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Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin Wants Justice Department To Scrutinize Big Tech (cnbc.com)

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin on Monday joined the growing chorus of government officials concerned about tech monopolies. From a report: When asked if Google is a monopoly, Mnuchin said, "These are issues that the Justice Department needs to look at seriously -- not for any one company -- but obviously as these technology companies have a greater and greater impact on the economy, I think that you have to look at the power they have," Mnuchin told CNBC's "Squawk Box." Mnuchin acknowledged that antitrust matters don't fall under his jurisdiction, but said someone ought to be looking. His comments come on the heels of a "60 Minutes" segment on Google's unparalleled market share in online search. The Sunday night spot included an interview with Jeremy Stoppelman, co-founder of Yelp, which he said "would have no shot" if it were being built today.

128 comments

  1. Remember when Microsoft was worse than Hitler? by CajunArson · · Score: 1

    Remember when Microsoft was the ULTIMATE EVIL in the known universe because you had to download Netscape manually on Windows?

    But remember, Google tracking your every move is fine because their leadership is considered to be "woke".

    --
    AntiFA: An abbreviation for Anti First Amendment.
    1. Re:Remember when Microsoft was worse than Hitler? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > Remember when Microsoft was the ULTIMATE EVIL in the known universe because you had to download Netscape manually on Windows?

      Back then most people had dialup. Not sure of Netscape was ever available on dialup but it would have taken days to download.
      Though I think you could get a free CD by mail fairly easily.

    2. Re:Remember when Microsoft was worse than Hitler? by CrashNBrn · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Good Times. When Netscape was a 25MB download, we were on 5KB/s dialup, and you were potentially downloading it via IE, which couldn't resume interrupted downloads - so after an hour and a half, maybe your download completed or maybe you had to start over again.

      Of course a handful of people discovered Opera, which at the time was a 3-5MB download and had all of Netscape's features including a mail client.

  2. Plenty of competition needed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    We need a viable alternative to android/ios, webkit/edge/gecko amd/intel, nvidia/amd, systemd and a lot more.

  3. I can only hear Trump whining by Bite+The+Pillow · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    News like this just makes me assume someone in the Administration is afraid of too many news stories and wants to be able to censor them.

    Before Trump I at least looked for some explanation or rational reason. But it is all ruined. Every person in a position of power is corrupt and afraid of truth.

    And while fake news is a problem, is rather have that and truth than lose both. While monopolies can guide or promote an agenda I'd rather be able to read reporting on that influence than have neither. Such a shame to have ruined giving the government at least a chance to explain itself. Now I just don't trust the explanation, before I even hear it.

    1. Re: I can only hear Trump whining by Reverend+Green · · Score: 1, Funny

      Do you suffer from Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS)?

      Do thoughts of Donald Trump fill your every waking moment, and often intrude on your sleep? Are you unable to resist mentioning President Trump in unrelated conversations? Do your friends find you a bore and increasingly avoid your company?

      At last there is help! New Donaldizole has been proven safe and clinically effective at treating TDS.

      Side effects include deplorability, reduced capacity for self-deception, war weariness, and MAGA.

      Ask your doctor about new Donaldizole - and get help today!

    2. Re:I can only hear Trump whining by Rick+Schumann · · Score: 1

      Wouldn't at all be surprised if this is a side-channel attack on Jeff Bezos from Trump via Mnuchin. We'll find out soon enough I'm sure.

    3. Re: I can only hear Trump whining by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Funny, though war is the one area I thought Trump would be doing better. At least he hasn't bombed North Korea, but he's still allowed the neocons to take a commanding role in his foreign policy and you can bet that they're pushing him for more war (e.g., Iran). Trump should have made Ron Paul the Secretary of State.

    4. Re:I can only hear Trump whining by jwhyche · · Score: 2

      Wouldn't it be better if we could have a discussion about something not related to politics with out some idiot bringing Trump into it?

      --
      I read at +2. If your post doesn't reach that level I will not see or respond to it.
    5. Re:I can only hear Trump whining by Rick+Schumann · · Score: 1

      Wouldn't it be better if we had leadership in this country that didn't completely and utterly polarize all 350,000,000 of us with their idiocy and corruption, so we didn't have to be discussing it every goddamned motherfucking day? Or would you prefer we all stick our heads in the sand, put our fingers in our ears and go LA LA LA LA I CAN'T HEAR YOU! when the fuck-up of the day happens? Oh and by the way you're not helping!

    6. Re:I can only hear Trump whining by jwhyche · · Score: 1

      An yet, we are doing just fine.

      --
      I read at +2. If your post doesn't reach that level I will not see or respond to it.
    7. Re:I can only hear Trump whining by Rick+Schumann · · Score: 1

      What do you mean "we"? Oh you mean the slightly-less-than-half the country that voted for Trump? LOL.

    8. Re:I can only hear Trump whining by jwhyche · · Score: 1

      I mean me, and you, and our society as a whole. The economy hasn't collapsed. There hasn't been a nuclear war. All the Hispanics haven't been rounded up and tossed out of the country. In fact none of what liberals have been whining about for the last year has come true.

