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The Digital Age and the Monopolization of Technology: Power, Inequality, and Democracy

Started Feb. 7, 2025

Abstract or project description

Ever since humankind has been around, technology has continuously improved living standards. New developments in electronic and communication technology have pledged to bring unlimited access to information, global connectivity, and borderless innovation. But today's tech markets tell a different story. A handful of corporations have dominant control over various fields of technology, forming monopolies that limit growth and development. 

In its early stages, the information technology sector developed primarily through countries with long-established industrial and technological traditions such as the United States, Germany, and Japan. Over time, countries like India, Israel, and Ireland emerged as significant players in the sector by implementing successful and sustained policy frameworks, securing an influential position in the global digital economy.

In recent years, China—whose presence in the information technology sector was relatively limited during the 1990s—has risen to prominence through decisive state-led strategies and large-scale investments. As the world undergoes rapid digitalization, many countries that were previously absent from the information technology landscape have begun to assert themselves within the sector. This transformation has made it increasingly important to examine how structural changes in the information technology sector affect economic, administrative, and social systems.

This study reveals that monopolization in the digital age reshapes not only economic structures but also social freedoms and democratic values. Within the scope of this study, the documents forming the basis of the research were systematically reviewed, and the topic was evaluated through a comprehensive literature review in order to address the identified research questions.