Big Tech Must Go! Digital Giants are Destroying our Democracies and Economies. We will stop them
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Frankfurt; Chicago: Campus Verlag;University of Chicago Press (2025), 285 pp.
ISBN 978-3-593-52115-2 (print); 978-3-593-46230-1 (pdf)
"Digital monopolies shape ever larger parts of our lives. The platforms are increasingly controlling the public formation of political opinion and at the same time abolishing our free market economy. Digital expert Martin Andree shows in detail how far the hostile takeover of our society by the tech giants has already progressed - and how we could reclaim the Internet." (Publisher description)
Knockout: How Big Tech stops ‘unwanted’ research, 9
I. GAME OVER 2029: The dominance of Big Tech, 15
Our democracy is in danger -- The ‘point of no return’: 2029 -- The Internet of monopolies -- The victims: Journalism, bloggers, global brands, public service broadcasting -- Fair and free competition has been completely eliminated -- Is it really so dramatic?
II. THE END OF THE FREE INTERNET: How the tech giants occupied the digital media space 59
Stuck in the silos of the platforms -- Media genres are now the private property of companies -- How Big Tech is expanding its monopolies -- Killer acquisitions -- Self-allocation of internet traffic -- Monopoly accelerator: Generative AI
III. HOSTILE TAKEOVER: How digital superpowers change our entire society, 103
Death trap: The narrative of weak, vulnerable media -- How Big Tech will take over the economy -- Why politicians will be dependent on platforms in the future -- Mega-media are taking over our society -- Tech giants manipulate traffic -- Spying and policing activities by Big Tech -- The principle of maximum takeover
IV. MONOPOLIES, FAKE NEWS, HATE SPEECH: Is this actually legal? 149
Insufficient legislation against monopolies -- Maximum profits for tech giants without liability -- How we are imprisoned by the platforms’ legal systems -- Is the status quo unconstitutional? -- Conclusion: Goodbye, democracy and free media
V. ACCEPT HERE: Why nobody cares, 203
California Dreamin’: The good beginnings -- Digital Darth Vaders dress up as philanthropists -- The destruction of freedom in the name of freedom -- Promote versus punish: Big Tech’s lobbying machine
VI. COUNTDOWN 2029: How can we liberate the Internet? 239
A glimmer of hope: The people do not want Big Tech monopolies -- How can we liberate the Internet -- Seriously? -- A free Europe between US digital feudalism and China’s online dictatorship 265
I. GAME OVER 2029: The dominance of Big Tech, 15
Our democracy is in danger -- The ‘point of no return’: 2029 -- The Internet of monopolies -- The victims: Journalism, bloggers, global brands, public service broadcasting -- Fair and free competition has been completely eliminated -- Is it really so dramatic?
II. THE END OF THE FREE INTERNET: How the tech giants occupied the digital media space 59
Stuck in the silos of the platforms -- Media genres are now the private property of companies -- How Big Tech is expanding its monopolies -- Killer acquisitions -- Self-allocation of internet traffic -- Monopoly accelerator: Generative AI
III. HOSTILE TAKEOVER: How digital superpowers change our entire society, 103
Death trap: The narrative of weak, vulnerable media -- How Big Tech will take over the economy -- Why politicians will be dependent on platforms in the future -- Mega-media are taking over our society -- Tech giants manipulate traffic -- Spying and policing activities by Big Tech -- The principle of maximum takeover
IV. MONOPOLIES, FAKE NEWS, HATE SPEECH: Is this actually legal? 149
Insufficient legislation against monopolies -- Maximum profits for tech giants without liability -- How we are imprisoned by the platforms’ legal systems -- Is the status quo unconstitutional? -- Conclusion: Goodbye, democracy and free media
V. ACCEPT HERE: Why nobody cares, 203
California Dreamin’: The good beginnings -- Digital Darth Vaders dress up as philanthropists -- The destruction of freedom in the name of freedom -- Promote versus punish: Big Tech’s lobbying machine
VI. COUNTDOWN 2029: How can we liberate the Internet? 239
A glimmer of hope: The people do not want Big Tech monopolies -- How can we liberate the Internet -- Seriously? -- A free Europe between US digital feudalism and China’s online dictatorship 265