      Sure we have some problems. Gun control is a big one. There are some environmental policies that are of some concern. That screeching fool Maxine Waters is still in office. But even with all that on a whole we are doing just fine. An that simply is a fact.

      I'm really going to hate to see the melt down people with TDS have in 2020 when Trump is re-elected.

      --
      I read at +2. If your post doesn't reach that level I will not see or respond to it.
    9. Re:I can only hear Trump whining by Rick+Schumann · · Score: 1

      Listen, buddy: what we don't have at current, that is more important than anything else, is BALANCE. The political needle has swung violently all the way to the bleeding-edge right, slammed up against the stop, and bent the goddamned needle . NEITHER party should have Free Reign to do whatever the fuck they want and that's pretty much where we are right now -- and with a narcissistic, unqualified 5-year-old who can't decouple his ego from his decision-making process to save his life, as POTUS. Just because the Earth hasn't opened up and swallowed the U.S. whole yet doesn't mean things aren't shit. Stop starting at your bellybutton and look around you, see what's going on.

    10. Re:I can only hear Trump whining by jwhyche · · Score: 2

      Well first, lay off with the bold. It doesn't help your case and actually makes you come across as some what deranged. An looking deranged is actually the last thing you need to look like now.

      Now then, we need to put to rest your fantasy and replace them with some facts. Lets get started.

      We have balance. There are democrats and republicans in congress that keep the president in check. Notice, he is a president and not a king. So many people keep forgetting that. With that said neither party has free reign to do anything. Most likely after Trumps second term there will be a democrat elected and things will swing back the other way. So, things are pretty normal there.

      Yes, he is qualified. He is qualified because he is president, yours and mine. Nothing you can say will change that so we might as well end that line of conversation before it starts. But for some reason he was to become unqualified then good ol Mike Pence steps in, and god help us all. So you better pray that Trump says qualified till the is out of office.

      Now then, lets shine some facts on ego clams. Trump seems to do a good job of decoupling this ego with his decision making process. If you will notice that when he is being "presidential" he is more than happy to give and take. That is actually how politics work. So, once again you are wrong about that too.

      Well then I think that covers everything. Again Trump is president and we are doing just fine. Lets move on to more important issues.

      --
      I read at +2. If your post doesn't reach that level I will not see or respond to it.
    11. Re:I can only hear Trump whining by Daralantan · · Score: 1

      Notice, he is a president and not a king. So many people keep forgetting that.

      This reminds me of trying to talk to an acquaintance a while back about issues at work. She only wanted to talk about Trump. After 15 minutes I wanted to change topic and she wouldn't let go. My refusing to make my 24/7 topic Trump had her go into a meltdown where she literally said he was going to create concentration camps for all blacks and gays etc etc and if we didn't discuss him and how to stop him we were signing their death warrants.

      I could only think "Do.... do you really think he can make concentration camps for everyone that isn't white and straight and the government would just let him????"

    12. Re:I can only hear Trump whining by jwhyche · · Score: 2

      The fictional name for this is called TDS, Trump Derangement Syndrome. It's supposed to be a sarcastic response to point out how silly peoples negative obsession with Trump is. But with some of the comments I keep seeing I wonder if we might have a real physiological disorder here.

      I kept trolling here hoping at some point he would see how silly he was getting but I guess not.

      --
      I read at +2. If your post doesn't reach that level I will not see or respond to it.
    13. Re:I can only hear Trump whining by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Awesome exchange. I'd nominate you for "How to Melt a Snowflake", if the award only existed.

    14. Re:I can only hear Trump whining by Rick+Schumann · · Score: 1

      I'm no goddamned snowflake, you asshole, but Trump voters/supporters are bent. There's no balance in this country right now and that's bad -- unless you're a Trump supporter, in which case you can't see past the end of your own nose. Obama may have fucked some things up, but not anywhere near as bad a pussy-grabber-in-chief has been fucking things up. Granted, it's a slow-motion train wreck, but it's still a train wreck in progress. No worries, though, starting with the mid-term elections, the Correction will begin.

    15. Re:I can only hear Trump whining by Rick+Schumann · · Score: 1

      No there IS NO BALANCE when both House and Senate are dominated by Republicans; Democrats are hanging on by the skin of their teeth just to BLOCK things, and that's not working so well either. So much for that so-called 'fact'.
      Trump THINKS he's King and can do whatever he wants. That's what matters. A sane, emotionally balanced person would not think that way, they would de-couple their EGO (and his is gigantic) from the job. Not so with Trump. So much for that 'fact', too.
      NO, he is NOT QUALIFIED. He's a TRAIN WRECK. So much for that so-called 'fact' (that is just your 'opinion', LOL).

      How about we move on to the 'more important issue' of you either being a brain-dead, potentially sociopathic Trump supporter, or perhaps you're just another shitty troll, stirring shit up? Go fuck yourself, asshole. You think you changed my or anyone else's mind with your heavily biased rhetoric? Can I get a "HELL, NO!" from y'all out there? You're a FOSSIL. The sooner you go extinct the better.

    16. Re:I can only hear Trump whining by jwhyche · · Score: 2

      An there class is a classic case of TDS meltdown. Now unless there are any questions, I believe we can wrap it up here.

