Big Tech Must Go!

Martin Andree is professor of digital media at the University of Cologne. He is also the founder of AMP Digital Ventures with a focus on AI and digital business model innovation and the author of Atlas of the Digital World.

• CONTENTPreface of the English Book Release 7KNOCKOUT: How Big Tech stops ‘unwanted’ research 9I.GAME OVER 2029: The dominance of Big Tech 151. Our democracy is in danger 162. The ‘point of no return’: 2029 213. The Internet of monopolies 284. The victims: Journalism, bloggers, global brands, public service broadcasting 375. Fair and free competition has been completely eliminated 476. Is it really so dramatic? 49II.THE END OF THE FREE INTERNET:How the tech giants occupied the digital media space 591. Stuck in the silos of the platforms 602. Media genres are now the private property of companies 683. How Big Tech is expanding its monopolies 824. Killer acquisitions 895. Self-allocation of internet traffic 956. Monopoly accelerator: Generative AI 100III.HOSTILE TAKEOVER:How digital superpowers change our entire society 1031. Death trap: The narrative of weak, vulnerable media 1042. How Big Tech will take over the economy 1103. Why politicians will be dependent on platforms in the future 1224. Mega-media are taking over our society 1285. Tech giants manipulate traffic 1336. Spying and policing activities by Big Tech 1387. The principle of maximum takeover 143IV.MONOPOLIES, FAKE NEWS, HATE SPEECH:Is this actually legal? 1491. Insufficient legislation against monopolies 1502. Maximum profits for tech giants without liability 1683. How we are imprisoned by the platforms’ legal systems 1774. Is the status quo unconstitutional? 1815. Conclusion: Goodbye, democracy and free media 197V.ACCEPT HERE:Why nobody cares 2031. California Dreamin’: The good beginnings 2042. Digital Darth Vaders dress up as philanthropists 2103. The destruction of freedom in the name of freedom 2174. Promote versus punish: Big Tech’s lobbying machine 225VI.COUNTDOWN 2029:How can we liberate the Internet? 2391. A glimmer of hope: The people do not want Big Tech monopolies 2402. How can we liberate the Internet 2443. Seriously? 2624. A free Europe between US digital feudalism and China’s online dictatorship 265Thanks 276Notes 278

“This is an excellent book. Not only does it provide compelling evidence about the economic and democratic consequences of the current Big Tech domination, but it also provides a rallying cry and a policy toolkit that should be the starting point for the democratic fightback everywhere.”