dag

New, by me at FT

The coming battle between social media and the state

Behind the alignment of X and Meta with Trump is a cold business logic — and a position of weakness rather than strength

https://www.ft.com/content/917c9535-1cdb-4f6a-9a15-1a0c83663bfd

The coming battle between social media and the state

Behind the alignment of X and Meta with Trump is a cold business logic — and a position of weakness rather than strength

Financial Times
Jan 11, 2025 at 6:15amWeb
Show threadWalter van HolstJan 11, 2025
@davidallengreen At the scale of Meta, it is unlikely that moderation can be made to work well. It is also fundamentally incompatible with their engagement through amplification model.
Show threadwindyJan 11, 2025
@davidallengreen
I think that EU policy has already been "weakened from the inside" long ago and not by Trump, nor Musk... But by the inside.
Show threadA.StringerJan 11, 2025

@windy @davidallengreen what do you mean by this? Who, how do you think it has already been weakened?

NB I'm aware it doesn't really have the people power to take on the platform effectively. Unsurprising given how much that would cost. Although I appreciate the Digital Services Act is more of a deterrent than anything else.

Show threadwindyJan 12, 2025
@Annekin
Sorry, my comment was more general personal. VD Leyen personal has a few court cases against her, the institutions decisions are mostly ways to conform to US desires. Also, EU is at war(s) without the people's consent (so called anti-disinformation policies aim dissent) and without any form of war economy in place, many leaders and MP are incompetent, lazy, corrupt and/or cowardly. Baselines unnoticeably shifting that way, in my view, weaken all EU decisions.
@davidallengreen
Show threadA.StringerJan 12, 2025
@windy ah right. I thought your comment was about a failing of the Digital Services Act. Perhaps something it didn't cover, or how big tech had some influence in it's creation despite reports to the contrary...
Show threadPaul GraveJan 11, 2025
@davidallengreen A great read. It’s interesting that governments weren’t mentioned at all in the written press release. I was surprised that Zuckerberg was so ready to admit the motives at the end of his video. Now I’m wondering in which ways Microsoft and Apple are falling in-line.
Show threadDelricJan 12, 2025
@paulgrav @davidallengreen Apple doesn’t run a useless social media platform, and has already fought the government (and won) on refusing to build back doors into encryption.
Show threadPaul GraveJan 14, 2025
@delric @davidallengreen Apple, Google, and Facebook aren’t all social media platforms, but they have have run-ins with the EU. The current US administration hasn’t really done anything to pushback and defend those companies in the face of rulings and fines. The forthcoming one might engage differently.
Show threadPaul BarnfatherJan 11, 2025
@davidallengreen sounds interesting! Shame it's paywalled 😕
Show threadChris PittsJan 11, 2025
@clanger9 @davidallengreen It’s available free through the “FT Edit” app - seems to be a collated set of the finest daily FT articles.
Show threadChris PittsJan 11, 2025

@clanger9 @davidallengreen Another useful trick - search for the article title using Google and use that link - it (usually) gives a one-shot view of the full thing.

(Disclaimer: I will bypass paywalls for one-offs. If I find I’m using the publication regularly then I do subscribe. Honest, Guv!)

Show threadErik JonkerJan 11, 2025
@davidallengreen great article, thanks for sharing !
Show threadMark HughesJan 11, 2025

@davidallengreen
Haven't read the article, but another explanation for anyone who thought otherwise, is that Facebook and all corporations always act in the interests of profit.

They don't have to be "weak" to do this, to betray *our* ideals or back flip for a changed regulatory or political environment.

They just have to be corporations. Anyone who is surprised at this hasn't followed Facebook's progress for years, nor its contemporaries.

Show threadGregor KalinkatJan 11, 2025

@davidallengreen

there are still so many people who underestimate how powerful the EU has been over the past 2-3 decades in the way it shaped global market regulations. It was only a matter of time until someone would seriously try to bring this "Brussel effect" down.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels_effect

Brussels effect - Wikipedia

Show threadTC Won't Give In To LiesJan 11, 2025

@davidallengreen

Yes! Techbros have long been terrified of real government regulation.

Imagine what destruction could have been prevented if gov (of either party) properly legislated and regulated for data privacy, public safety, antitrust and worker rights.

Historians will write whole books on this mistake.

Show threadjonathankoren™Jan 12, 2025

@davidallengreen This is the same reason why Russia, China, and far right movements like the AfD, Reform UK, and the Republican Party find purchase with each other. They're all for weakening democracies in order to pursue their own authoritarian plans.

The true Axis of Evil if you will.

Show threadTim Schofield 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇬🇧 🇪🇺🗺Jan 16, 2025

@davidallengreen @davidallengreen

Finally got around to reading the weekend paper and your piece.

Excellent, as always...