> Where's the advantage of instagram, whatsapp and Facebook belonging to one company?
Common-ish arguments for monopolies, as applied to this situation:
* potentially the interoperability you indicate
* infrastructure investment leading to stability
* similarly: best in class client side software
* security / privacy guarantees (yes. I know, ironic, etc. but the fully distributed multi-company alternative is likely worse on these dimensions)
* single point of accountability for the state and law enforcement. (yes. not likely a HN concern. Still valuable to the state and potentially regular consumers.)
* general pro monopoly argument: fewer resources are wasted in competition, and so can be applied to product development and research. i.e. bell labs
IDK how I feel the scales tip in this case, but treating it as cut and dry feels a bit naive.
So turn it all into a state run company instead? Your points sound as if that would be a potential solution. But that would have its own issues with somewhat twisted incentive structures.
"* general pro monopoly argument: fewer resources are wasted in competition, and so can be applied to product development and research. i.e. bell labs"
You are arguing for Central Planning. You can't be pro-free market and pro monopoly.
At least government monopoly is theoretically accountable to the voters.
Common-ish arguments for monopolies, as applied to this situation:
* potentially the interoperability you indicate
* infrastructure investment leading to stability
* similarly: best in class client side software
* security / privacy guarantees (yes. I know, ironic, etc. but the fully distributed multi-company alternative is likely worse on these dimensions)
* single point of accountability for the state and law enforcement. (yes. not likely a HN concern. Still valuable to the state and potentially regular consumers.)
* general pro monopoly argument: fewer resources are wasted in competition, and so can be applied to product development and research. i.e. bell labs
IDK how I feel the scales tip in this case, but treating it as cut and dry feels a bit naive.