Episode

5/10 Can Antitrust Laws Destroy Surveillance Capitalism and Tech Monopolies? w/ Cory Doctorow

May 10, 2021

Sam and Emma host journalist Cory Doctorow to discuss his new book “How to Destroy Surveillance Capitalism” on the issue of tech monopolies, antitrust laws, and what we can do to reign in Facebook and Google. They explore big tech’s self-portrayal as mind manipulators, how their power comes from a historically cooperative relationship between the government and monopolies, and Doctorow dissects how increased interoperability and expansive antitrust laws can begin to break up this relationship. Then, Sam and Emma talk Republicans getting out to suppress the vote, and watch Texas Representative Rafael Anchia explain the unsurprisingly racist relationship between purity and voting laws to a somehow surprised Briscoe Cain.

And in the Fun Half: The group chats horrible bosses, cancel culture’s cross-species impact, and monopolies as a natural endpoint of capitalist accumulation, before Ryan from NJ helps unpack the unemployment myths Fox has been peddling. Next, Coop calls in to explore the democratization of Brooklyn’s energy grid, Adam from NY talks progressive chances in purple districts, and Sam and Emma watch David Litt jump on Newsmax’s Monday blues. Plus, your calls and IMs!

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