TechSequences - Beyond Powerful — Is it Time to Rein in Tech Platforms?
Dr. Courtney Radsch, Director of the Center for Journalism and Liberty at the Open Markets Institute, joins TechSequences in an episode to discuss the deep structural issues behind today's dominant tech platforms. The conversation explores revelations from Sarah Wynn-Williams’ memoir Careless People, which confirms Meta's deliberate prioritization of growth and engagement over safety, democracy, and public accountability. Radsch emphasizes that the platforms' surveillance-based, engagement-driven business models are fundamentally incompatible with democratic values and human well-being.
The episode calls for systemic governance solutions—rather than surface-level fixes—arguing that tech platforms should be treated as essential public infrastructure. Radsch also addresses the disruptive role of AI in journalism and the urgent need for regulatory frameworks that align platform governance with the public interest.