this post was submitted on 15 Jan 2025
664 points (96.9% liked)

Privacy

32740 readers
2201 users here now

A place to discuss privacy and freedom in the digital world.

Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.

In this community everyone is welcome to post links and discuss topics related to privacy.

Some Rules

Related communities

much thanks to @gary_host_laptop for the logo design :)

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Unnecessary and deeply concerning bow to the new "king"

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] egerlach@lemmy.ca 88 points 8 hours ago (22 children)

The official @protonprivacy@mastodon.social account replied and doubled down

protonprivacy@mastodon.social - @jonah

Corporate capture of Dems is real. In 2022, we campaigned extensively in the US for anti-trust legislation.

Two bills were ready, with bipartisan support. Chuck Schumer (who coincidently has two daughters working as big tech lobbyists) refused to bring the bills for a vote.

At a 2024 event covering antitrust remedies, out of all the invited senators, just a single one showed up - JD Vance.

1/2

protonprivacy@mastodon.social - @jonah By working on the front lines of many policy issues, we have seen the shift between Dems and Republicans over the past decade first hand.

Dems had a choice between the progressive wing (Bernie Sanders, etc), versus corporate Dems, but in the end money won and constituents lost.

Until corporate Dems are thrown out, the reality is that Republicans remain more likely to tackle Big Tech abuses.

2/2

(Less importantly, my response)

[–] dance_ninja@lemmy.world 78 points 8 hours ago (8 children)

So sounds like their main concern is addressing the abuses of the FAANG monopolies, and only a Republican has talked to them about it.

I guess that is understandable in that very narrow lens, but it's a bit laughable considering how all the big tech companies are also cozying up to the Trump administration. All this has done for me is make me wary of anything Proton does now.

[–] sudneo@lemm.ee 8 points 5 hours ago (6 children)

Actually I disagree on the latest part. I actually questioned, why google and Facebook had to go kiss the ring and pay some bucks to Trump, and didn't have to do that before? This for me is a sign of a disalignment between big tech and the administration.

That said, it's very much possible (I would say likely) trump won't do shit and he just happens to have the "correct" position on this particular issue because it can be used to attack the Californian elite (I.e. dem elite). But it's a matter of fact that it's auspicable he will follow up with action on his words on this, even if for the wrong reasons.

[–] italics2@lemmy.world 3 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago) (1 children)

Nobody had to go kiss the ring they payed for his campaign because THEY WANTED to please him. Edit: Typo

[–] sudneo@lemm.ee 4 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

Yeah but why they wanted to please him? What's the benefit for them? Why they wouldn't want to please previous administrations? The other user mentioned that Trump is very transactional, and that sounds quite right too.

Either way, look at Facebook, literally went through a shitstorm to align, that is a sign of weakness in my opinion.

[–] refalo@programming.dev 5 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago) (1 children)

What’s the benefit for them?

Not being targeted by a President.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/29/business/ceos-trump-revenge-nightcap/index.html

https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/05/politics/trump-prosecute-political-opponents/index.html

Why they wouldn’t want to please previous administrations?

Those administrations weren't targeting them.

I think it's always about the money, plain and simple. If there is a threat to their gravy train, they will bend over backwards to keep it going. Otherwise, they don't care about you.

[–] sudneo@lemm.ee 4 points 2 hours ago

OK, but then that was exactly my point. Antitrust is one way to target those companies, hence they had to suck up. Therefore them paying (peanuts in the grand scheme of things) could be seen as the exact opposite of "they are all in the same team".

load more comments (4 replies)
load more comments (5 replies)
load more comments (18 replies)