--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We live in a time when there are tech…" description: "\"We live in a time when there are tech companies that have an unprecedented accumulation of power, wealth, and information with basically no competition..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34d/james-ponsoldt-21176_break_we-live-in-a-time-when-there-are-tech-co_1960136.jpg" --- # We live in a time when there are tech companies that have… ![“We live in a time when there are tech companies that have an unprecedented accumulation of power, wealth, and information with basically no competition. It's not in their nature to self-regulate, to break themselves up, or ask for less information. It's only in their nature to grow and gain more…” quote by James Ponsoldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34d/james-ponsoldt-21176_break_we-live-in-a-time-when-there-are-tech-co_1960136.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34d/james-ponsoldt-21176_break_we-live-in-a-time-when-there-are-tech-co_1960136.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34d/james-ponsoldt-21176_break_we-live-in-a-time-when-there-are-tech-co_1960136.jpg) > “We live in a time when there are tech companies that have an unprecedented accumulation of power, wealth, and information with basically no competition. It's not in their nature to self-regulate, to break themselves up, or ask for less information. It's only in their nature to grow and gain more information from us, because the more that they know about us, honestly the better they can market to us and sell to us and make us better consumers.” [James Ponsoldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ponsoldt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Tech giants accumulate unprecedented power and data, lacking competition and self‑regulation. **In simple terms:** Tech firms grow by gathering data. Key Takeaway Demand accountability and competition. Themes power technology information ethics Mood concerned critical Type analytical political When to use this quote - policy making - consumer advocacy - business strategy Key Concepts monopoly data privacy regulation Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure fair competition? - What safeguards protect user data? A Different Perspective Balancing innovation with oversight is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) ## Related quotes > [Free is a difficult model to get to work right. But it's better for consumers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baiju-bhatt/free-is-a-difficult-model-to-get-to-work-right-but-it-s-better-for/) [Baiju Bhatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baiju-bhatt/) > [It's almost as if we have two lobes in our brain. There's the consumer and investor mode, and we're doing better and better at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/it-s-almost-as-if-we-have-two-lobes-in-our-brain-there-s-the-consumer/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Most women's magazines simply try to mold women into bigger and better consumers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/most-women-s-magazines-simply-try-to-mold-women-into-bigger-and/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [Companies are very, very good - better than consumers themselves - at knowing what consumers are actually craving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/companies-are-very-very-good-better-than-consumers-themselves-at/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [At Campbell's, we're listening to consumers. We recognize that real and healthier food is better for our consumers and our business. Our goal is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/at-campbell-s-we-re-listening-to-consumers-we-recognize-that-real-and/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [“I can't have information I know would be of interest to someone and not share it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanford-berman/i-can-t-have-information-i-know-would-be-of-interest-to-someone-and/) Sanford Berman > [Awareness is key. In the absence of information, none of us know what is happening and what could be jeopardizing our health, our water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-brockovich/awareness-is-key-in-the-absence-of-information-none-of-us-know-what/) [Erin Brockovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-brockovich/) > [We now know that we imprint information during the day. We sort of - that seed is planted there within the brain during the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/we-now-know-that-we-imprint-information-during-the-day-we-sort-of/) [Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) > [Why do we pursue information that we know will never leave our heads?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/why-do-we-pursue-information-that-we-know-will-never-leave-our-heads/) [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) > [“I can't have information I know would be of use to someone and not share it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanford-berman/i-can-t-have-information-i-know-would-be-of-use-to-someone-and-not/) Sanford Berman > [How it is we have so much information, but know so little?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/how-it-is-we-have-so-much-information-but-know-so-little/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Spies go to bars for the same reason people go to libraries: full of information if you know where to ask.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-weston/spies-go-to-bars-for-the-same-reason-people-go-to-libraries-full-of/) Michael Weston > [Intelligence is not the ability to store information, but to know where to find it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/intelligence-is-not-the-ability-to-store-information-but-to-know/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I was certain that some people, whether by accident of birth or some pecularity of training, could tune in to another source of information…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/i-was-certain-that-some-people-whether-by-accident-of-birth-or-some/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [The gulf between the information we proclaim & the information we know to be true is vast. In other words: we say one thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-gulf-between-the-information-we-proclaim-the-information-we-know/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by James Ponsoldt > [I was raised by ex-hippies, but I grew up worshipping a television set. I am skeptical of a lot of things, but I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ponsoldt/i-was-raised-by-ex-hippies-but-i-grew-up-worshipping-a-television-set/) [James Ponsoldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ponsoldt/) > [But you certainly don't have perspective. And there's so much pressure going into that opening night because you know there's journalists, tons of acquisitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ponsoldt/but-you-certainly-don-t-have-perspective-and-there-s-so-much-pressure/) [James Ponsoldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ponsoldt/) > [Obviously, this isn't my normal life, traveling to cities and talking to journalists. It's fun. It's really fun. I get to stay in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ponsoldt/obviously-this-isn-t-my-normal-life-traveling-to-cities-and-talking/) [James Ponsoldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ponsoldt/) > [And I was constantly trying to stay in body, so to speak. It feels very surreal, and I go away to a happy place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ponsoldt/and-i-was-constantly-trying-to-stay-in-body-so-to-speak-it-feels-very/) [James Ponsoldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ponsoldt/) > [You just work