In the US there are four Big Tech companies — Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google. In the past the US acted against IBM. Microsoft and AT&T. There are other prominent companies such as Tesla, Netflix, Uber and AirBnB. Still the authorities do not consider that they have reached a scale too dominant for the market. Big Tech at present in the US are considered too big and powerful both for the consumers and the competition. There are anti-trust investigations initiated in 2020 against Google, and there are cases against all the four.

The outcome of the action in the past in the US had given rise to new tech companies and they in turn faced anti-trust action later on.

There is a technology race in the US. Many startups have the freedom to pursue their own ideas. There is funding available from the VCs. Some promising startups are bought over by Big Tech firms and runners up. Some start ups may go in for an IPO. The US action may affect startups in other countries including India. Big Tech may not make funding available to the local startups. However, there are others in the market who can jump in.

China too has started acting against the tech giants of the Chinese origin. The promoters had become too prominent and powerful. Ant Financial IPO was cancelled. There is a probe into Ali Baba. Jack Ma of Ali Baba is now keeping a low profile. TenCent and Didi too have faced the heat. It has reduced the market capitalisation of Big Tech in China. Regulations have been revised. There are probes and orders.

However, China is ahead in AI, robotics and cellular technology. The progress continues in these fields, though Big Tech has faced the music. China may have ensured this before taking action. However, China may not attract the talented manpower of Chinese origin working elsewhere in Big Tech.