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Trump and Tech: the merging of powers

On January 20, the wealthiest men in the world sat front and center at Trump's inauguration. How far their power reaches? Together, they control the vast majority of our technological infrastructure and digital communication tools.

An unprecedented threat

“Coincidentally,” many of Trump's guests of honor were tech giants: Elon Musk (X, Tesla, SpaceX), Jeff Bezos (Amazon), Mark Zuckerberg (Meta), Tim Cook (Apple), Sundar Pichai (Alphabet), Shou Zi Chew (TikTok), and Sam Altman (OpenAI). In the background, Bill Gates (Microsoft) and Larry Ellison (Oracle) loomed. The past week suggests that if Trump wants access to our digital infrastructure, he'll get it.

We’re talking about decades of historical data and automated, real-time access to our digital lives, economy, and politics. These are the most extensive datasets and surveillance infrastructures the world has ever seen. The content moderation at Meta, which has been widely discussed this past week, may actually be the least of our concerns. Just as Russia can threaten to cut off our gas supplies, the United States can threaten to shut down our communication networks or the computers that power our schools and healthcare institutions. The mere possibility of such a move is enough to keep everyone in line. But to assume it will stop at threats seems naïve. So far, we've seen nothing to suggest it will.

"It is often said that a democracy without the rule of law is nothing more than the rule of the strong. This year, in the U.S., we'll see what that means in practice."

The merging of power

What is unfolding before our eyes is a merging of political power, data power, and infrastructural power. And this affects us here in Europe as well. Microsoft, Amazon, and Google are estimated to manage about three-quarters of the data stored in the Netherlands. Roughly 8 out of 10 offices rely on Microsoft Office—including Dutch businesses, hospitals, universities, ministries, the police, and local governments, to name just a few.

Big Tech controls the smartphone (iOS and Android) from which you access Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, and TikTok. They run WhatsApp, iMessage, and Messenger—and likely your email (Gmail) and files (Google Docs). Through Google Search, Chrome, and Maps, they track your search and location history. And this list is far from complete. For years, we have been sounding the alarm about our digital dependence — and for good reason.

Insatiable greed

The power of Big Tech isn't new. In recent years, Europe has cautiously introduced legislation to rein in the power of these so-called Big Tech companies. The impact, however, so far is minimal, as is the enforcement of existing laws. Even the rules already in place are often ignored by Big Tech with little to no consequences. Big Tech's insatiable greed remains unchecked, while governments watch from the sidelines. Those who, as a last resort, turn to the courts must prepare for an expensive and time-consuming battle: when you know you're in the wrong and have unlimited funds, stalling becomes your best tactic. And Big Tech has become quite adept at doing just that.

What is new, however, is that the U.S. now has a president who rivals Big Tech in their insatiable desire for power and lawlessness. In this regard, Trump is truly a president of the social media era. His fact-free, absurd, and extremist statements are a perfect match for Big Tech's sensationalist algorithms. In just the first three days of his presidency, the anti-rule-of-law measures are numerous. International and national laws are disregarded, and judicial rulings delegitimized. It is often said that a democracy without the rule of law is nothing more than the rule of the strong. This year, in the U.S., we'll see what that means in practice.

The disastrous result of poor decisions

Back to those tech companies. In recent years, Big Tech has pushed back against the U.S. government at crucial moments. For example, when the government sought access to user data or requested technological interventions that would allow them to read everyone’s messages. Big Tech was able to resist only because it knew that the government was bound by the rule of law, and thus limited in how it could pressure a company. Yep: ironically, Big Tech was protected by the law. But a president who places himself above the law, as Trump does, makes everyone fair game. The rule of law gives way to the rule of the strong, and so far Trump seems to be the biggest bully.

There is a silver lining. This situation is the disastrous result of a decade of poor decisions regarding our technological infrastructure, privacy, and freedom of communication. Decisions where we were repeatedly told that things wouldn’t be as bad as they seemed. Now that we can view the mess in full HD, from all angles, Europe must finally recognize Big Tech for the national security threat that it is. Right?

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