2019年经济学人 如何打破大型科技公司的垄断(5)

 

No platforming

去平台化

Separating platforms from services which run on them sounds elegant. But how would one divvy up all the data the tech giants have collected? What is part of the platform and what is not? What happens if the lines between them move? Instantmessaging could be described as a feature of a social-networking platform but also a separate service. The case against Microsoft was triggered when it bundled its Windows operating system with its web browser¹, which were then separate pieces of software. Today, browsers² are usually considered part of an operating system.

将平台与在其上运行的服务分开听起来很优雅。但如何分配这些科技巨头收集的所有数据呢？什么是平台的一部分，什么不是？如果它们之间的线移动会发生什么？即时通讯可以被描述为社交网络平台的一项功能，但也是一项独立的服务。这起针对微软的诉讼是在微软将其Windows操作系统与其网络浏览器捆绑在一起时引发的，当时这两款浏览器是不同的软件。今天，浏览器通常被认为是操作系统的一部分。

Third, the fear of unintended consequences will act as a brake on break-ups. Ms Warren’s plan was in part inspired by Lina Khan, a legal scholar, who in 2017 published an influential³ paper entitled “Amazon’s Antitrust Paradox” and now advises the antitrust subcommittee of the House of Representatives in its investigation⁴ of Big Tech. But in a more recent paper she lists several drawbacks to heavy regulation. Quickly evolving technology can make break-ups obsolete⁵. Because they introduce friction⁶, they could lead to higher prices. If they are limited in what they can do, platforms may cut investment, thus slowing innovation. Although she identifies these drawbacks she says they are “not a compelling argument for inaction”.

第三，对意外后果的恐惧将成为分开的刹车。沃伦的计划在一定程度上受到了法律学者莉娜?可汗的启发。她在2017年发表了一篇颇具影响力的论文，题为《亚马逊的反垄断悖论》。但在最近的一篇论文中，她列出了严厉监管的几个弊端。快速发展的技术可能让分裂变得过时。因为它们带来了摩擦，可能导致价格更高。如果它们的能力有限，平台可能会削减投资，从而减缓创新。尽管她指出了这些缺陷，但她表示，这“不是无所作为的有力理由”。

What is more, break-ups alone will not suffice to tame big tech. Harold Feld at Public Knowledge, a left-leaning think-tank, notes the “starfish problem”. Some starfish have incredible powers of regeneration: tear them up and the pieces quickly grow into complete new creatures. Similarly, one part of a tech giant could become dominant⁷ again because of network effects. Break-ups, he argues, need to be complemented⁸ by regulation that weakens this effect, for instance with requirements that a user of one instant-messaging service can exchange texts with another.

更重要的是，单靠拆分不足以驯服大型科技公司。左倾智库“公共知识”的哈罗德?菲尔德指出了“海星问题”。 有些海星有令人难以置信的再生能力：被撕碎后，碎片会迅速长成全新的生物。同样，由于网络效应，科技巨头的一部分可能会再次占据主导地位。他认为，分开需要辅以削弱这种影响的监管措施，比如要求一个即时通讯服务的用户可以与另一个用户交换短信。

1 browser   

n.浏览者

参考例句：

• View edits in a web browser.在浏览器中看编辑的效果。
• I think my browser has a list of shareware links.我想在浏览器中会有一系列的共享软件链接。

2 browsers   

浏览器

参考例句：

• Three-layer architecture is a model made up of browser, web server and background database server. 这种体系结构是由Browser、Web Server、Database Server组成的浏览器／Web服务器／后台数据库服务器三层模型。 来自互联网
• Another excellent approach is to abandon the browser entirely and, instead, create a non-browser-based, Internet-enabled application. 另一个非常好的方法是干脆放弃浏览器，取而代之，创建一个不基于浏览器，但却是基于互联网的应用。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

3 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

4 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

5 obsolete   

adj.已废弃的，过时的

参考例句：

• These goods are obsolete and will not fetch much on the market.这些货品过时了，在市场上卖不了高价。
• They tried to hammer obsolete ideas into the young people's heads.他们竭力把陈旧思想灌输给青年。

6 friction   

n.摩擦，摩擦力

参考例句：

• When Joan returned to work,the friction between them increased.琼回来工作后，他们之间的摩擦加剧了。
• Friction acts on moving bodies and brings them to a stop.摩擦力作用于运动着的物体，并使其停止。

7 dominant   

adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因

参考例句：

• The British were formerly dominant in India.英国人从前统治印度。
• She was a dominant figure in the French film industry.她在法国电影界是个举足轻重的人物。

8 complemented   

有补助物的，有余格的

参考例句：

• The excellent menu is complemented by a good wine list. 佳肴佐以美酒，可称完美无缺。
• In vitro analysis must be complemented by studies of the virus replication cycle in plants. 体外的分析必须辅之以植物体内病毒复制周期的研究。