The Age of Extraction

The pre-eminent exponent of anti-monopoly law explains why we have no option but to break Big Tech’s monopolies, and that doing so would unleash innovation and growth. ‘Wu deftly breaks down one of the greatest challenges of our age - the unaccountable power of tech platforms - into such digestible pieces that the solutions for what to do become dead obvious’ KAREN HAO, author of Empire of AI 'Tim Wu is a titan . . . a must-read' Financial Times Today’s dominant tech platforms – the places where we exchange information and buy things online – could be the most powerful engines of prosperity ever invented. Instead, they are the most effective instruments of wealth extraction ever created and a grave threat to our societies. Here the pre-eminent exponent of anti-monopoly law Tim Wu, who coined the phrase ‘net neutrality’, explains why breaking Big Tech’s monopolies would unleash innovation and growth and is essential if we are to avoid further social division. In their place he sets out the five key ways in which future platforms should be managed to harness the extraordinary potential of these essential technologies and to help build the balanced economies we so badly need. ‘Tim Wu's readable, passionate call is for a fairer economy where the benefits of AI can be for all of us’ DARON ACEMOGLU, co-author of Why Nations Fail ‘Wu’s proposed solutions for fixing the internet provide hope, not least because of how simple they are’ New Statesman ‘Remarkably astute and timely … a vital book’ LINA KHAN, Former Chair of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission 'Cuts to the core' CORY DOCTOROW, author of Enshittification *A NEW YORKER BEST BOOK OF 2025*

The pre-eminent exponent of anti-monopoly law explains why we have no option but to break Big Tech’s monopolies, and that doing so would unleash innovation and growth. ‘Wu deftly breaks down one of the greatest challenges of our age - the unaccountable power of tech platforms - into such digestible pieces that the solutions for what to do become dead obvious’ KAREN HAO, author of Empire of AI 'Tim Wu is a titan . . . a must-read' Financial Times Today’s dominant tech platforms – the places where we exchange information and buy things online – could be the most powerful engines of prosperity ever invented. Instead, they are the most effective instruments of wealth extraction ever created and a grave threat to our societies. Here the pre-eminent exponent of anti-monopoly law Tim Wu, who coined the phrase ‘net neutrality’, explains why breaking Big Tech’s monopolies would unleash innovation and growth and is essential if we are to avoid further social division. In their place he sets out the five key ways in which future platforms should be managed to harness the extraordinary potential of these essential technologies and to help build the balanced economies we so badly need. ‘Tim Wu's readable, passionate call is for a fairer economy where the benefits of AI can be for all of us’ DARON ACEMOGLU, co-author of Why Nations Fail ‘Wu’s proposed solutions for fixing the internet provide hope, not least because of how simple they are’ New Statesman ‘Remarkably astute and timely … a vital book’ LINA KHAN, Former Chair of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission 'Cuts to the core' CORY DOCTOROW, author of Enshittification *A NEW YORKER BEST BOOK OF 2025*

Today’s dominant tech platforms are the most effective tools ever created for extracting wealth, destabilising the societies they plunder by creating vast inequality. One of the world's pre-eminent anti-monopoly experts explains how and why we must take back control. 'Wu is a titan . . . a must-read' FINANCIAL TIMES 'Cuts to the core' CORY DOCTOROW, author of Enshittification 'Essential' KAREN HAO, author of Age of Empire Our world is ruled by a handful of tech platforms. They provide great conveniences and entertainment but also stand as some of the most effective instruments of wealth extraction ever invented, seizing immense amounts of money, data and attention from all of us. An economy driven by tech and AI could enrich us, yet it could also marginalize entire industries, widen the wealth gap and foster a two-class nation. As technology evolves and our markets adapt, can society cultivate a better way? Is it possible to balance economic growth and egalitarianism, or are we too late? Tim Wu, the preeminent scholar and former White House official who coined the phrase ‘net neutrality’, tells the story of an internet that promised widespread wealth and democracy, only to aid the spread of autocracy instead. From generative AI and predictive social data to antitrust and cryptocurrency, Wu frames our current moment within key lessons from recent history. And, perhaps most importantly of all, Wu envisions a future where technological advances serve the greatest possible good – for everyone. Concise and hopeful, The Age of Extraction offers consequential proposals for reclaiming control to achieve better economic balance and prosperity for all. 'A passionate call for a fairer economy' DARON ACEMOGLU, co-author of Why Nations Fail 'A how-to book on how we can achieve liberty' MATT STOLLER, author of Goliath

