A War On Big Tech Is A Mistake: The FTC Is About To Repeat Mistakes Made During AT&T Breakup (From 1945)

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), under the leadership of Lina Khan, has essentially gone to war against U.S. big tech. In the center of their target circle sit leading U.S. firms such as Amazon, Google, and Microsoft. These companies are driving the U.S. economy to new heights, creating tens of thousands of smaller businesses and hundreds of thousands of new jobs. They develop new technologies, provide unique and vital capabilities to the U.S. military and its intelligence community, and enhance the wellbeing of millions in the United States and around the world. The FTC is on a trajectory to repeat the mistakes the U.S. government made when it decided to break up AT&T in the 1980s. That experience should be a cautionary tale for the Commission. Congress needs to take a close look at the FTC’s current efforts to exert control over this critical part of the U.S. economy. I have written more on this subject here.