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Facebook CEO speaks to select members of European Parliament

politico.eu

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Re: Facebook CEO speaks to select members of European Parliament

#51

Post by padthai »

repolfx wrote: post #43
KenanSulayman wrote: post #41

I was very surprised and suddenly pulled back into a feeling of tangible hope when around the end of the plenary session a French / Belgian member of the parliament went mad about unanswered questions. He said: " ... There are a number of questions that have been put by other colleagues that I want an answer to. That said, I'm anxious about this brave new world that Mr. Zuckerberg has presented us -- a brave new worl…

That's Verhofstadt, the head of the EU Parliament. I don't know what gave you hope about that. It's mafia tactics and confirms the worst suspicions people have had about EU anti-trust enforcement. What does privacy rules have to do with monopoly or anti-trust? As far as I can tell, nothing. But the EU appears dangerously close to taking an official policy that anti-trust fines are based on whether Guy Verhofstadt and…

The EU Parliament President is Antonio Tajani. Verhofstadt is just a regular MEP, though he is also chair of an European party that commands 7-8% of the MEPs.

Re: Facebook CEO speaks to select members of European Parliament

#52

Post by [deleted] »

repolfx wrote: post #43
KenanSulayman wrote: post #41

I was very surprised and suddenly pulled back into a feeling of tangible hope when around the end of the plenary session a French / Belgian member of the parliament went mad about unanswered questions. He said: " ... There are a number of questions that have been put by other colleagues that I want an answer to. That said, I'm anxious about this brave new world that Mr. Zuckerberg has presented us -- a brave new worl…

That's Verhofstadt, the head of the EU Parliament. I don't know what gave you hope about that. It's mafia tactics and confirms the worst suspicions people have had about EU anti-trust enforcement. What does privacy rules have to do with monopoly or anti-trust? As far as I can tell, nothing. But the EU appears dangerously close to taking an official policy that anti-trust fines are based on whether Guy Verhofstadt and…

[deleted]

Re: Facebook CEO speaks to select members of European Parliament

#53

Post by joejerryronnie »

GreeniFi wrote: post #15
DavideNL wrote: post #4

The hearing was a big joke. Zuckerberg simply avoided answering difficult questions by talking about something else entirely...

What did I deduce from today’s hearing: 1. The weird question/answer format was probably a negotiated condition of Zuckerberg appearing. 2. This underlines the power of Zuckerberg: setting conditions for the EU Parliament is quite a show of force. 3. This condition was probably set because Zuckerberg is a very poor spokesperson. The end of the session was quite frankly bizarre when Zuckerberg refused to take question…

The EU, by trying to impose their will on the rest of the world, will see their power slip through their hands. The EU as a political structure is tenuous at best, with too much control being wielded by a few members. All it will take to break up the EU is a better deal extended to a few weaker members. Trump may decide to do this just to watch Europe burn.

Re: Facebook CEO speaks to select members of European Parliament

#54

Post by pyrale »

repolfx wrote: post #43
KenanSulayman wrote: post #41

I was very surprised and suddenly pulled back into a feeling of tangible hope when around the end of the plenary session a French / Belgian member of the parliament went mad about unanswered questions. He said: " ... There are a number of questions that have been put by other colleagues that I want an answer to. That said, I'm anxious about this brave new world that Mr. Zuckerberg has presented us -- a brave new worl…

That's Verhofstadt, the head of the EU Parliament. I don't know what gave you hope about that. It's mafia tactics and confirms the worst suspicions people have had about EU anti-trust enforcement. What does privacy rules have to do with monopoly or anti-trust? As far as I can tell, nothing. But the EU appears dangerously close to taking an official policy that anti-trust fines are based on whether Guy Verhofstadt and…

Things have always worked like that. Why do you think Google or FB are escaping antitrust despite a behaviour much more egregious than Microsoft ever was ?

Don't fool yourself ; the normal state of affair would have been for them to be torn appart, and the current state is corrupt.

Re: Facebook CEO speaks to select members of European Parliament

#55

Post by repolfx »

pyrale wrote: post #54
repolfx wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's Verhofstadt, the head of the EU Parliament. I don't know what gave you hope about that. It's mafia tactics and confirms the worst suspicions people have had about EU anti-trust enforcement. What does privacy rules have to do with monopoly or anti-trust? As far as I can tell, nothing. But the EU appears dangerously close to taking an official policy that anti-trust fines are based on whether Guy Verhofstadt and…

Things have always worked like that. Why do you think Google or FB are escaping antitrust despite a behaviour much more egregious than Microsoft ever was ? Don't fool yourself ; the normal state of affair would have been for them to be torn appart, and the current state is corrupt.