really hard and scrutinize. What is it called in politics? "Opposition research"? You want to do the detective work on your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ponsoldt/you-just-work-really-hard-and-scrutinize-what-is-it-called-in/) [James Ponsoldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ponsoldt/) > [Making movies is really hard, and it can be humbling. And once you put them out into the world, you can't control how people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ponsoldt/making-movies-is-really-hard-and-it-can-be-humbling-and-once-you-put/) [James Ponsoldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ponsoldt/) > [Blade Runner's just a noir at the end of the day. Rosemary's Baby is about the fear of having a child and how that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ponsoldt/blade-runner-s-just-a-noir-at-the-end-of-the-day-rosemary-s-baby-is/) [James Ponsoldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ponsoldt/) > [I don't think in terms of what's going to be successful. I have plenty of friends who make very small movies and friends who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ponsoldt/i-don-t-think-in-terms-of-what-s-going-to-be-successful-i-have-plenty/) [James Ponsoldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ponsoldt/) > [I've heard a lot of variation of similar questions, but it's interesting to see the variations of audiences and how different people respond, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ponsoldt/i-ve-heard-a-lot-of-variation-of-similar-questions-but-it-s/) [James Ponsoldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ponsoldt/) > [With Rodham, for instance, it has to work on an emotional level. It has to work on a character level. If it's only "Look,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ponsoldt/with-rodham-for-instance-it-has-to-work-on-an-emotional-level-it-has/) [James Ponsoldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ponsoldt/) > [This needs to work on that level, but it has the additional strain of it's going to be profoundly scrutinized by political junkies from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ponsoldt/this-needs-to-work-on-that-level-but-it-has-the-additional-strain-of/) [James Ponsoldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ponsoldt/) > [I think the irony of modern life is that our data, our highly personal information, has been taken from us, but in many cases…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ponsoldt/i-think-the-irony-of-modern-life-is-that-our-data-our-highly-personal/) [James Ponsoldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ponsoldt/) > [A lot of things, whether it's Brexit, the U.S. election, things that are happening on Facebook Live, the way that Twitter in many cases…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ponsoldt/a-lot-of-things-whether-it-s-brexit-the-u-s-election-things-that-are/) [James Ponsoldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ponsoldt/) > [And don't rush to make movies. Movies should be made when they're absolutely ready. There's too many bad movies being made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ponsoldt/and-don-t-rush-to-make-movies-movies-should-be-made-when-they-re/) [James Ponsoldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ponsoldt/) > [By the time you arrive at Sundance as a filmmaker, you've been living with your film intimiately, and scrutinized every frame, and probably aren't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ponsoldt/by-the-time-you-arrive-at-sundance-as-a-filmmaker-you-ve-been-living/) [James Ponsoldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ponsoldt/) [Explore all 29 James Ponsoldt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ponsoldt/) ## More Break quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [Things are going well in Germany because the economy is booming and as an export-driven nation, we are profiting from the fact that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/things-are-going-well-in-germany-because-the-economy-is-booming-and/) [Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/) > [There were songs that we cut out after we chose the name, because 'Praise Break' turned out to be an underlying concept that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-caesar/there-were-songs-that-we-cut-out-after-we-chose-the-name-because/) [Daniel Caesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-caesar/) > [“He didn't break my heart. No one can break your heart except you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/he-didn-t-break-my-heart-no-one-can-break-your-heart-except-you/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [“She couldn't break the orbit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/she-couldn-t-break-the-orbit/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) > [Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/your-pain-is-the-breaking-of-the-shell-that-encloses-your/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Must I go bound while you go free Must I love a manwho doesn't love me Must I be born with so little art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/must-i-go-bound-while-you-go-free-must-i-love-a-manwho-doesn-t-love/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I hadn't worked for a year when I had my Prison Break audition and it was the easiest audition I've ever had. I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/i-hadn-t-worked-for-a-year-when-i-had-my-prison-break-audition-and-it/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [If you strike upon a thought that baffles you, break off from that entanglement and try another, so shall your wits be fresh to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristophanes/if-you-strike-upon-a-thought-that-baffles-you-break-off-from-that/) [Aristophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristophanes/) > [“A hole ain’t nothing either, but you can still break your neck in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-donati/a-hole-ain-t-nothing-either-but-you-can-still-break-your-neck-in-it/) [Sara Donati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-donati/) > [“I break things, a lot of things, but I don’t want one of them to be you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/i-break-things-a-lot-of-things-but-i-don-t-want-one-of-them-to-be-you/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [Motor racing's less of a sport these days than a commercial break doing 150 mph.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dunne/motor-racing-s-less-of-a-sport-these-days-than-a-commercial-break/) Peter Dunne > [Much like teaching art to young art students age 10 to 15 or so on, you have to break it down into bite-sized pieces,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/much-like-teaching-art-to-young-art-students-age-10-to-15-or-so-on/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [The purpose is to be in gratitude forever. Live with applied consciousness, prosperity will break through the walls, flood you with it. You do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh-yogi/the-purpose-is-to-be-in-gratitude-forever-live-with-applied/) [Harbhajan Singh Yogi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh-yogi/) > [Never break another man's rice bowl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akio-morita/never-break-another-man-s-rice-bowl/) [Akio Morita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akio-morita/) Browse all 8,188 Break quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We live in a time when there are tech companies that have an unprecedented accumulation of power, wealth, and information with basically no competition. It's not in their nature to self-regulate, to break themselves up, or ask for less information. 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