Today in Monopoly - Friday, October 26, 2018

Here are some stories we had our eye on today:

The Global Tech Backlash Is Just Beginning
Wall Street Journal, Christopher Mims
The largest tech businesses reach more people than any other companies have in history, and by many metrics they have also grown at unprecedented speeds. The companies themselves argue tech is bringing great benefits to people and improving their lives, yet when they enter industries, they consolidate power and make competitors miserable in ways not seen since the Gilded Age.

Uber and Lyft are behind a sharp rise in US traffic deaths
Technology Review, Charlotte Jee
The rise of ride-sharing services has increased traffic deaths by 2% to 3% in the US since 2011, equivalent to as many as 1,100 mortalities a year, according to a new study from the University of Chicago and Rice University … The increase in congestion is partly because drivers spend 40% to 60% of their time searching for passengers, a practice known as “deadheading.” On average, drivers in New York City traveled 2.8 miles between fares. The study adds to a growing body of research on ride-sharing companies. Recent studies have found they increase congestion and cut the use of public transport.

How Google Protected Andy Rubin, the ‘Father of Android’
New York Times, Daisuke Wakabayashi and Katie Benner
The internet giant paid Mr. Rubin $90 million and praised him, while keeping silent about a misconduct claim.

Trump Orders National Spectrum Policy as Industry Races to 5G
Bloomberg, Todd Shields
President Donald Trump on Thursday ordered a national spectrum policy to ensure the U.S. maintains leadership in advanced wireless communications, as providers such as AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. prioritize fast mobile connections.

Amazon’s booming ad business is both a blessing and a risk
Recode, Jason Del Rey
The ad division’s fat profit margin — analysts estimate it could be as large as 75 percent — is a big reason why Amazon posted its largest quarterly profit ever in the third quarter. It’s also a big reason why the slowing growth of Amazon’s core online retail business isn’t a giant story in tech right now. But Amazon’s ad business, for all its glitz and hype, does not come without significant risk: Namely, that an over-reliance on ads will ruin the Amazon shopping experience.