Big Tech (Google, Facebook, X, Amazon, Microsoft) not only connect us with others, but also shape how we think, consume and interact with the world.

Capitalism always favours laissez faire, since deregulation is assured to be dynamism and freedom. On the contrary, unrestrained power does not ensure freedom.

Big Tech acts as gatekeepers of information, commerce and public discourse. They have the potential to undermine competition and free enterprise. However, there are voices that regulation could stifle innovation.

We have adopted a digital lifestyle which generates voluminous data, and it is controlled by a few players.

Startups are vulnerable to the digital eco-system. This vulnerability could be weaponised.

The availability of data with Big Tech poses a challenge to state’s exclusivity and sovereignty.

Canada and Australia try to control digital news distribution. Legislation have been introduced to compensate for the content. To retaliate, Facebook blocked government ads in Canada. In Australia, Big Tech retaliated by banning the sharing of news and links.

Big Tech extends US state power globally. The US gets extraterritorial reach. Much of the world’s communication flows through the US. SWIFT’s allows US agencies access to its database. PRISM (NSA) taps user data. Huawei has been placed on US entity list.

India has to strengthen data protection (implementing Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023). Some critical data should be stored within the country. Innovation must flourish, but not at the cost of undermining a country’s interests.