Show-Me State Times

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley has expressed strong opinions on the influence of Big Tech, challenging major corporations like Meta and Google over their dominant positions. In an op-ed published in The New York Post, Hawley recounted his first encounter with Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, during which he suggested that Big Tech should voluntarily "break themselves up" and return control to their customers.

Hawley, a consistent critic of Big Tech, reiterated his stance amid ongoing legal challenges faced by the industry, including antitrust lawsuits against Meta and a recent court verdict against Google for antitrust breaches. "Now the Federal Trade Commission is suing Meta for antitrust violations in federal court," Senator Hawley noted, adding, "On April 17, another federal judge found tech giant Google liable for a host of antitrust breaches."

Highlighting the overarching power of major technology companies, Hawley argued, "The Big Tech companies have more power than any corporation on earth. Indeed, they have more power than any corporation in history." Hawley called for strict enforcement of antitrust laws, which he believes could mitigate the power these companies wield, particularly regarding platforms' revenue-generating practices.

The Senator's proposal extends beyond government-led efforts, advocating for citizen empowerment through legislative means. "That’s why I’ve proposed legislation to open the courtroom doors to every American harmed by these companies. Let Americans who have been censored sue. Let parents whose kids have been victimized by predators online sue," he outlined.

Hawley emphasizes the sentiment that the solution involves dismantling what he perceives as the "Big Tech-Big Government alliance," to prevent the excessive control of personal data and corporate influence over governance, thereby restoring freedom and power to the people.

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