      Class dismissed.

      --
      I read at +2. If your post doesn't reach that level I will not see or respond to it.
    17. Re:I can only hear Trump whining by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Troll.

    18. Re:I can only hear Trump whining by Rakarra · · Score: 1

      I could only think "Do.... do you really think he can make concentration camps for everyone that isn't white and straight and the government would just let him????"

      The President cannot do that, and that's where some of this "deep state" and "the swamp" talk comes up. They expect that everyone, including various people in the executive branch, have to be personally loyal to Trump and do whatever he wants. That is not, and should not be the case.

    19. Re:I can only hear Trump whining by Rick+Schumann · · Score: 1

      You're really an arrogant sonofabitch aren't you? Are you this arrogant in person, too? You must be just a joy to be around. If you have kids I feel sorry for them having to put up with your authoritarian know-it-all attitude. Troll your own kids, too?

    20. Re:I can only hear Trump whining by jwhyche · · Score: 2

      Oh the "deep state." wooo wooo. I remember hearing talk of the deep state and the shadow government on fox news one night. I had to put my hand over my eyes to keep them from rolling out of my head.

      Deep state is just the right wing version of lefty loons Trumps concentration camps. Complete an utter non-sense. Right loons would have us believe that Obama is running some secret government out of some spider hole in Nebraska.

      --
      I read at +2. If your post doesn't reach that level I will not see or respond to it.
    21. Re:I can only hear Trump whining by jwhyche · · Score: 2

      Calm down. Take some deep breaths. in, out, in, out. There feel better.? You where trolled. It happens to everyone at some point. It's not really that big of a deal.

      --
      I read at +2. If your post doesn't reach that level I will not see or respond to it.
    22. Re:I can only hear Trump whining by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He thinks he's teh master trollololol

      LOL WUT
      GB2 ur containment board newfag >>>/pol/

    23. Re:I can only hear Trump whining by terrycarlino · · Score: 1

      Let's explain what's meant by deep state. In a democracy or a republic the top levels of government are subject to changing every few years from one party to another. These parties are likely to have differing political and policy priorities. Beneath these political types are a bureaucracy consisting of people whose job it is to carry out the policies of those elected or appointed over them, provided such policies are legal. Their job does not include stonewalling or trying to prevent the implementation of policies with which they do not agree. Their choice is to resign if they disagree with a policy so much they cannot in good conscious implement it. When, however instead they not only seek to sabotage the policies of the people appointed or elected over them, but they also actively attempt to use the levers of power they control to determine who is elected by intervening in the electoral process, then they have become a rouge government of their own. A state embedded deep in the existing legitimate government. This is what is meant by the term 'deep state'. It is used to describe individuals working for partisan purposes for withing layers of the government which are suppose to be nonpartisan.

  4. I think you meant by presidenteloco · · Score: 1

    skew things closer to reality, using "big data" and objective machine-learning algorithms.

    --

    Where are we going and why are we in a handbasket?
    1. Re:I think you meant by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think you meant

      Steve Munchkin. Adorable!

    2. Re:I think you meant by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      what happens when the "big data" and "objective algorithms" aren't politically correct and charge blacks higher rates because they are more likely to default? remember when the government tried to use objective algorithms to set bail for criminals, but since blacks are more likely to jump bail, they were given higher bail, and it was deemed racist and shut down?

    3. Re:I think you meant by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

      His tiny babies are for sale.

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
    4. Re: I think you meant by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      You know, there's a reason most stereotypes are true. But that being said, it doesn't make them fair. Especially if used to make decisions. Just because 1/4 of something is bad, doesn't mean you ignore the other 3/4.

  5. Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Big tech has more power and control than standard oil or AT&T ever did. They aren’t afraid to use it and have no qualms about abusing their power.

  6. Whiney Little Bitch by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In other words Moscow Donald, the infamous traitor who is a whiney little bitch is afraid of the truth.. sad.

    1. Re:Whiney Little Bitch by micahraleigh · · Score: 2

      This is like the Valerie Plame wild goose chase of the Bush 43 administration.

      The only charges -obstruction of justice- had nothing to do with any prior crime being committed.

      In otherwords, if there had not been any allegations no crimes would have even happened.

      A spectacular waste of tax payer dollars amounting to little more than a way for the democrats to make themselves look less bad without actually contributing anything.

  7. Any large company/industry needs scrutiny by KixWooder · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Big Tech is no better than Big Oil or Big Pharmaceutical.

    --
    I hate fat people.
    1. Re:Any large company/industry needs scrutiny by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It is more accurate to say they are no worse. At least the harm they cause to humanity is a few steps removed compared to the direct harm caused by Big Oil and Big Pharma.

    2. Re:Any large company/industry needs scrutiny by liquid_schwartz · · Score: 2

      It is more accurate to say they are no worse. At least the harm they cause to humanity is a few steps removed compared to the direct harm caused by Big Oil and Big Pharma.

      There is direct harm to humanity - it makes us depressed and angry. There is tons of research and the link is clear.

      Citations:

      https://www.psychologytoday.co... https://www.independent.co.uk/...

