Security quotes of the week

Posted Apr 22, 2021 9:22 UTC (Thu) by Karellen (subscriber, #67644)
Parent article: Security quotes of the week

many of the big tech critics out there don't want to recognize that. In fact, it lets them attack these companies no matter what they do.

Maybe they do recognise that and big tech is a problem, no matter what they do, because they are big, and antitrust enforcement has been a complete joke for 20 years, and not a heck of a lot better for the 20 years before that. And ultimately that's what needs to be fixed.

Security quotes of the week

Posted Apr 22, 2021 10:31 UTC (Thu) by pizza (subscriber, #46) [Link] (3 responses)

Sure, let's restart meaningful enforcement of antitrust law.

And the most deserving targets for the guillotine? Verizon, AT&T, Comcast. Who have _actual_ monopolies and routinely act in ways that make "Big Tech" look like saints in comparison.

Security quotes of the week

Posted Apr 22, 2021 11:53 UTC (Thu) by ddevault (subscriber, #99589) [Link] (2 responses)

Why needlessly limit ourselves? All of these companies are a problem.

Security quotes of the week

Posted Apr 22, 2021 12:15 UTC (Thu) by pizza (subscriber, #46) [Link] (1 responses)

Because of the law of unintended consequences. Or heck, even the intended consequences.

Nearly all of the calls to "regulate big tech" are being made using false pretenses for self-serving purposes.

Security quotes of the week

Posted Apr 22, 2021 17:32 UTC (Thu) by Wol (subscriber, #4433) [Link]

Do roughly what we do here - you cannot deliver content over a network where you are the monopoly provider.

Okay, that's not completely true, many content providers own delivery networks, but they are independent arms that have to operate "at arms length".

For example, I have no idea who owns the wires and pipes that deliver electricity or gas, I just buy my power from a choice of "the big six" or a bunch of smaller suppliers, and they have a bulk contract that lets them deliver to their customers in my area. I suspect the owner is the (descendant of) the original local monopoly supplier, but I neither know nor care - it's not my problem.

BT owns most of the phone infrastructure, but we do have cable companies, and BT is obliged to publish a price list. The same set-up applies - I can go to any phone provider and they have the contract with BT/Openreach to provide the infrastructure. There are rumours that when there are technical problems, Openreach treat BT customers preferentially, but that would get BT into heap big trouble if proven.

The only thing is, that CAN cause problems when things go wrong, because the customer has no contract with the infrastructure supplier, and it's difficult to get redress if things really go tits-up.

Cheers,
Wol