The Tech Giants' Plan for World Domination: Who Will Own the World? - "Muskism" Questions the Future of Japan

A World Where Convenience Leads to "No Escape"? New Power Held by Musk and Big Tech

In the morning, we read the news on our smartphones, navigate using map apps, and use cloud and generative AI at work. At night, we watch videos and connect with others on social media.

Throughout the day, we frequently use services provided by big tech companies. The convenience is undeniable. But what happens if these companies start to wield strong influence over societal rules and political decisions?

An article published by the German magazine stern on October 14, 2026, addresses this issue from a critical perspective, calling it "new turbo capitalism." It raises concerns about influential figures in the tech industry, like Elon Musk, combining their influence over technology, capital, information, and politics.

The article includes strong evaluations and future predictions. However, the central question is also relevant to Japanese consumers and businesses.

While we think we are choosing services, how free are we from the conditions set by those services?

The Issue Isn't Just "Having Billionaires"

It's necessary to distinguish between successful companies making significant profits and those companies being able to influence important societal decisions.

stern warns of the structure where economic power transforms into other types of power.

Using profits to incorporate new technologies and companies, expanding services. As users increase, data and transactions accumulate. Furthermore, if a company controls the flow of information and societal infrastructure, not only businesses but also governments cannot ignore that company.

Of course, a company's large scale alone does not necessarily hinder competition. Large investments can lead to affordable and high-performance services.

The key points are whether competitors can enter the market, users can switch services, and whether issues can be externally verified when they arise.

Even if dissatisfied with fees or terms, transferring work data, clients, partners, and long-standing relationships all at once is difficult. The greater the burden of switching, the more distance there is between the formality of "choice" and actual freedom of choice.

"Muskism" Highlights the Dependency Between States and Companies

One of the keywords introduced in the original article is "Muskism."

Historian Quinn Slobodian and writer Ben Tarnoff analyze the economic and political systems beyond Musk's personal traits and actions through this term.

They emphasize the connection between states and private companies. When a state seeks to enhance its capabilities in areas like communication or space development, reliance on specific companies' services deepens, they argue.

This perspective can be applied to situations where Japanese governments and companies introduce systems.

It is rational to adopt services with superior performance and price. However, what happens if prices change after introduction? Can data be extracted when contracts end? Are there technologies and personnel available to switch to another provider?

Judging solely by initial efficiency might limit future options.

Even if we feel "we can do more by ourselves," the conditions for exercising that ability are controlled by another company. This contradiction is crucial when considering dependence on big tech.

The Mechanism of Delivering Information Changes How Society is Viewed

The original article also emphasizes the media influence held by tech companies.

The order of search results, recommended videos, SNS displays, and AI-generated explanations—all these mechanisms affect what we discover and what we perceive as important.

It's important not to simplistically conclude that "executives manipulate all displays directly." The way information is delivered involves multiple factors, including user behavior, advertising mechanisms, and the design of recommendation systems.

Nevertheless, companies that set the rules for display hold significant power.

Consider small shops or individual content creators in Japan. Even if they have gathered readers or customers over the years, changes in display mechanisms could make it harder for their posts to reach people. Without sufficient contact points or means to appeal, they might be forced to respond without understanding the reasons.

The spread of generative AI adds a new layer to this issue, as it increases opportunities to read consolidated answers before comparing multiple pages.

The more convenient the summary, the more important it becomes to verify what the explanation is based on and what is omitted.

The Growth of AI Uses Power and Land Beyond the Screen

The influence of big tech is not confined to the internet.

Data centers that power AI and the cloud require electricity, land, and communication facilities. Depending on the cooling method, water usage can also become a regional issue.

According to a 2026 report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), global data center power consumption is expected to nearly double from 485 TWh in 2025 to about 950 TWh by 2030. This is a future outlook and may change due to technological efficiencies and investment trends.

While the construction of facilities is expected to bring benefits such as investment and tax revenue, issues like the cost of strengthening power grids, noise, environmental impact, and explanations to residents need separate consideration.

The narrative of "AI industry growth" does not automatically align with "sufficient benefits for local residents."

When evaluating the attraction of data centers in Japan, it's necessary to look beyond total investment to consider employment content, infrastructure costs, and consensus-building with the community.

Reactions on SNS—Anger Toward Big Corporations and Doubts About Total Rejection

Reactions to this issue are not monolithic on SNS.

On the English-speaking bulletin board-style SNS Reddit, multiple points of discussion were observed in threads related to backlash against data centers and the political influence of big tech. The following is a summary of the posts and not direct reactions to the stern article.

