Open Markets Institute
By combining policy, legal, and market structure expertise with strong communications and outreach, Open Markets works to hold today’s monopolies accountable for abuses of power. It also aims to rebuild an economic system where progress is easier to achieve because power is more widely and equitably distributed.
Launched as an independent organization in September 2017, Open Markets uses research and journalism to expose the dangers of monopolization, identifies changes in policy and law to address them, and educates policymakers, academics, movement groups, and other influential stakeholders to establish open, competitive markets that support a strong, just, and inclusive democracy.
An example: the power of big tech compagnies
“Tech companies’ behavior has been a concern for years. For example, making apps as addictive as possible, designed to make you keep scrolling for ever”, explains director Max von Thun of Open Markets Institute. “The American government is now adding an extra dimension to this. Tech companies change their rules to match government policy. Meta, for example, stopped checking harmful messages on Facebook in the US, so extreme content isn’t being kept off the platform anymore.” We spoke with Max von Thun about why he remains hopeful about current developments. And what you can do as an individual.