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Reading Thought Questions:


Rebecca Solnit: Who will stop Google?

Imagine that it's 1913 and the post office, the phone company, the public library, printing houses, the U.S. Geological Survey mapping operations, movie houses, and all atlases are largely controlled by a secretive corporation unaccountable to the public. Jump a century and see that in the online world that's more or less where we are. A New York venture capitalist wrote that Google is trying to take over "the entire fucking Internet" and asked the question of the day: "Who will stop Google?"

1. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages for you as an individual, and for our society, our economy and our democracy when Google controls so much information in so many different areas? Give several examples to support your opinion.

2. Can you think of other Internet companies that may need to be stopped?

3. What is the impact on public discourse given the power of social media sites in amplifying extreme views? Are there alternatives to de-platforming and un-moderated sites?