    3. Re:Any large company/industry needs scrutiny by Kulahan · · Score: 1

      I disagree. Big Oil pollutes. Big Pharma locks life-saving drugs behind massive cost barriers. Big Tech gathers every piece of data they possibly can and monitors everything you do to the highest extent possible.

      Not to mention, 95% of the secret behind defense contractors is just software. Bombs, jets, spy satellites, autonomous killing drones, etc. all have the potential to affect your life in a much bigger way than an expensive pill or a puff of gas from a car ever would. You just don't notice it because it's either working too discreetly for you to notice, or because you're not in the kind of country where you have to worry about a drone blowing up your house because there's a wanted man next door.

    4. Re:Any large company/industry needs scrutiny by Green+Mountain+Bot · · Score: 1

      Agreed - and I think you'll find that the primary difference is how each industry aligns with the current administration's objectives. Those that don't align are subjected to scrutiny. Those that do aren't.

  8. A Curious Thought by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Is it possible that technology may eventually result in reduction in redundancies because a product or service becomes so good that there are no other reasonable options, or the rise of Duopolies where are are only really two options? Look at Linux? If it didn't' have the price advantage of being free, would people use it? to what extent? Enterprise only? Small to Medium Businesses? Casual Users? The answer I believe to that is no. Google, Facebook, And many of the other online presences offer services for free, that other people won't charge for it or it's a rarity when it does happen. People already have enough on their plate for regular bills. Free as in $0 is the standard by which everything is set now. The question is now who does Free the best? What is the cost of free? Everything about you is up for grabs as information is worth something to somebody.

  9. Really? by nospam007 · · Score: 1

    And here I thought that separation of powers meant that people from the Executive should shut the fuck up about stuff concerning the way Justice conducts its business.

    1. Re:Really? by Troy+Roberts · · Score: 2

      You do realize that the Justice department is part of the executive branch right?

    2. Re:Really? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Uh, maybe you should bone up on your US gov knowledge. The DOJ and Treasury are both part of the Executive Branch.

    3. Re:Really? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No clearly he does not.

    4. Re:Really? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And here I thought that separation of powers meant that people from the Executive should shut the fuck up about stuff concerning the way Justice conducts its business.

      What branch of government is the justice department under?

    5. Re:Really? by micahraleigh · · Score: 1

      I got the impression he thinks the president reports to the Justice Branch.

      And the Justice Branch should be able to install whoever it wants into the White House.

      Soon we can be like Venezuela and make the voters into a useful formality.

    6. Re: Really? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      An olive branch.

  10. It's not generally unfair business practices by presidenteloco · · Score: 1

    that cause a single winner in each info-technology niche.

    It's that one company executes better, and then the network effect kicks in, as that company collects more customers (who prefer it) and then gets the value of the collective interactions of and data from all those customers.

    For consumers, often it's the case that having the search knowledge or the social network spread among different providers / applications just makes like more complicated for them, and reduces the simplicity and value proposition somewhat.

    So is "free and fair" competition allowed to produce a clear winner, which people then definitely prefer, or is it not? What are the benefits and pitfalls of breaking up such a natural monopoly?

    --

    Where are we going and why are we in a handbasket?
    1. Re:It's not generally unfair business practices by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're talking like the people love these companies. Many of us would like to rip them to shreds. They are in control of information, speech, facts, and therefore thought. Their mere existence is offensive, natural monopoly or not.

    2. Re:It's not generally unfair business practices by presidenteloco · · Score: 2

      but only because they filled a need or provided value of a certain new kind to people first and best.

      You are free to get together with a few fellow schemers and invent, implement and test, and promote, an alternative to each of the big players' info-products, and give yours the added feature of decentralization and no central ownership of or access to the collective-and-personal information-value.

      You will probably have to charge people a nominal fee to use it, to cover your hosting fees and lunch money.

      But no one is going to stop you from doing this. Only your own lack of ability and stick-toitiveness would stop you.

      Remember, in these parts, complaining is equivalent to volunteering.

      --

      Where are we going and why are we in a handbasket?
    3. Re:It's not generally unfair business practices by shplopt · · Score: 1

      The problem is that, yes, once upon a time, google was the best at search because they had the best algorithms. Since MS was really trying not to rock the boat on anti-trust issues, they decided not to push their own search engine too hard. Thus google had a fair shot, and the best engine won. Since then, things have changed, and their algorithms aren't the reason they're the biggest. They're stifling innovation in both purposeful and incidental ways. They of course have more data about all of us, giving us personalized results. They're able to devote vastly more resources to search than anyone. They're deploying more and more tactics to keep people from ever leaving their ecosystem, which means demonstrably superior algorithms are left to die and leave their creators' broke. When a clearly better product isn't given a chance, that feels, to me, like the point at which the words "anti-trust" should come into the picture. I want to be more specific here and cite an article I saw a few months ago, but I couldn't find it on google ;)

    4. Re: It's not generally unfair business practices by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Then stop using those companies and put them out of business. Don't be like the economic nationalists at Breitbart News who complain about "Masters of the Universe" but don't want to do the hard work of winning on the open market because they can't compete and need protectionism to keep them safe.