Today’s dominant tech platforms are the most effective tools ever created for extracting wealth, destabilising the societies they plunder by creating vast inequality. One of the world's pre-eminent anti-monopoly experts explains how and why we must take back control. 'Wu is a titan . . . a must-read' FINANCIAL TIMES 'Cuts to the core' CORY DOCTOROW, author of Enshittification 'Essential' KAREN HAO, author of Age of Empire Our world is ruled by a handful of tech platforms. They provide great conveniences and entertainment but also stand as some of the most effective instruments of wealth extraction ever invented, seizing immense amounts of money, data and attention from all of us. An economy driven by tech and AI could enrich us, yet it could also marginalize entire industries, widen the wealth gap and foster a two-class nation. As technology evolves and our markets adapt, can society cultivate a better way? Is it possible to balance economic growth and egalitarianism, or are we too late? Tim Wu, the preeminent scholar and former White House official who coined the phrase ‘net neutrality’, tells the story of an internet that promised widespread wealth and democracy, only to aid the spread of autocracy instead. From generative AI and predictive social data to antitrust and cryptocurrency, Wu frames our current moment within key lessons from recent history. And, perhaps most importantly of all, Wu envisions a future where technological advances serve the greatest possible good – for everyone. Concise and hopeful, The Age of Extraction offers consequential proposals for reclaiming control to achieve better economic balance and prosperity for all. 'A passionate call for a fairer economy' DARON ACEMOGLU, co-author of Why Nations Fail 'A how-to book on how we can achieve liberty' MATT STOLLER, author of Goliath

Tim Wu explores how today's dominant platforms manipulate attention, extract wealth, and deepen inequality--urging us to recognize their influence and reclaim control to create a balanced economy that works for all. "The magic of Tim Wu's The Age of Extraction is its simplicity. Wu deftly breaks down one of the greatest challenges of our age--the unaccountable power of tech platforms--into such digestible pieces that the solutions for what to do become dead obvious. Essential reading."--Karen Hao, author of Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman's OpenAI "It's not just in your head--your online life is draining your wallet.... [ The Age of Extraction is] a sharp and eye-opening introduction to how we arrived at platform capitalism--where no good click goes unmonetized."-- Kirkus Reviews Our world is dominated by a handful of tech platforms. They provide great conveniences and entertainment, but also stand as some of the most effective instruments of wealth extraction ever invented, seizing immense amounts of money, data, and attention from all of us. An economy driven by digital platforms and AI influence offers the potential to enrich us, and also threatens to marginalize entire industries, widen the wealth gap, and foster a two-class nation. As technology evolves and our markets adapt, can society cultivate a better life for everyone? Is it possible to balance economic growth and egalitarianism, or are we too far gone? Tim Wu--the preeminent scholar and former White House official who coined the phrase "net neutrality"--explores the rise of platform power and details the risks and rewards of working within such systems. The Age of Extraction tells the story of an Internet that promised widespread wealth and democracy in the 1990s and 2000s, only to create new economic classes and aid the spread of autocracy instead. Wu frames our current moment with lessons from recent history--from generative AI and predictive social data to the antimonopoly and crypto movements--and envisions a future where technological advances can serve the greatest possible good. Concise and hopeful, The Age of Extraction offers consequential proposals for taking back control in order to achieve a better economic balance and prosperity for all.

Tim Wu explores how today's dominant platforms manipulate attention, extract wealth, and deepen inequality--urging us to recognize their influence and reclaim control to create a balanced economy that works for all. "The magic of Tim Wu's The Age of Extraction is its simplicity. Wu deftly breaks down one of the greatest challenges of our age--the unaccountable power of tech platforms--into such digestible pieces that the solutions for what to do become dead obvious. Essential reading."--Karen Hao, author of Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman's OpenAI "It's not just in your head--your online life is draining your wallet.... [ The Age of Extraction is] a sharp and eye-opening introduction to how we arrived at platform capitalism--where no good click goes unmonetized."-- Kirkus Reviews Our world is dominated by a handful of tech platforms. They provide great conveniences and entertainment, but also stand as some of the most effective instruments of wealth extraction ever invented, seizing immense amounts of money, data, and attention from all of us. An economy driven by digital platforms and AI influence offers the potential to enrich us, and also threatens to marginalize entire industries, widen the wealth gap, and foster a two-class nation. As technology evolves and our markets adapt, can society cultivate a better life for everyone? Is it possible to balance economic growth and egalitarianism, or are we too far gone? Tim Wu--the preeminent scholar and former White House official who coined the phrase "net neutrality"--explores the rise of platform power and details the risks and rewards of working within such systems. The Age of Extraction tells the story of an Internet that promised widespread wealth and democracy in the 1990s and 2000s, only to create new economic classes and aid the spread of autocracy instead. Wu frames our current moment with lessons from recent history--from generative AI and predictive social data to the antimonopoly and crypto movements--and envisions a future where technological advances can serve the greatest possible good. Concise and hopeful, The Age of Extraction offers consequential proposals for taking back control in order to achieve a better economic balance and prosperity for all.