Escaping it where - apparently not in the EU, although it's unclear what monopolies they actually have.

In America they've escaped anti-trust attention because it's hard to prove any consumers have been harmed by their activities.

Re: Facebook CEO speaks to select members of European Parliament

#56

Post by sls »

pell wrote: post #20
QueensGambit wrote: post #3

I have a controversial view, correct me if I am wrong. I think democracy has a major flaw, because, most people are selfish/unfair and most likely vote for populist leaders. But, it has been so far saved by media because of the elitist journalists who want the world to be a fair place and were able to convince people to reject populist leaders. With social media, these journalists are bypassed and the populist leader…

Democracy's flaws have been studied for thousands of years. You can find a very detailed critique from Plato for example. All of his arguments are still true today. The problem is that there really isn't a better alternative when it comes to letting people self-govern on a big scale. Plato's solution was a government of the ones who had the complete truth, but he himself was doubtful whether such an administration wo…

The Greek historian Polybius (ca. 200 BCE) observed characteristic weaknesses of democracy, aristocracy, and monarchy. He theorized that the Roman mixed constitution in which powers were separated was a key factor in the success and stability of Rome. His thought influenced the American founders both directly and indirectly.

It's interesting to observe how the institutional and technological changes since the American founding, and the systemic problems we easily note, align with his discussion. He theorized that each of the unmixed systems had weaknesses that led them to eventually be supplanted by another form, initially well-administered, which too would in time succumb to its inherent weaknesses. The mixed form resisted this cycle. So to the extent that the polity "un-mixes" the arrangement of powers, e.g. making the Senate directly elected instead of chosen by state legislatures without making a corresponding anti-democratic change, the system becomes more exposed to the cyclic risks associated with the unmixed state that was favored.

Re: Facebook CEO speaks to select members of European Parliament

#57

Post by zerostar07 »

s73v3r_ wrote: post #48
zerostar07 wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How can the EU break up foreign monopolies?

Isn't FB still an Irish corporation? As in, an EU company?

yeah but FB can shut that one down if needed and serve europe from the US.

Re: Facebook CEO speaks to select members of European Parliament

#58

Post by shakna »

adventured wrote: post #49
zerostar07 wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How can the EU break up foreign monopolies?

They can't. They can attempt to block access to the EU market in a situation where they require a break-up of Facebook and Facebook refuses to comply. It would require the EU to implement a draconian Chinese firewall to bring into full effect. The EU is 250m of Facebook's 2.2 billion users. They could easily drop all EU business if they needed to (the business operations within the EU is the easiest aspect for the EU…

If userbase was their only concern, Facebook would likely not have responded to the EU Parliament's request for interview.

Facebook is still registered in Ireland, since 2010, which is still in the EU, making Facebook an entity subject to them. (Ireland has also expressed a desire to rejoin the EU, post-Brexit).

Re: Facebook CEO speaks to select members of European Parliament

#59

Post by drexlspivey »

pell wrote: post #20
QueensGambit wrote: post #3

I have a controversial view, correct me if I am wrong. I think democracy has a major flaw, because, most people are selfish/unfair and most likely vote for populist leaders. But, it has been so far saved by media because of the elitist journalists who want the world to be a fair place and were able to convince people to reject populist leaders. With social media, these journalists are bypassed and the populist leader…

Democracy's flaws have been studied for thousands of years. You can find a very detailed critique from Plato for example. All of his arguments are still true today. The problem is that there really isn't a better alternative when it comes to letting people self-govern on a big scale. Plato's solution was a government of the ones who had the complete truth, but he himself was doubtful whether such an administration wo…

Here is a video explaining why Socrates didn't like democracy. tldr: demagoguery

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLJBzhcSWTk

Re: Facebook CEO speaks to select members of European Parliament

#60

Post by pyrale »

repolfx wrote: post #55
pyrale wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Things have always worked like that. Why do you think Google or FB are escaping antitrust despite a behaviour much more egregious than Microsoft ever was ? Don't fool yourself ; the normal state of affair would have been for them to be torn appart, and the current state is corrupt.

Escaping it where - apparently not in the EU, although it's unclear what monopolies they actually have. In America they've escaped anti-trust attention because it's hard to prove any consumers have been harmed by their activities.

Well, maybe the EU will prove that such things are easier to see if you actually take a look.
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