Issue 70: Big Tech in the Hot Seat
Welcome to Backstory, a weekly newsletter turning global technology shifts into a three-minute read. This week, we’re wondering if there are big changes coming to antitrust law – Mary Ames, Director of Strategy
THE BIG TAKE
Big Tech in the Hot Seat
Last week, Slack filed an anti-competitive complaint with the European Commission against Microsoft. The popular work collaboration tool (it’s a core part of our workflow) said Microsoft “illegally tied” its Teams product to Office and has engaged in an “anti-competitive practice of abusing its market dominance to extinguish competition.” This might seem like a wonky antitrust lawsuit but it's the first salvo in a round of critical debates about the reach and power of technology companies around the world.
Big tech in the hot seat: Slack’s choice to go to Europe with its grievances demonstrates the company’s lack of faith in the United States government to enforce sensible antitrust law. This point will be put to the test as the heads of the world’s largest technology companies head to Congress today. Facebook, Amazon, Apple, and Google will field questions about possible antitrust behavior. Any resulting actions taken by Congress will have a worldwide impact on how the internet functions.
Who owns the pipes? The fundamental issue in all of these discussions is the question of who “owns the pipes” or the vital digital infrastructure of the internet. Take Apple, for example. Representatives are concerned that Apple’s management of its app store gives the company monopoly power and unfair advantage of competition. This is an issue that affects Apple users from Mumbai to Cairo. It also underscores the importance of homegrown alternatives for critical platforms.
Homegrown: Dubai-based ride-hailing company Careem’s success highlights how a local company can create an application protected from the long arm of foreign companies such as Apple or Google. This is not to say that the tech giants don’t have their place. Rather, a balanced knowledge economy has the right mix of foreign and local platforms to enable growth. Watch this space carefully.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“I have always imagined Paradise as a kind of library."
– Jorge Luis Borges, writer
OUR VIEWS THIS WEEK
Our writing on space: Over the past month, we’ve been exploring all aspects of the UAE’s space program. Throughout our special Backstory: Space editions and published articles on our website, Xische has been a one-stop-shop for all things space. We strongly believe in the ability of space exploration to spur our knowledge economy at home. As the Hope probe continues its marathon mission, we’ll continue to closely follow the story of space. The Hope probe is only the beginning for the UAE, the region, and us.
Agility in action: The UAE Government, under the direction of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, announced a major reshuffle this month. Ministries and departments across the Government will merge to create a more agile governing structure. Just like the creation of the Dubai Council at the start of 2020, this decision is vital to the UAE’s efforts to be one of the most responsive and forward thinking in the world. In light of the global Covid-19 pandemic, this announcement couldn’t have come at a better time. In our latest piece, we explore how this change will transform the Government for the better.
A MESSAGE FROM SPIDERSILK
Practical cybersecurity: In today’s online world, cybersecurity is a critical line of defense for any business. Enter SpiderSilk, a Dubai-based cybersecurity firm specializing in simulating the most advanced cyber offenses on your technology so you can build your best security defenses. Mitigating risk and protecting digital infrastructure can be achieved through the most advanced adversarial simulations and advisory services.
SPOTTED ELSEWHERE
Remote work: Are we used to remote work yet? It’s a tough question to answer but one thing is for sure: it’s not changing soon. Google, one of the first major companies to announce a complete remote work strategy, announced this week that it doesn’t expect employees to return to the office before July 2021. Yelp. If Google’s announcement means anything for the larger economy, it means we should get used to staying home for a good deal longer.
Urban decay: One aspect of the urban environment that’s often overlooked is decay. Cities age and buildings are abandoned. It’s a natural part of the evolution of our urban environment but it's often ignored. Some intrepid photographers are taking a different approach. The New York Times has a fascinating piece looking at the urban explorers who seek out ruin and produce stunningly haunting images in the process.
QUICK HITS
Inside the Twitter hack.
Newsletters, like this one, are having a moment.
Inside the Dubai control center tracking the Hope probe.
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