How might a Hollywood legend's fierce attack on tech billionaires reshape public trust in our rapidly growing digital empires?

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A denunciation like Robert De Niro’s is unlikely to change trust in tech companies on its own, but it can accelerate a broader shift already underway: more people are questioning whether a handful of digital empires hold too much power over public life. His remarks land at a moment when concern about concentrated tech influence is no longer limited to activists or regulators. Reporting around Alex Gibney’s documentary on Elon Musk has renewed scrutiny of how major platforms, satellite networks, AI systems and electric-vehicle technologies can shape communications, infrastructure and even perceptions of public accountability. When a figure as recognizable as De Niro calls a top billionaire a “monster,” he gives mainstream visibility to worries many people already have about unchecked corporate reach. That matters because public trust in digital empires depends less on celebrity opinion than on whether companies appear transparent, safe and accountable. Concerns tied to platform moderation, AI-generated misinformation, privacy, labor practices, autonomous driving safety and lobbying around data centers have all added to skepticism. Recent reporting also shows rising public unease over election misinformation and polling-place intimidation, reinforcing fears about how digital tools can amplify distrust. The likely effect is not a sudden collapse in confidence, but a harder public mood. Supporters of tech leaders may dismiss De Niro’s comments as political theater, especially si…

Robert De Niro Calls Trump Insane and Musk a Monster in 9/11 Interview at 83

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Robert De Niro Calls Trump Insane and Musk a Monster in 9/11 Interview at 83

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