Emmanuel Macron has suggested that Facebook and Google are “too big to be governed” and compared their dominance to that of the oil barons in the early 20th century, saying they may have to be dismantled.
The French president’s comments are among the most forceful from a Western leader on the subject of the two companies’ growing influence, which is coming under increased scrutiny from regulators.
“At a point of time, your government, your people, may say: ‘Wake up. They are too big.’,” Mr Macron told Wired magazine. “Not just too big to fail, but too big to be governed. Which is brand new.”
He added that governments may choose to break up the companies, saying: “At this point, you may choose...