The DOJ that helps Facebook “fight election fraud” while benefiting from access to its data firehose has time to sniff around at Snap, which will only drive its stock price lower, which further helps Facebook weaken one of its only direct rivals.
This is why it pays to be corrupt. Notice there’s not even a thought of an antitrust trial in the opposite direction.
This is the most insane conspiracy nonsense I’ve read on HN.
Facebook had lobbyists targeting every member of Congress. Apple works tirelessly to put their profits in tax shelters. Amazon has well-documented stories of pushing its warehouse workers past their limits. Google’s chairman spent years openly laughing at the idea of “privacy.” You think these companies need help from foreign actors to look bad?
If this line of thinking is common in SV, the echo chamber effect is worse than I suspected.
I have a feeling you don’t understand what angle of attack is, or how quickly you die when the sensors + autopilot conspire against you on this metric.
If you are a developer with a SaaS business, be very afraid. Apple is going to do everything possible to collect a 30% tax on your business to fix their growth problem. It’s ironic, really. The company that mastered tax evasion is about to become the world’s most determined tax collector.
This seems like one of those mundane-seeming posts that you later look back on, and realize someone accidentally predicted the reason the US and China started World War 3.
Or maybe China just keeps really, really close tabs on what goes in and out of the country, and having a receiver is immediate grounds for re-education.
You can’t blame YC. Startups have become another high visibility “sport” that attracts people who are both incapable and unstable. None of those people would have known or applied back in 2005.
You’re actually correct. There’s a great story about Larry Page telling John Doerr that he thought it could be a $100 Billion company in their first meeting.
Mark Zuckerberg and senior FB execs are limited partner in several funds, such as Greylock’s latest raise. When you pitch these guys on your next Facebook-killing idea, beware.
Personally, I think there’s money in the Valley that’s as dirty as the Saudis.
This is why it pays to be corrupt. Notice there’s not even a thought of an antitrust trial in the opposite direction.