Babbage: Taming the tech titans

<p>This week <a href="https://www.economist.com/business/2020/12/15/the-eu-unveils-its-plan-to-rein-in-big-tech?fsrc=gp_en?utm_campaign=babbage&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the EU unveiled its plan to rein in big tech</a>—the draft laws target the American giants, but European firms may not benefit much. Also, <a href="https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2020/12/12/a-failed-study-shows-a-promising-treatment-for-blindness?utm_campaign=babbage&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">how a failed study has revealed a promising new gene-therapy treatment for blindness</a>. And, <a href="http://economist.com/science2020?utm_campaign=babbage&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">which science stories were overlooked in a year dominated by covid-19</a>? Kenneth Cukier hosts&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Please subscribe to <em>The Economist</em> for full access to print, digital and audio editions:</p><p><a href="http://www.economist.com/podcastoffer?utm_campaign=babbage&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/podcastoffer</a></p> &#10;&nbsp;<br /><hr><p style='color: grey; font - size: 0.75em; '>See <a style='color: grey; ' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>