Bruce Mehlman, Republican lobbyist for the bipartisan government relations firm Mehlman Castagnetti Rosen & Thomas, wrote in a memo to clients that what we're in isn't a broad "techlash," but instead the targeting of "a few specific dominant players ... and significant platforms (Uber/Lyft, Airbnb, Twitter)."
Why it matters: Mehlman writes that traditional old guard tech companies like Microsoft and other computer companies are not under the gun and actually enjoy a positive image among Americans.
What's next: Mehlman said to expect an ongoing semantics battle to define "tech," and traditional hardware and sell software manufactures could influence this definition as they seek distance from ad-financed social media companies that have gained negative attention.
He also said to expect 2020 presidential candidates and members of Congress from both parties to increasingly scrutinize big tech because "tech-bashing" has become politically appealing.
