Tech Platforms Extract Wealth by Manipulating Attention and Data

Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams · December 11, 2025 · Listen to Original Episode →

Original Title:

TL;DR

Dominant tech platforms extract wealth by manipulating attention and user data, shifting from innovation to extraction as they become indispensable infrastructure, mirroring the dangers of unchecked utilities.
The pursuit of convenience, driven by tech companies, insidiously erodes individual agency and labor protections, making resistance difficult and enabling authoritarian control through passive acceptance.
The "don't be evil" ethos of early tech companies dissolved with their IPOs, prioritizing profit over public good and leading to a decline in service quality ("instification") while increasing extraction.
The US government's failure to regulate powerful tech companies, stemming from a naive belief in self-regulation and a reluctance to intervene, has created an unbalanced power dynamic detrimental to consumers and workers.
The erosion of a shared informational experience, exacerbated by social media algorithms designed to profit from anger and division, fractures societal trust and fuels political instability.
A lack of balance between corporate power and worker power, particularly in the tech industry, has led to diminished labor protections and contributed to widespread economic unfairness.
The US economic model's embrace of extreme inequality, contrary to historical examples like Denmark, hinders national wealth and productivity by concentrating resources rather than distributing them.

Deep Dive

The promise of the internet as a democratizing force has devolved into a system of "extraction" by dominant tech platforms, creating a new economic ruling class that manipulates attention, extracts wealth, and deepens inequality. This shift from innovation to extraction is driven by a corporate structure that prioritizes profit over public good, and a convenience-driven culture that makes resistance difficult, ultimately serving authoritarian aims by fracturing trust and eroding shared reality.

The original vision of the internet was one of liberation and progress, promising to level the economic playing field and provide individuals with creative outlets. However, as tech giants like Google, Amazon, Meta, and Apple consolidated power, they transitioned from enablers to extractors. This extraction encompasses not only monetary fees and data but also user attention and time, creating sticky monopolies that leverage convenience to maintain their dominance. This convenience, while appealing, serves as a tool for authoritarian regimes by making resistance inconvenient and fostering a population that is less inclined to challenge the status quo. The erosion of labor protections, the decline of news ecosystems due to search algorithm manipulation, and the reinforcement of societal biases through AI are all downstream consequences of this extractive model.

The concentration of power in the hands of a few tech companies has fundamentally unbalanced the economic and political landscape. Unlike the historical checks and balances provided by strong unions against corporate power, the tech industry largely lacks a significant counterweight. This imbalance is exacerbated by a governmental culture influenced by economic theories that downplay the dangers of monopolies and a legislative branch that has been largely inactive in addressing these issues. The failure to implement basic privacy laws and robust antitrust enforcement has allowed these platforms to exploit user data, spread misinformation, and ultimately undermine democratic faith by fracturing shared reality and fostering division. The path forward requires a return to principles of distributed wealth, a reassertion of government oversight akin to utility regulation, and a proactive approach to embedding fairness and justice into technological development, mirroring the lessons from more egalitarian nations like Denmark and historical periods of American progressivism. Individuals can contribute by choosing alternative platforms, supporting candidates committed to economic fairness, and actively seeking to disconnect from the constant digital extraction through intentional "tech mini-breaks."

Action Items

Audit tech platforms: Identify 3-5 instances of data extraction or attention manipulation tactics and document their impact on user behavior.
Create consumer privacy checklist: Define 5 key data protection questions for evaluating new tech services before adoption.
Evaluate alternative platforms: Test 2-3 non-dominant search engines or social media alternatives for a 1-week period to assess usability and feature parity.
Draft data rights advocacy points: Outline 3-5 arguments for state-level legislation protecting consumer data privacy, referencing the need for local action before federal preemption.

Key Quotes

"The internet was originally seen as a tool of progress and innovation, but the reality has turned out to be economically, politically, and morally fraught. The question isn’t whether technology is good or bad. It’s who it serves, who it harms, and who profits."

Stacey Abrams highlights that the initial promise of the internet as a force for progress has been overshadowed by negative economic, political, and moral consequences. Abrams emphasizes that the critical evaluation of technology should focus on its beneficiaries and victims, rather than its inherent nature.

"What has grown out of america's development of and dependence upon technology isn't just better gadgets, it's a new class of economic overlords companies and a short list of tycoons who don't simply dominate markets, they are the market."

Tim Wu explains that technology has fostered a new elite class of wealthy individuals and corporations. Wu argues that these entities have transcended mere market dominance to become the market itself, dictating terms and shaping economic landscapes.

"The problem is that when the tech platforms um monopolized their markets when they were in a position where we became reliant on them then they started the extraction stage and really that's where we are uh today."

Tim Wu identifies market monopolization and user reliance as the catalysts for the "extraction stage" in the tech industry. Wu posits that once platforms achieve dominance, they shift from providing value to extracting resources from their dependent user base.

