Who controls Big Tech?

10/02/23 • 32 min

Who, if anyone, controls Big Tech?

In this episode, Chris Stokel-Walker talks to David Auerbach, a former Microsoft and Google software engineer credited for bringing the first emoji to the world.

His new book, Meganets, warns us about the loose grip Big Tech companies have on the powerful technologies and algorithms they have created, and explores how these systems have driven us further and further into the opinions we already held and into our own little ‘narrative bunkers’.

Here he diagnoses the effects of this on society, and tries to offer solutions – which are not easy to find.

Producers: Christopher Hooton and Nicola Kelly

Find out more about ARTICLE 19's work and follow us on:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/article19org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ARTICLE19org
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/article19/

Who, if anyone, controls Big Tech?

In this episode, Chris Stokel-Walker talks to David Auerbach, a former Microsoft and Google software engineer credited for bringing the first emoji to the world.

Here he diagnoses the effects of this on society, and tries to offer solutions – which are not easy to find.

Producers: Christopher Hooton and Nicola Kelly

Find out more about ARTICLE 19's work and follow us on:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/article19org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ARTICLE19org
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/article19/

Previous Episode

The journalist tracked by TikTok

It's a journalist's worst nightmare: your phone has been tracked by rogue employees from a major Chinese tech company, tapping into your sources. That's what happened to Financial Times tech reporter Christina Criddle, who one day received a call from a TikTok representative detailing how some of their staff had tracked her using the app.

In this episode, Christina tells host Chris Stokel-Walker how she responded to the unfolding saga and what incidents like these show about the emerging challenges for freedom of expression online.

Producers: Christopher Hooton and Nicola Kelly

Find out more about ARTICLE 19's work and follow us on:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/article19org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ARTICLE19org
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/article19/

Next Episode

Could you live without your phone?

Our mobiles are a gateway to the world, holding news and entertainment, personal details and banking account information, friendships - even romances start there. Phones are a treasure trove of information, which is why governments in countries like the Philippines want to access them.

In this episode of 'Techtonic', host Chris Stokel-Walker speaks to Mong Palatino, former Filipino congressman, now activist and writer, about a new law requiring users to hand over their names and government IDs to register their SIM cards. Is this to police citizens, or is it a crack down on dissent? Mong tells Chris what it means to sign over your digital life to the authorities.

Producers: Christopher Hooton and Nicola Kelly

Find out more about ARTICLE 19's work and follow us on:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/article19org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ARTICLE19org
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/article19/