Don't Be Evil: The Case Against Big Tech

The Financial Times columnist Rana Foroohar writes about how Big Tech poses a threat to democracies, economies, and individuals. She reveals how these companies manipulate elections, violate privacy, and offshore profits. Foroohar offers a plan for how to resist these threats and create a framework that fosters innovation while protecting us from the dark side of digital technology.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 05 November 2020
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

The Financial Times columnist, Rana Foroohar, has written a book that delves into the profound threat posed by Big Tech to our democracies, economies, and individual lives. In her award-winning work, Foroohar exposes the alarming extent to which these companies dominate the global landscape, wielding immense power and influence.

Google and Facebook, two of the largest digital platforms, command a staggering 90% of the world's news advertising spend. Amazon, another dominant player, takes a significant portion of e-commerce in the United States. Moreover, Google and Apple's operating systems dominate the mobile phone market, running on nearly all devices globally. Shockingly, 80% of corporate wealth is now held by just 10% of companies, known as the digital titans.

How did these once-idealistic and innovative companies evolve into entities that manipulate elections, violate privacy, and pose a threat to the very foundations of our democracy? Rana Foroohar's insightful reporting and unparalleled access provide the answer to this question. Through her detailed accounts, Foroohar reveals how the FAANGs (Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and Google) have crushed or absorbed competitors, hijacked our personal data and mental space, and offshore their exorbitant profits. She also highlights the interconnectedness of these threats to our democracies, livelihoods, and minds.

However, Foroohar does not offer a bleak outlook without offering solutions. She presents a comprehensive plan for resistance, advocating for a framework that fosters innovation while simultaneously protecting us from the darker side of digital technology. She calls for regulatory measures, greater transparency, and a shift in corporate culture that prioritizes the well-being of individuals and society over profit margins.

The book is a masterful critique, offering insightful and powerfully argued perspectives on the challenges we face in the digital age. It has received widespread acclaim from esteemed figures such as Niall Ferguson, Shoshana Zuboff, and the Observer, who praise Foroohar's laser vision and trenchant business analysis. This essential reading is not only a wake-up call for policymakers and industry leaders but also a guide for individuals seeking to navigate the complex terrain of the digital world with awareness and resilience.

Weight: 272g
Dimension: 128 x 198 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780141991085