Jim Ball: Big Tech out of Control

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I was genuinely excited watching Jim Ball unpack how Big Tech has quietly become more than a collection of companies — it’s a new kind of power that shapes our politics, media and daily lives. Jim, a veteran Aussie broadcaster from the Hunter Valley, brings that straight-talking country clarity to a complex subject. He paints a vivid picture of Facebook, Google, Amazon and Twitter not merely as businesses but as near-sovereign entities with vast followings and huge influence — a corporate oligarchy operating beyond traditional democratic checks. Jim also flags the lesser-considered gatekeepers like eBay and PayPal, and explains how these platforms sit between us and goods, services and information, shaping access and behaviour. What I loved was his pace and honesty: he admits the topic has many layers but ties them together so you can see the big picture. If you care about free speech, democracy and who controls what we read and buy, this talk is an urgent, lively 20-minute primer. Watch, share and let us know what you think — this needs a proper Aussie conversation.

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Welcome back — this one’s a cracker. Veteran broadcaster Jim Ball, raised in the Hunter Valley and with decades behind the mic, delivers a frank, fast-paced take on why Big Tech is now a problem for democracies, not just consumers. Jim explains in plain Aussie language how Facebook, Google, Amazon and Twitter have evolved into something like countries: huge audiences, enormous economic power, and virtually no democratic accountability. He argues we’re dealing with a shadow government run by a handful of unelected tech executives who can shape political discourse, decide who gets heard and who gets silenced, and control access to goods and services.

Jim also widens the lens beyond the familiar names, pointing out the quieter gatekeepers — PayPal, eBay and other platform intermediaries — that influence commerce and information flow. The talk is candid, often funny, and grounded in practical examples. Jim admits the subject is multi-layered, so he moves quickly to connect the dots: censorship, monopoly power, platform responsibility and the erosion of democratic oversight.

If you’re worried about free speech, privacy, or how our online lives are organised, this is essential viewing. Drop a comment below with your experiences, share the video if it resonates and subscribe for more candid analysis from Aussie voices. Jim still writes and broadcasts — check his editorials and stay across the debate.

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