Intelligence Squared The Sunday Debate: It's Time to Break Up Facebook
Jan 16, 2022
Join Matt Stoller, Director of Research at the American Economic Liberties Project and author of 'Goliath,' as he passionately argues for breaking up Facebook to curb monopoly power. In contrast, MIT Professor Sinan Aral, author of 'The Hype Machine,' advocates for thoughtful structural reforms rather than dissolution. The discussion dives into monopoly implications on democracy, challenges in social media regulation, and the urgent need for interoperability among platforms to empower users and enhance competition. It's a riveting clash of ideas on the future of tech dominance!
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Facebook's Power
- Matt Stoller argues Facebook is a threat to democracy due to its concentrated power.
- He believes Zuckerberg's rules function like government policy, highlighting Facebook's influence.
Alternative Solutions
- Sinan Aral acknowledges social media's harms but disagrees with breaking up Facebook.
- He suggests structural reforms like interoperability and data portability are better solutions.
Antitrust vs. Regulation
- Linda Yueh questions why regulation isn't enough to address Facebook's issues.
- Stoller believes breaking up Facebook is conceptually simple, whether via antitrust or legislation.
