Kamala Harris Gets Serious About Facebook’s Monopoly
*Senator and 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful Kamala Harris has thrown her hat into the Facebook breakup debate. In a recent CNN sit‑down with Jake Tapper, she called the social‑media titan “a utility that’s gotten out of hand” and warned that it’s been ticking over without a regulator on its side.
Why Harris Thinks a Split is Needed
*- Facebook’s privacy ladder has been climbing high and falling short of consumer interests.
- For “most people” in America, a functioning community or biz can’t beat a Facebook account—“a mandatory thing,” Harris said.
- Regulation? Unclear. Harris says we’re treating a “mega‑service” like a street‑car that shouldn’t be left unchecked.
Other Politicians Weigh In
*It’s not just Harris who’s raising the question:
- Elizabeth Warren has pushed for a full sweep of Big‑Tech—Amazon, Google, and Facebook—under a new privacy law.
- Co‑founder Chris Hughes even floated a three‑way split for the platform last week, which Facebook snubbed with a note about “success requires accountability.”
- Senator Amy Klobuchar’s plan targets antitrust scrutiny in the tech sector, hoping to curb corporate overreach.
Opposing Views from Other Democratic Candidates
*Some teammates have a different idea of how to approach the market:
- Senator Cory Booker says a president shouldn’t pick‑off companies based on personal taste. “I want a nation that enforces the law, not jus‑a‑political‑statement,” he told ABC’s This Week.
- Republican President Donald Trump side‑by‑side quietly hinted Amazon and other social networks should be tightened—though staying out of the hashtag race entirely.
What It All Means for Politico’s Pulse
*While Harris and a handful of her competitors have splurged on Facebook ads—demonstrating the platform’s massive influence—there’s a growing call to put a cap on that “sky‑high marketing ability.” Whether the bipartisan, cross‑party push will lead to an official breakup remains to be seen, but the debate is heating up faster than the newest Snapchat filter of the week.
Bottom‑Line Takeaway
*Federal regulators could find themselves on a reality show: “How hard can you break up the Internet?” With Harris pushing for a split, Warren for a new privacy law, and Booker standing for the rule of law, the next few election cycles could decide whether the digital world stays one giant bubble—or gets a little less “politically correct.”
