Alex Karp: I’m a tech CEO, and I don’t think tech CEOs should be making policy

I agree CEOs shouldn’t make government policy; but, choosing to remove a product from the market, or withhold it from the government, is not policy making. It’s listening to your employees and customers of other products. These are the same people that elected the representatives that are making the policy.

People who work at Palantir, Raytheon, and other defense manufacturers know what their work is being used for by the government. The folks at Google, Amazon, and non-defense companies didn’t necessarily sign up to build war machines. They are entitled to speak up if they feel the company is going in a direction that makes them uncomfortable. Many of them are shareholders.

Tech companies shouldn’t make policy. They also shouldn’t be forced to enter the defense industry.

Isn't that making a policy? (similar to it's forbidden to forbid)