    5. Re:It's not generally unfair business practices by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So. What are these "demonstrably better" products which have died and left their creators broke?

      I mean, I'm no fan of Googles data gobbling in the mobile space, and I really wish there was a viable alternative to Android which wasn't even worse and retarded to boot, but I have yet to find anything that comes even close to Google for searching. "Bin it" is a complete joke and it has always been, but that's because Microsoft is shit and have always been. They have repeatedly shown that they are too incompetent to bring a successful product to market unless they either already have a captive audience - sometimes even that doesn't help (Win 10) - or resorting to criminal behaviour.

      So, where are all these poor victims which deserved a better fate?

    6. Re:It's not generally unfair business practices by Rakarra · · Score: 1

      I'm trying to figure out how Google would do this. I can't think of a single service from which Google has steered me away. Not that I use Google for anything outside of search and gmail, but. If a service starts up and Google artificially lowers its rankings, that would definitely get them into big-time anti-trust trouble. I don't see how that would be worth it.

  11. I see only liberals whining by SuperKendall · · Score: 1, Insightful

    The drumbeat to investigate Google and Facebook started long before Trump. In fact the current push is primarily a response to Trump winning, in part because he was able to use Facebook analytics as effectively as Obama...

    And because they helped Trump, even if inadvertently, Google and Facebook must pay. Or so goes the mantra of the day.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:I see only liberals whining by bugs2squash · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I think the complaints against facebook are no so much about campaigns doing analysis of data so much as they are about injection of misinformation and stoking divisions. And now that it has been exploited once, even the people that exploited it woudl not want it used against them in the future.

      --
      Nullius in verba
    2. Re:I see only liberals whining by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The drumbeat to investigate Google and Facebook started long before Trump. In fact the current push is primarily a response to Trump winning, in part because he was able to use Facebook analytics as effectively as Obama...

      And because they helped Trump, even if inadvertently, Google and Facebook must pay. Or so goes the mantra of the day.

      Obama didn't try to use analytics for voter suppression on a racial basis.

    3. Re:I see only liberals whining by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      SuperRetard is saying dumb things again.

    4. Re:I see only liberals whining by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 1

      The drumbeat to investigate Google and Facebook started long before Trump. In fact the current push is primarily a response to Trump winning, in part because he was able to use Facebook analytics as effectively as Obama...

      Actually, the issue here is not that candidate XYZ won but that it enabled a foreign power to manipulate voters.

      And because they helped Trump, even if inadvertently, Google and Facebook must pay.

      There was and is nothing inadvertent about what the "Internet Research Agency" does. Trump is simply a bit character in this whole mess.

      --
      Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
    5. Re:I see only liberals whining by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Story about one of those foreign entities that was indicted by Muller for interfering with the election.

      Problem, company didn't exist during the election. Yep, evidence of interference from entities that DIDN'T EXIST during election.

      Yea, there was Russian interference. They wrote fake info on Trump and sold it to Clinton. For some reason we don't want to admit THAT happened, but will go bat shit crazy over fake indictments from a special council that seems incompetent.

    6. Re:I see only liberals whining by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Interesting that you think effective use of Facebook analytics amounts to voter suppression on a racial basis. Biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig stretch there.

    7. Re:I see only liberals whining by liquid_schwartz · · Score: 1

      I think the complaints against facebook are no so much about campaigns doing analysis of data so much as they are about injection of misinformation and stoking divisions. And now that it has been exploited once, even the people that exploited it woudl not want it used against them in the future.

      I think the press have a virtual monopoly on stoking divisions by running inflammatory headlines like "white person does XYZ to black person". Oddly when a white person is the victim all racial info is left out. This obvious silliness reaches its peak with the "white privilege" concept.

    8. Re:I see only liberals whining by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The only thing worse the powerful, abusive monopolies are powerful, abusive monopolies applying that power to serve the interests of the president and his party in order to protect their monopolies. In other words, this is just "Nice monopoly you have here. It would be a shame if anything happened to it."

    9. Re: I see only liberals whining by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Stfu you whiney white snowflake. What's the matter? You don't have the power anymore? That makes you sad, black folks understand, we were once in your shoes. Enjoy your stay,

    10. Re: I see only liberals whining by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Effective use? They basically sucked up every bodies info by releasing malware. They gathered data on people who didn't opt in or even know they were being used. A friend of theirs fell for and downloaded the trump malware app. That app sucked up everyone's data, wholesale.

      But keep trying to spread the lie. Effective campaign, LUL.

    11. Re: I see only liberals whining by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Man, you trumptards are running out of good propaganda. You guys are starting to become super predictable.

    12. Re:I see only liberals whining by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's some of the dumbest shit I have ever heard.

    13. Re: I see only liberals whining by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sure, ad hominem attacks are the last resort of those who have no argument.
      The opposition presents facts you have no answer for: ad hominem.
      The opposition's facts prove your side lied, cheated and broke the law: ad hominem.
      The facts again, again and again prove your side broke the law, probably interfered with both a primary and national election: ad hominem.
      You progressives are so predictable.

  12. Re:Oh, this is going to be funny by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 1

    I'm a progressive -- I also think that Big Tech knows too much and is often in bed with government/TLAs.

