Thread by @GaneshSitaraman

With the #BigTechHearing getting underway, a couple thoughts about what it means to #breakupbigtech and some prebuttals on a couple counter-arguments. 1/7

1st, proponents of breaking up big tech are focused on unwinding mergers and separating tech platforms from commercial activity that works across the platform. My take on how to do it. 2/7
greatdemocracyinitiative.org/document/regul…

There is a long tradition of separation along these lines in American regulatory practice, as @linamkhan has shown. 3/7
columbialawreview.org/content/the-se…

And, as @ksabeelrahman has argued, it is possible to apply public utility-style regulations to platforms. 4/7
cardozolawreview.com/wp-content/upl…

2nd, we’re might hear how economic competition with China is a reason not to apply antitrust principles. But be wary of this argument. There’s a national security case for breaking up big tech too. 5/7
foreignaffairs.com/articles/2020-…

3rd, enforcing antitrust doesn’t need to mean less R&D and innovation in AI. We could, e.g., have more public investment. 6/7 nytimes.com/2019/11/10/opi…

Finally, if you’re looking for a good overview of the history of antitrust, read @superwuster’s terrific book, The Curse of Bigness. 7/7
globalreports.columbia.edu/books/the-curs…