twitter as @ThomasMHanna.

Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Follow the podcast (@techwontsaveus) and host Paris Marx (@parismarx) on Twitter, and support the show on Patreon.

Find out more about Harbinger Media Network at harbingermedianetwork.com.

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