The Majority Report with Sam Seder

3591 - Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse w/ Cory Doctorow

Sep 29, 2025
Cory Doctorow, an author and tech activist, dives into his new book, InShittification. He introduces the concept of platform decay, explaining how weakened antitrust laws and IP regulations have led to worse services. Doctorow highlights specific policy decisions that have enabled monopolies to thrive and examines the global push for antitrust reform in countries like Europe and Canada. He emphasizes the importance of public anger and coalition building in challenging big tech power, advocating for grassroots political movements as a solution.
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ANECDOTE

Feds Chasing A Delivery Rider

  • Sam and Emma play bodycam footage of federal agents clumsily chasing a delivery rider in Chicago.
  • The hosts mock the agents' poor fitness and theatrical show-of-force tactics.
INSIGHT

The Inshittification Pattern

  • Inshittification is a predictable pattern: platforms start user-friendly, lock users, favor business customers, then degrade the product.
  • Cory Doctorow argues loss of external constraints lets companies yield to worst incentives and worsen services.
INSIGHT

Regulation, Not Just Greed, Explains Decay

  • Doctorow blames regulatory choices not just VC or startup pressure for platform decay.
  • He links weak antitrust and privacy law to monopolies' ability to degrade user experience without consequence.
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