Opinion

The impeachment of the East India Company’s governor general in 1788 marked a moment when the British state confronted a powerful corporate entity that had effectively conquered India. This private company, driven by profit and authorized to wage war, amassed immense wealth and power, contributing to Britain’s Industrial Revolution. The article draws a parallel between the East India Company’s historical dominance and the current influence of Big Tech companies, whose market capitalizations now exceed the GDP of major nations.

• In 1788, the British state initiated impeachment proceedings against the governor general of the East India Company, highlighting the power of this corporate entity.
• The East India Company, not the British state, was responsible for the conquest of the Indian subcontinent between 1756 and 1803.
• The company’s charter allowed it to found colonies and wage war, using violence to enhance profits.
• The East India Company’s wealth, derived from India, significantly contributed to Britain’s Industrial Revolution.
• Modern Big Tech companies are compared to the East India Company, possessing attributes of sovereign states and immense economic power.
• Companies like Nvidia, Apple, and Alphabet have market capitalizations exceeding the GDP of several large countries.
  Continue reading https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/28/opinion/ai-power-lobbying-military-britain-east-india-company.html