Opening the stacks
Opening the stacks
Standard Oil is portrayed as overextended and unwilling to risk introducing disruptive innovations that would undercut their current contracts and profits.
2 chapters across 2 books
In this chapter, Rudolf and Flaherty deal with the fallout of their suppressed invention, facing hostility from powerful business interests like Standard Oil and violent attempts on their lives. They discover their home has been searched, are confronted by a gunman who warns them of multiple enemies, and take precautions to protect themselves and their money while planning to continue their work despite the dangers.
This chapter outlines Facebook's attempt to create Libra, a global digital currency intended to revolutionize finance and provide financial inclusion, but which was fundamentally flawed and alarmed governments worldwide. The plan was marked by vague details, regulatory concerns, and the potential to disrupt global economies, ultimately leading to its rejection by regulators and the shelving of the original Libra concept. The chapter also frames Libra as emblematic of Silicon Valley's disruptive ethos, highlighting the clash between tech ambition and governmental control.