Containing Big Tech

How to Protect Our Civil Rights, Economy, and Democracy

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Pub Date Aug 22 2023 | Archive Date Aug 31 2023
Greenleaf Book Group | Fast Company Press

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Description

The path forward to rein in online surveillance, AI, and tech monopolies

​Technology is a gift and a curse. The five Big Tech companies—Meta, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, and Google—have built innovative products that improve many aspects of our lives. But their intrusiveness and our dependence on them have created pressing threats to our civil rights, economy, and democracy.

Coming from an extensive background building Silicon Valley–based tech startups, Tom Kemp eloquently and precisely weaves together the threats posed by Big Tech:
• the overcollection and weaponization of our most sensitive data
• the problematic ways Big Tech uses AI to process and act upon our data
• the stifling of competition and entrepreneurship due to Big Tech’s dominant market position

This richly detailed book exposes the consequences of Big Tech’s digital surveillance, exploitative use of AI, and monopolistic and anticompetitive practices. It offers actionable solutions to these problems and a clear path forward for individuals and policymakers to advocate for change. By containing the excesses of Big Tech, we will ensure our civil rights are respected and preserved, our economy is competitive, and our democracy is protected.
The path forward to rein in online surveillance, AI, and tech monopolies

​Technology is a gift and a curse. The five Big Tech companies—Meta, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, and Google—have built...

Advance Praise

“The technology industry has revolutionized how we learn, work, and communicate with others in this digital age. But the vibrancy of our society and democracy depends on decentralizing our digital economy across all our communities. Furthermore, appropriate guardrails on technology are needed to ensure that people are treated with dignity and not commodified, AI does not cause harm or discriminate, and we have level playing fields for the next generation of start-ups to compete on. So, it is very timely to see Tom Kemp’s book, Containing Big Tech, lay out a clear and comprehensive vision for the reforms needed to bring accountability to the tech sector.”

—Ro Khanna, member of Congress

“Tom Kemp skillfully shows how Big Tech’s overriding focus on maximizing user engagement has led us to a world of wide-scale algorithmic amplification of disinformation and extremism. If you want to know how Big Tech is threatening our democracy and contributing to society’s hyperpolarization, Kemp’s book should be at the top of your reading list.”

—Alexander Vindman, former director for European Affairs for the United States National Security Council

“Tom Kemp is a successful Silicon Valley entrepreneur who was on the front lines with me in helping get the California Privacy Rights Act passed in 2020—the most comprehensive privacy law in the United States. Anyone looking to take action against Big Tech’s often insidious reach will learn much from Kemp’s timely analysis of technology’s impact on our freedoms, society, and democracy.”

—Alastair Mactaggart, co-author of the California Privacy Rights Act, chairman of Californians for Consumer Privacy

“Tom Kemp’s Containing Big Tech carefully directs the reader to the real problem of tech: a business model whose features and norms routinely expose children to personal and commercial exploitation. His analysis that privacy equals child safety is one that I applaud, and both businesses and politicians should take urgent action. The sector cannot build its new world order on the backs of children. Instead, we need respectful and detoxified systems that put children’s well-being at the heart of design.”

—Baroness Beeban Kidron, chair of the 5Rights Foundation

“Tom Kemp's Containing Big Tech is very eloquently written and explains how we got to the point where our precise location and movements are constantly tracked and sold to unknown players globally. Kemp's thoughtful and detailed book shows us a clear path forward to ensure consumers have the right to privacy and how the excesses of today's technology behemoths can be contained and reined in.”

—Rick Arney, co-author of the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and Proposition 24, the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA)

“Tom Kemp’s prescient Containing Big Tech arrives just as AI threatens to amplify all of the excesses of the tech industry—the consolidation of markets, the manipulation of people, the assault on privacy, and the loss of control over the technologies deployed. Containing Big Tech is essential reading to understand the challenges ahead and the solutions to pursue.”

—Marc Rotenberg, president and founder of the Center for AI and Digital Policy

“In Containing Big Tech, Tom Kemp presents a compelling case for reining in Big Tech, illustrating through powerful facts and narratives the unique threats from digital surveillance to privacy, addiction and exploitation of users, and competition and innovation. The impact on all of us, and our children, is both chilling and profound. A must-read to understand the threats and challenges posed by Big Tech on society.”

