York U expert available to speak to media on the rise of the tech oligarchs and power they exert in U.S., Canada and beyond
Public invited to Professor Kean Birch’s Science, Technology & Society talk on Keele Campus this Tuesday
TORONTO, Mar. 24, 2024 – Amazon, Apple, Meta, Alphabet, Microsoft, and newer additions like Nvidia, Tesla — these make up the “magnificent seven” — tech companies who control more than 35 per cent of the S&P 500 on the U.S. stock market and therefore a large chunk of the global economy, says Faculty of Science Professor Kean Birch, also director of York’s Institute of Technoscience and Society. Add control of cloud computing, data collection and subsequent investments in generative AI, and, he says, the power these U.S.-based companies wield cannot be underestimated.
“As an extension of their economic power, is the flexing of their political power,” says Birch, who will be giving a talk on the Rise of the Tech Oligarchs at York’s Keele campus this Tuesday. “Jurisdictions and countries around the world are enacting policies and regulations to try and limit big tech’s power, so you can see the rise of the tech oligarchy as a response to this increasing regulatory threat they face.”
Birch says the most obvious current manifestation of this phenomenon is Elon Musk’s key role in the Trump administration.
“Installing someone into a para-government position where they have a role that is incredibly ambiguous and at the same time, seemingly incredibly powerful with no accountability, it’s certainly worrying.”
Birch is available to give media comment on:
- The symbiotic relationships between oligarchs and government and what makes the new tech oligarchs different from the old ones
- Why big tech has lined up behind the Trump administration and how American national interest, tech-sector interest and political interests are being rolled into one.
- Potential impact of Trump and big tech on Canada going into the federal election and beyond
- Attempts by Canada, the European Union and other government bodies to reign in the power of big tech
- What resistance could look like and tools to curb the power of big tech
Media and the public are invited to join the Rise of the Tech Oligarchs on Tuesday March 25, 3 to 4:30 p.m., at York University Keele Campus, Osgoode Hall IKB 1006 as part of the inaugural Richard A. Jarrell Fund Science, Technology & Society talk. To attend, register here.
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About York University:
York University is a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, we bring a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change, and prepare our students for success. York's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. York’s campuses in Costa Rica and India offer students exceptional transnational learning opportunities and innovative programs. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet, and our future.
Media Contact: Emina Gamulin, York University Media Relations, 437-217-6362, egamulin@yorku.ca
