Techlash: Who makes the rules in the digital Gilded Age?

How much longer will powerful technology companies operate with limited public oversight? Who is making the rules of the digital age? These are the questions central to Brookings’ Visiting Fellow Tom Wheeler’s new book, “Techlash: Who Makes the Rules in the Digital Gilded Age?“ In “Techlash,” Wheeler compares the present digital age to the last great technology—driven era—the Gilded Age, drawing comparisons between the two that offer solutions to help us navigate the current digital era. 

On October 31, Governance Studies at Brookings hosted an event with Tom Wheeler, joined in discussion by Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.), who introduced legislation for a new Digital Platform Commission to address the ongoing challenges created by digital platforms. The event was moderated by New York Times’ technology reporter and co-author of “An Ugly Truth: Inside Facebook’s Battle for Dominance,” Cecilia Kang.  

Viewers submitted questions for speakers by emailing [email protected] or via Twitter at @BrookingsGov by using #TechlashBook