Big Tech Politics

Big Tech Politics is a newsletter where Ashley Gjøvik examines the intersection of Big Tech, international law, political science, & our dystopian future.

The hottest Substack posts of Big Tech Politics

And their main takeaways

Apple Corporate Crime Update

58 implied HN points • 09 Sep 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Crime Government Legal Corruption Whistleblowers
  1. Ashley Gjøvik filed a RICO Act lawsuit against Apple with claims of whistleblower retaliation and environmental complaints.
  2. Apple's Chief Compliance Officer, Tom Moyer, was re-indicted for criminal bribery involving permits and political donations.
  3. Apple's corporate secretaries, Nancy Heinen and Gene Levoff, faced charges of fraud and insider trading violations.

A Blatant and Aggressive Disregard for the Law

58 implied HN points • 11 Jun 22
  1. Apple has a history of aggressive behavior towards regulation and compliance battles with the U.S. SEC and U.S. Department of Justice.
  2. Apple executives have been described as demonstrating a blatant and aggressive disregard for the law during trials and legal proceedings.
  3. Gene Levoff, a former Apple executive, faced charges of securities fraud and insider trading, despite being responsible for compliance with the law.

How I Learned Ex-Apple Execs Run a Secretive Home Security Tech Company

19 implied HN points • 27 Oct 22
  1. The author discovered a secretive home security tech company run by ex-Apple executives and employees, which raised concerns about surveillance and privacy issues.
  2. The company, Latch, was found to have strong ties to Apple, with top leadership and staff comprising mostly ex-Apple workers.
  3. Latch is widely used, present in over 10% of new apartments in the US, yet not as widely recognized or discussed in media compared to other smart home tech companies like Nest and Ring.

Elon Musk’s “City-State” on Mars: An International Problem

39 implied HN points • 01 Nov 21
  1. Elon Musk plans to establish a city-state on Mars, which raises complex international legal and governance challenges.
  2. International law around space exploration limits private property rights, posing obstacles for Musk's ambitions on Mars.
  3. A multi-national consortium should be formed to regulate activities on Mars and ensure that space remains accessible and shared by all of humanity.

Field Notes on Regulatory Capture, Part I

19 implied HN points • 23 May 22
  1. When regulatory agencies become influenced by the industries they regulate, it's called 'regulatory capture.'
  2. Personal experiences of individuals facing corruption and obstruction within government agencies are powerful and impactful.
  3. Corporations can use their power and connections to manipulate regulatory processes, creating challenges for whistleblowers seeking justice.
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Big Tech are Private Regulators of Digital Expression

19 implied HN points • 22 Apr 22
  1. Online speech regulatory structure resembles Lochner-era policies.
  2. Private companies should respect and protect international human rights.
  3. Delegating regulatory power to private actors can lead to lack of accountability and transparency.