—Nita Farahany, author of The Battle for Your Brain: Defending the Right to Think Freely in the Age of Neurotechnology; Robinson O. Everett Professor of Law & Philosophy at Duke University

“A brilliant look at where the prominent tech vendors are going with artificial intelligence and the emerging risks with AI.” —Adriano Koshiyama, CEO of Holistic AI “Tom Kemp’s probing analysis of the interlocking issues of data privacy and digital surveillance is especially timely. Containing Big Tech: How to Protect Our Civil Rights, Economy, and Democracy is a compelling must-read for government policymakers and all those concerned with our collective online future.”

—Stuart N. Brotman, distinguished fellow, The Media Institute; author of Privacy’s Perfect Storm

“Tom Kemp does an impressive job of comprehensively looking at the policy issues associated with Big Tech and comparing and contrasting how European and US regulators are desperately trying to play catchup. This book could not be timelier.”

—Lydia de la Torre, board member at the California Privacy Protection Agency; adjunct professor at UC Davis Law School; founding partner of Golden Data Law, a public benefit corporation

“Tom Kemp is a highly regarded tech entrepreneur and prolific Silicon Valley angel investor. I can’t think of anyone better to lift the curtain on the damage that tech giants are causing to our society and economy.”

—Steve Tout, host of the Nonconformist Innovation podcast

“From digital surveillance to data brokers to AI, Kemp examines Big Tech and its ecosystem with brilliant clarity and provides opportunities for individuals and legislators to rein in tech monopolies. A truly eye-opening read.”

—Jeff Jockisch, host of the Your Bytes, Your Rights podcast

“Concerned about violations to your online privacy and the impact of AI on society? Tom Kemp’s Containing Big Tech will demystify what the large tech players are doing with your personal information and how you can better protect yourself and your kids.”

—Debra J. Farber, host of the Shifting Privacy Left podcast

“Tom Kemp’s Containing Big Tech is a refreshing and insightful look at how Big Tech is over collecting our data, using AI in problematic ways, and dominating key digital markets. If you want to learn more about the impact of Big Tech on our society, read this book.”

—Christopher A. Smith, author of Privacy Pandemic

“Tom Kemp is an expert in cybersecurity and privacy. His eloquent writing and detailed knowledge of the tech space provide a clear road map to protect against the overcollection and misuse of your data.”

—Debbie Reynolds, host of the Data Diva Talks Privacy podcast

“The technology industry has revolutionized how we learn, work, and communicate with others in this digital age. But the vibrancy of our society and democracy depends on decentralizing our digital...


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  • National trade marketing and sales campaign
  • Promotion support provided by imprint partner Fast Company Magazine
  • Custom targeted outreach to digital influencers
  • Targeted podcast media campaign and...

Available Editions

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ISBN 9781639080618
PRICE $27.95 (USD)
PAGES 264

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Featured Reviews

The "Conclusion" chapter and the appendices are where I will be drawing attention to.

Pointing something out is not the same as resolving it. Both are necessary for us to have the feeling of agency in our lives. I agree with Kemp's statement, "My goal with each [chapter] is to offer solutions and provide a clear path forward to help individuals and policymakers advocate for change.

Appendix 1 speaks to "ways in which we can protect our online privacy". Appendix 2 is titled "Ingredients for a Comprehensive US Privacy Law. These are moments in which we can act on information pointed out in Chapters 1 - 8.

The various 8 chapters give information on "the mining and collecting of our data and the negative consequences that have emerged because of this."; "how Big Tech consumes and processes the mined data" and exploits it; and "how Big Tech's dominant market positions have harmed entrepreneurship and innovation and undermined journalism and a vibrant free press".

And I agree with Kemp that it's not a matter of stopping Big Tech -- it's a matter of taking the necessary steps to contain the threats and excesses of Big Tech. "And, in doing so, ensure our civil rights are respected and preserved, our economy is competitive, and our democracy is protected--so we all win." {Kemp quote in the Introduction)

The "Notes" section is full of referral links to further explore. That is one of the things I enjoy about the e-book -- the links are easily reachable. Granted, links "break" as information is moved about, however, the reference to more material is there to help us step on the path to finding more information.