    Anything that destroys this cozy relationship and causes friction is good in my book.

  13. Sounds good by OrangeTide · · Score: 1

    We should also scrutinize government agencies and political offices while we're at it.

    --
    “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
  14. Moscow Donald - Caught Red Handed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    What? All your phoney misdirection doesn't change the fact that Donald Trump Jr and Silent Jared, and Paul "House Arrest" Manafort all had a meeting with a self-identified Russian government lawyer about Russia's assistance to the Trump campaign.

    It doesn't make up for decades of Russian money laundering followed by complete subservience to Vladimir Putin, whose Russian mafia pals kept Trump afloat financially.

    No matter how Trump's Treason Team waves their arms, they have been caught red handed committing treason, which isn't just illegal.. it's wrong.

    1. Re:Moscow Donald - Caught Red Handed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wanna talk about a treasonous stooge distracts (like a rodeo clown) with false equivalence and misinformation for a known traitor, who is currently doing Russia's bidding in the oval office in exchange for money and hacking?

      Look in the mirror.

    2. Re:Moscow Donald - Caught Red Handed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What? All your phoney misdirection doesn't change the fact that Donald Trump Jr and Silent Jared, and Paul "House Arrest" Manafort all had a meeting with a self-identified Russian government lawyer about Russia's assistance to the Trump campaign.

      ...

      I think you missed the fact that the transcripts of all the testimony from that meeting just got leaked.

      Aaaaand - nothing.

      And what about that Russian lawyer? Oh yeah, this:

      Exclusive: DOJ let Russian lawyer into US before she met with Trump team

      The Russian lawyer who penetrated Donald Trump’s inner circle was initially cleared into the United States by the Justice Department under “extraordinary circumstances” before she embarked on a lobbying campaign last year that ensnared the president’s eldest son, members of Congress, journalists and State Department officials, according to court and Justice Department documents and interviews.

      This revelation means it was the Obama Justice Department that enabled the newest and most intriguing figure in the Russia-Trump investigation to enter the country without a visa.

      Wait? What? The Obama administration let that Russian lawyer into the US right before she meet with Trump? The same administration that had illegal FISA warrants on Trump and was spying on that very meeting? The same Obama administration that aimed "informants" (informants, not spies, damnit! They were "informing", not spying dammit!!!!) at that very same campaign months before? And then used those meetings to set up an FBI "Preliminary Investigation"?

      Wile. E. Coyote would be more subtle in framing the Road Runner, this is such an obvious setup. And it blew up on Obama just like it does in cartoons, too. But then again, Hillary! was going to win and this was all going to be swept under the rug....

      Do you know what a boomerang is? You just whacked yourself right in your puny gonads with the one you tried to toss. Hopefully it castrated you and removed you from the gene pool.

      Besides, if merely meeting with Russians is treason, what about the Secretary of State getting paid to sign off on Russians buying US uranium production?

    3. Re:Moscow Donald - Caught Red Handed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wait what?

      You are blaming Obama for allowing a Russian into the country when Trump committed treason with her?

      You do realize that Trump isn't obligated to commit treason with every Russian agent in America, right?

      He chooses to betray his country, and you choose to support him with misinformation and a willingness to accept his treasonous behavior no matter how obvious it is.

    4. Re: Moscow Donald - Caught Red Handed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Normally I stay out of this BS. However....

      If you are going to keep claiming President Trump of Treason and other illegal activities then either produce actually factual proof or give it a rest. After a year there is zero proof that the President broke any laws. In fact the FBI has said three times the President isn't under investigation. There is zero proof that the Trump campaign or the Russians were involved in the hacking of the DNC email server.

      Simply put, show the facts which no one else has or find a new hobby.

      This witch hunt has gone on long enough and wasted crap loads of tax dollars. All For little gain.

      -GeekPoet

    5. Re:Moscow Donald - Caught Red Handed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I can't tell if you are angry or crying.. I guess that means you lose.

    6. Re: Moscow Donald - Caught Red Handed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hillary lost, get over it. We aren't talking about her because we're talking about the idiot currently in the white house.

    7. Re:Moscow Donald - Caught Red Handed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You all are idiots. USA is not at war with Russia, nor is Russia an enemy of the state. Thus no treason. But feel free to keep slinging the word around like it means something. All you get are more idiots that are triggered because they know their president broke a law. But *everyone* not commenting knows what the fuck Treason is and Trump, so far, has not done that.

      Carry on.

    8. Re: Moscow Donald - Caught Red Handed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We've always been at war with Russia.

    9. Re: Moscow Donald - Caught Red Handed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      How long did you guys investigate Hillary and Benghazi for? Yea, thought so, stfu and let the government work for us this time around.

      You can't have it both ways. Stop acting like a child.

    10. Re: Moscow Donald - Caught Red Handed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We've never been at war with China. Chinks are great!!

    11. Re: Moscow Donald - Caught Red Handed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You are right, it is not treason it is espionage

    12. Re: Moscow Donald - Caught Red Handed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So instead of producing any factual evidence you attempt to redirect to Hillary which has nothing to do the attacks you level at President Trump.

