Vladimir Putin says Tech giants have become powerful rivals to governments, but he has doubts over the benefits their monopolies have for society.

Speaking at the annual World Economic Forum, Russia’s President asked: “Where is the line between a successful global business, in-demand services and consolidation of big data – and attempts to harshly and unilaterally govern society, replace legitimate democratic institutions, restrict one’s natural right to decide for themselves how to live, what to choose, what stance to express freely?”

Putin said “We’ve all seen this just now in the US. And everybody understands what I’m talking about,”

The Russian leader was apparently referring to the crackdown by Big Tech corporations like Twitter, Facebook, Google, Apple and Amazon, mostly on Donald Trump and his supporters, during the recent presidential election in the US.

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