Re: "threats to democracy" include regulation practices
"Faecebook could be regulated back into pre-social times."
No they couldn't, that isn't how our political systems work today.
Buying of the political process is not a PR exercise. It is part of a well established political and business model that has been one of the most powerful drivers of government and their decisions since at least the 1980's.
A closer look at regulations, like environmental regulations, will show that regs are not about protecting citizens (or the environment) as they may have once been.
Of course every large business would prefer no regulation or enforcement but eventually they will be called to task or made responsible with a PR disaster or in the case of the environment made to pay for environmental damages.
When that happens the industry or business itself calls for regulation.
Regulation limits responsibility and liability and passes at least some of that, often all of that, onto government and the regulatory agencies.
Take a look at todays regulatory agencies and the people paid by them. You will find few regular John and (insert gender pronoun of your choice here) Q Public representing the wishes of average citizens.
Regulatory industries have a disproportionate number of people with close ties to the industry being regulated. They claim you need to be from the industry being enforced to understand regulations.
That is an easy to counter claim that our media almost never makes. We do not need criminals to be the police doing the enforcing or rule making.
A look at the flow of people to and from positions of influence in making and enforcing regulations will show why so many industries are so keen on regulation.
Regulation limits their liability and helps ensure lack of competition and profits, even for industries that wouldn't exist at all if citizens had a controlling say in government.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
