Influence is embedded at all levels of policy making.
Khanal et al 3/27 [Shaleen; PhD Candidate in the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at National University of Singapore with research focuses on political economy of innovation policies, particularly inequalities associated with R&D policies; and Hongzhou Zhang; and Araz Taeihagh; 3/27/2024; "Why and how is the power of Big Tech increasing in the policy process? The case of generative AI "; Policy and Society; https://academic-oup-com.proxy.lib.umich.edu/policyandsociety/advance-article/doi/10.1093/polsoc/puae012/7636223 ;] s.low
Correspondingly, Big Tech have assumed roles that extend far beyond agenda setting, infiltrating other policy cycle stages. With their advanced analytical capabilities, ownership/control over popular digital tools, and their ability to position themselves, their lobbyists, their researchers, and their past (or future) employees in key positions, Big Tech are able to redefine societal problems and propose innovative policy solutions at the policy formulation stage. In the decision-making stage, in addition to exerting influence on politicians (as discussed under Big Tech and the politics stream), Big Tech, with their financial power and control over digital infrastructure, data, and information, have increasingly assumed the role of decision makers by inserting themselves in various issue areas. In terms of policy implementation, in this growing tech-centric world, it is hard to imagine a policy program without the involvement and reliance on the technological tools or infrastructure developed or controlled by Big Tech. During the Covid pandemic, Big Tech partnered with telecom corporations and public health authorities worldwide to control the spread of the various (Storeng & de Bengy Puyvallée, 2021). Cloud services from Amazon or cybersecurity solutions from Microsoft and increasingly GenAI have become central to government operations worldwide. In addition, Big Tech often must implement and enforce regulatory decisions within their own platforms, giving them considerable control over how policies are actualized in the digital space and beyond. Moving on to policy evaluation, the role of Big Tech has become increasingly prominent in the age of GenAI. Credit to their control and ability to analyze vast amounts of data instantly and generating high-quality reports, ChatGTP and other GenAI models have already been applied for policy analysis and evaluation, which affects the termination or continuation of a particular policy program. This allows Big Tech to potentially influence the evaluation process by deciding which data to provide and how the data are analyzed and then reported.
Big Tech and the government
Big Tech have become omnipresent and omnipotent in the policy process. Their influence and resources have made them almost semi-autonomous and semi-sovereign entities enjoying considerable global authority. Sovereign states are also beginning to treat Big Tech like sovereign actors. Governments worldwide have started assigning diplomats to work exclusively with Silicon Valley. These “tech ambassadors” are tasked with liaising with tech companies and representing their country’s interests (Satariano, 2019). This diplomatic recognition further underscores the state-like status that Big Tech companies have achieved globally.