      Again either provide any evidence and there certain has been enough reporting and leaks to provide even a minor claim against the President or drop your little fantasy.

      As for being a child, based on your usage of language you are clearly much younger than me and closer to one of my kids in college. I have 5 kids btw.

      I'm tired as many others are at all the BS on every article on Slashdot where ignorant , one side individuals keep screaming about President Trump when it has nothing to add to the discussion. If you are so sure that you have proof the President Trump is guilty then present your evidence to the media, FBI Congress, whoever. Otherwise stop your whole tough guy keyboard warrior in mom's basement. Get a girlfriend, get laid, get drunk, whatever. Just get over it already.

      I want slashdot where it use to and not a punching bag for anti this or that. Go pull that crap on redding.

      -GeekPoet

    13. Re: Moscow Donald - Caught Red Handed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How long did you guys investigate Hillary and Benghazi for? Yea, thought so, stfu and let the government work for us this time around.

      You can't have it both ways. Stop acting like a child.

      And this folks shows what is wrong with slashdot? Who is the genius that had to mod this total useless response up? I'm betting that you won't even post your name. Mean while several of us have posted thoughtful, reasonable responses and getting nothing or sooner or later modded down. The Mod is obviously incapable of handling a difference of opinion or counter argument.

      When does slashdot get to the point of allowing someone to see who is either modding up or down such comments? It occurs on other sites or has slashdot become so one side on everything that they can't even handle a different point of view. So much for being open to all walks of life.

      Pathetic at best.

      -GeekPoet

  15. Re:Oh, this is going to be funny by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It sounds like you are an anarchist or perhaps a nihilist.

  16. Pfff right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Trump the Traitor and his goons can go scrutinize President Obama and his big black cock.

  17. Re:Oh, this is going to be funny by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Or perhaps just really uneducated.

  18. Worry about the banks first by sjbe · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin on Monday joined the growing chorus of government officials concerned about tech monopolies.

    How about the Treasury Secretary worry about banks that are a proven risk to the financial system first? The tech companies didn't cause a global recession within the last 10 years or require massive government bailouts or cheat people out of their homes and savings.

    1. Re:Worry about the banks first by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well said. This is probably because tech companies, especially Apple, appear to have a liberal agenda (LGBT rights for example) where as the banks aren't seen in this light. Also Lying Don appears to have no financial ties with the tech companies.

    2. Re:Worry about the banks first by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How about the Treasury Secretary worry about banks that are a proven risk to the financial system first? The tech companies didn't cause a global recession within the last 10 years or require massive government bailouts or cheat people out of their homes and savings.

      I'm sorry, but according to Secretary Mnuchin's personal investigation, the banks are totally innocent victims who need our support and love, and money, lest they suffer too much.

      You can't argue this. He personally investigated and came to this conclusion.

    3. Re:Worry about the banks first by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The tech companies didn't cause a global recession within the last 10 years or require massive government bailouts or cheat people out of their homes and savings.

      Yeah, but there's a good chance they'll cause the next one.

    4. Re:Worry about the banks first by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why not investigate and break apart both?

      Are Banks are too big? YES... monopoly on my loan? pfft, No --- its just that big companies rely on big banks in weird ways for temp loans for payroll and other odds and ends.

      Are Technology companies are too big? YES, Have a monopoly? YES, abuse monopoly, YES, abuse privacy? YES. have an unconscionable amount of user-data? YES In a place to influence elections and destroy democratic process? YES in place to create surveillance states? YES Do they kick the teeth in any social contract of what is reasonable privacy expectations? YES.

      Who? google, facebook, microsoft,aapl,amzn -- these are certain and EGREGIOUS monopolies that need to be split into pieces 5+ years ago.

      There are about a dozen other lesser but terrible companies, ISPS's mobile carriers, and oracle which need a hacksaw to their power-limits, too.

    5. Re:Worry about the banks first by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Weak critical thinking. The government can do more than one thing at a time.

  19. Trump whining?!?!? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In just the past week, Trump has turned Democrats into the party that defends MS-13 and Hamas.

    I think you meant, "Trump WINNING", because maneuvering your political opponents into defending MS-13 and Hamas is pretty close to objectively obliterating your opponent in any political mud fight.

  20. I got a whole bag of "so" for you. by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 1

    The Sunday night spot included an interview with Jeremy Stoppelman, co-founder of Yelp, which he said "would have no shot" if it were being built today.

    We lived with Yellow Pages in the phone book for a hundred years, most of which was monopoly -- mandated at that -- for local and long distance together.

    So..."So?"

    --
    (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
  21. Re:Moscow Donald - Your Complicity with Treason by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The uranium never left the US, so you are just spreading misinformation for a known traitor.

    Congratulations on betraying your country, you fucking turncoat.

  22. Trump will die in prison a traitor either way by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Trump will die in prison a traitor either way

  23. Malice or Stupidity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    While big financial companies work to weaken regulation on their industry in order to facilitate fraud, abuse, and malfeasance this Treasury Secretary is making statements of concern about bad actors in non-financial industries.