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Tom Kemp's book is several books in one volume. It is a detailed history on how Microsoft, Google, Meta/Facebook, Amazon and Apple have become the tech powerhouses and near-monopolists with their stranglehold on digital services, at the same time threatening our privacy. It is a reference work for consumers who are concerned about what private information is shared by these vendors, and how to take back control over their data. It is a sad tale about the lack of legislative forward motion in the US and how the EU has forged ahead with their own laws in this area -- only to be lightly enforced.

Kemp focuses on eight different areas of interest, one per chapter. For example, one chapter describes some startling failures at reigning in the data broker industry and another goes into details about how easily disinformation has prevailed and thrived in the past decade.

Even if you are a privacy buff, you probably don't know that Meta's tracking Pixel is used by a third of the world's most popular websites and is at the heart of numerous privacy lawsuits, especially in Europe. (https://techhq.com/2023/07/why-is-the-meta-pixel-at-heart-of-data-privacy-cases/)

Kemp doesn't pull any punches -- he lays blame at the feet of these Big Tech vendors and our state and federal legislators. He documents the missteps that the major tech vendors have taken, all in the service of their almighty algorithms and with the aim of increasing engagement, no matter the costs to society, or to its most at-risk members -- namely children.

You may have taken some of the privacy-enhancing steps he outlines in one of the book's appendices, but probably will learn some new tricks to hide your identity.

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Tom Kemp’s “Containing Big Tech” is an excellent book for anyone interested in learning about the threats posed by the practices and procedures of firms like Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and even relative newcomer TikTok.

Mr. Kemp has delivered a well-researched, clearly written treatise. While it grants that “Big Tech” brings us many benefits, it also warns, among other things, of the monopoly-like power enjoyed by these firms, their data mining and collection efforts, their digital surveillance of us all, their relationships with data brokers, and their development of and commitment to Artificial Intelligence (AI); all of which may be harmful to our economy, our privacy, and even our democracy.

Mr. Kemp also reviews the state of international and federal, state, and local laws regulating these areas and advocates for improvements and tougher government oversight. Most helpfully, he includes an appendix explaining some of the steps users can take to lessen their online footprints and better protect their privacy.

I’m not all that tech-savvy, so there were times when some material seemed over my head. Nevertheless, I had no trouble understanding Mr. Kemp's main points. And I came away from “Containing Big Tech” believing I’d learned important information.

My thanks to NetGalley, author Tom Kemp, and publisher Greenleaf Book Group for providing me with an electronic ARC. The foregoing is my independent opinion.

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Thank you to both #NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group/Fast Company Press for providing me an advance copy of Tom Kemp’s #nonfiction work, Containing Big Tech, in exchange for an honest review.

#ContainingBigTech is essentially an extended journal/research article about how #BigTech has and continues to infiltrate our lives. The text serves as a high-level overview for laypersons who are interested in learning more about the tech landscape, or as a general refresher for subject matter experts.

While not novel to anyone who follows tech, the work manages to explain difficult concepts in a simplistic way, covering everything from digital surveillance to artificial intelligence. The author also offers two appendixes after the conclusion—one that briefly touches upon how consumers can quickly update their privacy settings on various Big Tech services, and the other regarding the crucial provisions needed for a federal privacy law.

For a space that moves at a rapid clip, the author was able to provide fresh examples. There were only a few instances where a case has already been decided or additional laws have passed. So, bravo!

My one pet peeve was the number of times the phrase “for example” was used. Again, I received an advance copy. Thus, the work may be edited before it is officially released. In other words, don’t let that stop you from reading it.

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Tom Kemp's CONTAINING BIG TECH grabbed my attention and never let it go in a powerful, convincing, fact-based discussion of the questionnable power of the huge companies that support our lives and undermine them at the.same time. The detailed information and insider perspective made the book a must-read for this tech-innocent person. I'd love to see the book and its premise gain greater discussion and start the important, boundary-setting actions we need to make as individuals and communities to use what serves us and discard the rest. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

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