We’re witnessing an unprecedented proximity between platforms and politics — what scholars like José van Dijck, Thomas Poell, David Nieborg and Anne Helmond, define as platformization of society — a movement in which Big Tech companies have the power over infrastructure, politics, and international relations and all structures of society.
However, platformisation is not a one-way street. Platforms also depend on the state, especially in the U.S., where laws and regulations shape their power at home and abroad. Outside the U.S., the picture becomes even more complex, as governments navigate local interests and geopolitical tensions to regulate tech giants.
From shifts in leadership and content moderation policies at Meta—and a closer alignment with Trump —to historical parallels between state power and capital in colonial Southeast Asia, this conversation explores how the past informs our digital future. On this episode we discuss the growing influence of tech giants on politics, elections, and even our daily routines, with a particular focus on the great majority of the world.
What does Big Tech power mean for governments, individuals, and democracy as a whole? Join us as we unpack the complex dynamics shaping the digital age, and explore what it means to live in a world increasingly defined by Big Tech.
PS: this time we test Zoom for the recording. It is not (YET!) ideal (especially with the AI tool embeded to it, wich eventually we removed!). We promise that next time we will do better!
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