The slogan “there is no evidence” has become a media truth, while that is untrue –remarks Johannes Kriek in his unapologetically thought-provoking book First Battle: Inside the Mainstream Media’s War on Trump’s Presidency.
In the 21st century, big digital companies have become integral components of economies, communication, education, and politics in societies worldwide. The seemingly neutral stance of these companies in their digital platforms, applications, and services, coupled with their rapid expansion, presents opportunities for superpowers to use them to their advantage.
The term “Big Tech” encompasses a group of tech giants with immense influence – (Google’s parent company Alphabet, Apple, Facebook (now Meta), and Amazon). These companies, sometimes called the “Big Five” when Microsoft is included, boast market capitalizations in the hundreds of billions and wield significant social and economic power. Despite some overlap in their offerings, each company has established a dominant hold within a specific market: in search, devices and music, social media, and e-commerce.
In today’s market, platforms have the ability to gather and store large quantities of user data, using it to establish and uphold their dominance. The collection of personal information, often done without the individual’s awareness, is a threat to their autonomy and privacy. This evolving form of capitalism carries significant adverse impacts on societies, particularly electoral processes and the functioning of democratic systems at large.
When political advertising was limited to TV and billboards, everyone got the chance to see what political parties were saying. That meant that opponents had the opportunity to counter their claims, helping hold them accountable, and voters heard the same messages as each other.
That’s not the case today.
The transition to mail-in voting is known for its susceptibility in terms of a higher possibility of fraud. Along with the widespread use of personalized data, manipulation and corruption, this has sparked worries about the credibility of the electoral process in America. Moreover, the biased portrayals of media companies further serve to push matters under the rug by posing either blatantly wrong or misleading information about the occurring events.
And to top everything, the alliance of democrats with these tech companies is a further threat to the democratic principles America stands for. Johannes Kriek reasserts in his book that democrats should utilize the services offered by the modern, advanced tech world to prioritize addressing crucial issues that matter to the American people: health issues, climate change, extreme income inequality, corporate tax evasion, lack of access and high costs of healthcare, and racial injustice.
For these tools to be used in committing fraud and corruption is not only unethical but is a direct threat to democracy itself.
Repeatedly, the business model of Big Tech poses a threat to democratic principles such as privacy, equality, freedom, and civil rights. Any political group or foreign government that wants to sow division or hatred in our society now has the tools to find a sympathetic audience and spread its message easily and cheaply.
Every one is now confronted with a collective decision: whether to safeguard harmful business models in technology and advertising or to safeguard democracy.
Kriek emphasizes the urgent need for transparency and accountability within both Big Tech and mainstream media. He argues that the unchecked power of these entities can distort public perception and undermine the very foundations of democracy. By selectively amplifying certain narratives while suppressing others, they create an environment where misinformation can thrive, further polarizing the electorate.
It is important to expand one’s mind and learn to read situations critically, for change starts with awareness! “First Battle: Inside the Mainstream Media’s War on Trump’s Presidency“ by Johannes Kriek is surely a must-read. This insightful read can prepare an individual to see and understand things the mainstream media doesn’t want to.
Order First Battle: Inside the Mainstream Media’s War on Trump’s Presidency today from Amazon or other leading publishing platforms.