The most noticeable criticism is thatbig corporations might be distorting competition and societal rules to protect their profits. Some posts link dissatisfaction with service usability or fees to the concentration of wealth and power.

There were also voices expressing a desire to distance themselves from technology, emphasizing progress in fields like healthcare, transportation, and energy over dependency on SNS.

Conversely, there were counterarguments against completely rejecting data centers, pointing out that even when we criticize data centers online, we are actually using those facilities.

In these exchanges, opinions emerged that we should distinguish between facilities that support general information services and very large facilities for AI.

These are opinions posted by individuals in specific communities and do not represent the entire United States or all users. However, it is clear that the discussion cannot be simplified to just "for or against technology."

The questions being asked are about the specific conditions of scale, who bears the burden, and whose consent is obtained.

In Japan, the Issue Also Relates to How Apps Are Sold

One clear point of connection for Japanese readers is the smartphone app market.

For companies developing apps or businesses selling videos, music, and educational content, the routes and conditions for delivering apps directly affect revenue and relationships with customers.

Even if a company creates excellent services, if the conditions for delivering them to users are unilaterally changed and choosing other routes is difficult, business freedom becomes limited.

In Japan, the "Smartphone Software Competition Promotion Law," aimed at promoting competition around smartphone OS, app stores, browsers, and search engines, was fully enacted on December 18, 2025.

Such systems are attempts to maintain the convenience provided by large companies while ensuring competition and choice.

However, just because a law exists does not mean all dependency issues are resolved. The effectiveness of the system must be judged by its operation and reality—whether users can easily choose, whether conditions are clear to small businesses, and whether options expand while maintaining safety.

Securing the "Freedom to Leave" to Preserve the Benefits of Technology

Criticism of big tech companies should not lead to losing sight of the value of technology.

AI-assisted work, the ease of starting a business with the cloud, and expanded communication methods hold great potential. Even small businesses and individuals in Japan can expand their activities using these technologies.

To sustain these benefits, a system that does not entrust everything to the decisions of specific companies is necessary.

For companies and governments, this means confirming data extraction and migration conditions at the contract stage. For AI decisions that significantly impact life, procedures should be in place for people to request explanations and appeal for reviews. In regional infrastructure development, profits and burdens should be disclosed concretely.

On the user side, preparations such as ensuring important data can be extracted and not concentrating contact points with customers or readers on a single service can be considered.

The question posed by stern, "Whose world is it?" may sound grand.

However, the answer is reflected in the small conditions of daily life. Can you switch if you are not satisfied with the fees? Can you request an explanation if you have doubts about a decision? When a large facility is built in the area, can residents voice their opinions?

As technology advances, it becomes increasingly important for those who benefit from it to maintain control over choices affecting their lives.

Sources and References

1. stern: "Der neue Turbokapitalismus: Wem gehört die Welt?"
   Published on October 14, 2026, written by Lutz Meier. Discusses the economic power, political influence, and issues surrounding "Muskism" of big tech.
   https://www.stern.de/wirtschaft/elon-musk-und-der-turbokapitalismus--wie-tech-giganten-sich-die-erde-untertan-machen-38387812.html

2. Verfassungsblog: Interview with Slobodian and Tarnoff
   Authors' own explanations about "Muskism," symbiosis between states and companies, and dependence on private technology infrastructure.verfassungsblog.de
   https://verfassungsblog.de/muskism/

3. IEA: 'Key Questions on Energy and AI' Executive Summary
   2026 report referencing data center power consumption and forecasts toward 2030.IEA
   https://www.iea.org/reports/key-questions-on-energy-and-ai/executive-summary

4. Reddit: Discussions on Backlash Against Data Centers and Big Tech Influence
   Reference for SNS reactions. Summarizes posts criticizing big corporations, the necessity of data centers, and the need to distinguish facility scales.reddit.com
   https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/1w5735l/data_center_backlash_is_panicking_tech_oligarchs/

5. Japan Fair Trade Commission: Full Enforcement of the Smartphone Software Competition Promotion Law and Reporting Window
   Confirmation of the full enforcement date and the information provision window accompanying the implementation of the system.Japan Fair Trade Commission
   https://www.jftc.go.jp/houdou/pressrelease/2025/dec/251218_sumaho.html

6. Japan Fair Trade Commission: September 10, 2025, Secretary-General Regular Press Conference
   References the four software targeted by the law and the system's purpose of balancing competition, convenience, and safety.Japan Fair Trade Commission
   https://www.jftc.go.jp/houdou/teirei/2025/250910.html