  24. Big Guns AOk! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Keep mudering dem childrens USA. You #1!

  25. That's odd by GrumpySteen · · Score: 1

    He seems to have no problem allowing Sprint and T-Mobile to merge, weakening what little competition there is among the wireless providers.

  26. How? by sjbe · · Score: 1

    Yeah, but there's a good chance they'll cause the next one.

    Oh I've got to hear this story. How exactly do you figure the big tech companies are going to throw the world into recession requiring massive bailouts and forcing people out of their homes? Be specific on the causal mechanism.

    1. Re:How? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Microsoft

    2. Re:How? by swillden · · Score: 1

      Yeah, but there's a good chance they'll cause the next one.

      Oh I've got to hear this story. How exactly do you figure the big tech companies are going to throw the world into recession requiring massive bailouts and forcing people out of their homes? Be specific on the causal mechanism.

      Microsoft

      You should look up the definitions of "specific", "causal" and "mechanism".

      --
      Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
  27. Re: Only in Stupidtown USA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Amazing how Canada has none of the overrepresentation of minorities in jail you USAsians you except their Native Indians.

    Black people were also never slaves in Canada.. but go on being a racist twit, it makes you very appealling and likable.

  28. Re: Whataboutism.. BRILLIANT! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No way anyone could see through that Boris! A shiney ruble for you..

  29. Re: KEK. Outing spies no big deal. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You partisans are pathetic and the death of your country. BIGLY.

  30. Re: Oh, we know youre a moran! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    But you keep on telling us... again and again!

  31. Re:Oh, this is going to be funny by HiThere · · Score: 1

    Were this a different administration, I'd be supportive of the move. In this case I'm quite skeptical about their motives and what they are really trying to accomplish. But breaking up an abusive monopoly is not over-reach. I just really doubt that that's what they'd be after.

    --

    I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
  32. Little man, big tech by Quzak · · Score: 1

    Can we replace him with someone taller please? He can't be trusted to make big boy decisions.

    --
    Support your local school shooter, give them your firearms.
  33. This is about back doors by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

    They don't want these companies to have less influence.

    They just want more influence over these companies.

    In fact, they want the companies to have more influence. They want to force them to use encryption that they can break. They've tried it before, and here they are trying it again.

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  34. Re: Only in Stupidtown USA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Wrong. Canada, like the United States, has three times as many blacks in prison as their share of the population. Stats for aboriginals are even worse!

    https://torontoist.com/2016/04/african-canadian-prison-population/

  35. pot meet vantablack by Thud457 · · Score: 1

    Wow, pretty disingenuous of a guy running a company whose business model is to extort small businesses whining about Google's potential for abuse of power.

    --

    the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

  36. Re: KEK. Outing spies no big deal. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Here is an idea, why don't you worry about your own country and its problems or do you live in a perfect uptopia?

    Go get laid already.

    -Geekpoet

  37. Shakedown by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Microsoft was the target of an antitrust action in the late 90s / early 2000s. Then they ramped up their lobbying spending. The problem went away. Mnuchin is just looking to shake the money tree.

  38. Don't worry about general opinions when asked by mangastudent · · Score: 1

    How about the Treasury Secretary worry about banks that are a proven risk to the financial system first?

    I'm sure he does. Note how the story begins, "When asked if Google is a monopoly, Mnuchin said, "These are issues that the Justice Department needs to look at seriously...". It then confirms that he knows this is not under his jurisdiction. But there's no reason for him not to have a general opinion, and be suitably suspicious of these companies. As most of us here are....

  39. Re:Moscow Donald - Your Complicity with Treason by dcw3 · · Score: 0

    Wow, so many foreign ACs trying to manipulate us here. Let me remind you, it was Obama who told Romney that the 80s were calling and wanted their foreign policy back when he (rightfully) pointed to Russia as a threat. It was also Obama who was caught on an open mic telling Medvedev that he'd be able to help more after he was reelected. You weren't screaming "treason" back then, were you!?! Or, maybe you did when classified data was found on the private email server of HRC? And, don't even pretend to believe she didn't know it was classified...everyone has ever touched classified knows she did.

    Now sure, the Trump campaign clearly met with Russians to get dirt on HRC. And clearly, the DNC paid to get a dossier on Trump. Who gives a fuck where the data came from...only those who can't stand the people on the other side. So, maybe instead of listening to the dog whistles on Fox and MSNBC (I hate them equally) for once, we could start focusing more on what's right for the nation.

    --
    Just another day in Paradise
  40. Yup by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This gives Mnuchin brownie points with Big Giant Orange Head. It reinforces BGOH's attack on Amazon.

    Weirdly of course, BGOH is deeply reliant upon tech companies, especially Twitter. However contradictions are something of a BGOH specialty; there's little about his life or policies that ever looks like consistency.

    I mean, here's a guy who seems to like marriage, just not the women he gets married to. He "loves women" yet he disrespects them by grabbing pussy, walking in on beauty show contestants, and all the rest. He cheats on his wives all the time and yet still seems to have something approaching a stable family life. What is consistent in any of that?

  41. Re:Oh, this is going to be funny by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    if you self declare as a "progressive" you are a fucking moron. groupthinking sheeple useful idiot = progressive.

    go fuck yourself and get an original thought.