"The most recent wave began with the rampage of doge and the transfer of terabytes of data to surveillance companies by this regime. Instead of regulators and courts pushing back, the US government is increasingly leaving the door open and tech leaders are racing right inside."

Tim Wu criticizes the current regulatory environment, stating that it allows unchecked data collection by surveillance companies. Wu observes that instead of regulatory bodies intervening, the government is facilitating this trend, with tech leaders actively exploiting the open doors.

"I think in retrospect we were not aggressive enough in our fight against the rise of private power."

Tim Wu reflects on his time in the Biden administration, concluding that their efforts to combat the growth of private power were insufficient. Wu suggests that a more forceful approach was needed to address the challenges posed by powerful private entities.

"The economic unfairness and the number two is the cult is the loss of the you know anything like a shared informational experience anything like an agreed set of facts you know a complete system of tailored echo chambers that drives rage dissatisfaction anger and it deepens the resentment and with it is a lot of false information a lot of lying."

Tim Wu identifies two primary drivers of the current societal issues: persistent economic inequality and the erosion of a shared factual basis due to personalized information environments. Wu argues that these factors create echo chambers that foster anger and resentment, fueled by misinformation.

Resources

External Resources

Books

"The Age of Extraction" by Tim Wu - Mentioned as a resource for understanding how dominant platforms manipulate attention, extract wealth, and deepen inequality.

Articles & Papers

"American Capitalism" by John Kenneth Galbraith - Referenced as a historical text discussing the balance between corporate power and union power in American capitalism.

People

Tim Wu - Guest, law professor, and author of "The Age of Extraction," discussed as an expert on technology and competition policy.
John Kenneth Galbraith - Referenced for his thesis on the balance between corporate and union power in American capitalism.
Corey Doctorow - Mentioned for coining the term "instification" to describe the intentional degradation of tech platform quality.
Robert Bork - Briefly mentioned in the context of economists influencing antitrust policy.
Stacey Abrams - Host of "Assembly Required," author of "Coded Justice," and discussed as a figure shaping policy conversations around technology and fairness.

Organizations & Institutions

Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) - Mentioned as a resource for understanding good local tech policy.
ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) - Mentioned as a resource for understanding good local tech policy.
Center for Humane Technology - Mentioned as a resource for understanding good local tech policy.
NPR - Mentioned as having an excellent resource for ethical shopping options.
Crooked Media - Production company for the podcast "Assembly Required."
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) - Mentioned in the context of past difficulties in stopping mergers.
New York Times - Mentioned for praising the Biden administration's antitrust agenda.
Harvard University - Mentioned as having influenced economists' views on government intervention.
Fidelity - Sponsor of the podcast, offering investment services.
One Skin - Sponsor of the podcast, offering skincare products.
Remi - Sponsor of the podcast, offering night guards.
Wild Alaskan Company - Sponsor of the podcast, offering seafood delivery.
National Eczema Association - Mentioned for awarding a seal of acceptance to One Skin products.

Websites & Online Resources

Duck Duck Go - Mentioned as an alternative search platform.
shop remi.com/assembly - Provided as the website for Remi night guards with a discount code.
oneskin.co/assembly - Provided as the website for One Skin products with a discount code.
fidelity.com/commissions - Provided as a resource for ETF transaction fees.
fidelity.com/baskets - Provided as a resource for information on basket portfolios.
fidelity.com/traderplus - Provided as a resource for information on the Fidelity Trader Plus platform.
wildalaskan.com/assembly - Provided as the website for Wild Alaskan Company with a discount code.
10stepscampaign.org - Mentioned as a resource for a toolkit on freedom and power.
assemblyrequired.crooked.com - Provided as the email address for submitting comments or questions to the podcast.

Other Resources

Net Neutrality - Discussed as a framework recognizing that internet service providers should treat all internet traffic equally.
Utility Framework - Discussed as a public policy approach for essential services that should not be used in an unrestrained way.
Instification - Coined term describing how tech platforms intentionally get worse because they have stopped pretending to innovate.
Chicago School of Economics - Mentioned in relation to economic theory that influenced a move away from competition towards cartels.
AI (Artificial Intelligence) - Discussed as a frontier with potential for convenience and creativity but also threats to data collection and behavior shaping.
DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) - Mentioned in the context of an executive order that would forbid its use in understanding how technologies affect populations.
Doge - Mentioned as part of the recent wave of tech-related events involving data transfer to surveillance companies.
Fairness Doctrine - Mentioned in relation to the FCC's historical powers that could be used to ensure responsible media coverage.
Algorithmic Justice - Discussed in the context of ensuring technologies are designed to serve everyone and do not reinforce societal biases.
Distributed Wealth - Discussed as an economic model that leads to wealthier and more egalitarian nations.