🧠 Big Tech was built by government—and branded as rebellion.

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending a fantastic event at the Munk School’s Innovation Policy Lab: “U.S. Politics and Big Tech Power: Past, Present, and Future.”

The conversation (led by Margaret O’Mara and Tom Kemeny) unpacked the long, complicated marriage between Silicon Valley and Washington—a relationship built on mutual benefit, selective memory, and increasing tension.

We love the myth of the lone genius in a garage. But HP, Fairchild, even the internet itself? All born from government contracts, procurement pipelines, and public investment. Fast forward to today, and Big Tech still relies on the state—from bailouts to lobbying to regulatory arbitrage.

And yet, the Valley continues to posture as anti-government and post-political. It's a convenient narrative—until democracy becomes inconvenient.

The question isn’t whether tech should engage in politics. It’s:
What kind of political power is acceptable when it’s unelected, unregulated, and operating at planetary scale?

As we enter a new era of AI, private space, and digital governance, we need to reassert a fundamental truth:

👉 Democracy isn’t a bug in the system. It’s the operating system.

Would love to hear your take:
Where do you see the relationship between Big Tech and government heading next?

#TechPolicy #Democracy #AI #Innovation #BigTech #PublicPolicy #MunkSchool #DigitalPower

Peggy Van de Plassche is a seasoned advisor with over 20 years of experience in financial services, healthcare, and technology. She specializes in guiding boards and C-suite executives through transformational change, leveraging technology and capital allocation to drive growth and innovation. A founding board member of Invest in Canada, Peggy also brings unique expertise in navigating complex issues and fostering public-private partnerships—key elements in shaping the Future of Business. Her skill set includes strategic leadership, capital allocation, transaction advisory, technology integration, and governance. Notable clients include BMO, CI Financial, HOOPP, OMERS, GreenShield Canada, Nicola Wealth, and Power Financial. For more information, visit peggyvandeplassche.com.

#business #diplomacy #government #politics #leadership #ideas #canada #US #economy #washington #ottawa #growth #influence #politics #policy