The Hour of the Predator: Understanding the New World of Autocrats and Tech Billionaires

The Hour of the Predator: Understanding the New World of Autocrats and Tech Billionaires

Introduction

In The Hour of the Predator: Encounters with the Autocrats and Tech Billionaires Taking Over the World, political theorist Giuliano da Empoli presents a powerful diagnosis of the contemporary global order  one in which traditional democratic systems are increasingly challenged by a new breed of political and technological power brokers. Da Empoli’s central argument is that we are entering an era in which autocrats and tech billionaires behave like “predators,” exploiting institutional weaknesses to reshape societies and political ecosystems in ways that increasingly bypass democratic norms.

As the world grapples with the rapid evolution of technology, media, and political power, this book offers an urgent critique of how influence   (both political and digital)  is being concentrated in the hands of a few figures capable of shaping global public life. Da Empoli’s work is not just descriptive; it serves as a strategic intervention in debates on governance, power, and accountability in the early 21st century.

This analysis will explore the major themes of da Empoli’s work, connect them to current events  (notably the December 2025 confrontation between Elon Musk and the European Union)  and explain why this book is essential reading for anyone interested in the future of global politics, technology, and society.

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1. The Decline of Liberal Democracy and the Rise of New Power Structures

Da Empoli begins with a stark assessment: for decades, liberal democracy  (defined by rule of law, pluralistic politics, and accountable institutions)  seemed almost inevitable as the dominant mode of global governance. Yet he argues that we now face a fragmentation of this model. Traditional political parties, bureaucratic institutions, and international organizations are losing their ability to manage social, economic, and technological change.

Democracies once buttressed by clear norms and resilient institutions are now strained by internal polarization and external pressures including economic disparities and the disruptive force of rapid technological advancement. In this context, the structures designed to mediate political conflict are increasingly bypassed or weakened, creating openings that “predators” exploit.

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2. Identifying the “Predators”: Autocrats and Tech Titans

Central to da Empoli’s argument is the concept of the “predator”  (actors who operate without respect for democratic norms, who thrive on disruption and often leverage both political and technological power to consolidate influence. These include political leaders like Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Xi Jinping and Javier Milei)  figures who challenge established political norms in favor of hyper-personalized leadership styles.

But equally, and perhaps more insidiously, are tech billionaires business leaders as Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Sam Altman and Jeff Bezos whose platforms and technologies have become so embedded in daily life that they rival or exceed the influence of governments. Their reach over information flows, communications infrastructure, and public discourse gives them powers unimagined in traditional political theory.

Da Empoli emphasizes that tech leaders aren’t just economic actors; they are wielders of infrastructure that shapes the cognitive environment of billions. This conflation of economic, social, and informational power creates new dynamics of influence where transparency, accountability, and democratic norms are often sidelined.

 

3. Digital Platforms, Polarization, and the Fragmented Public Sphere

One of the book’s core insights concerns the transformation of the public sphere through digital technologies. Traditional media once played a gatekeeping role  filtering information, providing context, and supporting fact-based public debate. But in the digital realm, content is curated not by editors but by algorithms designed to maximize engagement.

These algorithms, da Empoli argues, often amplify conflict, anger, and tribalism because such content drives attention. Political actors who master video-ready moments and incendiary rhetoric thus gain an edge in shaping public narratives. This phenomenon erodes shared facts and deepens societal fragmentation, creating fertile ground for authoritarian tendencies and manipulation.

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4. Erosion of Institutional Authority

Another theme of the book is how democratic institutions  (courts, legislatures, regulatory bodies) have been undercut or bypassed. Leaders operating outside established norms can delegitimize institutional checks, weaken mechanisms of accountability, and cultivate direct relationships with their audiences.

Similarly, da Empoli highlights how technology platforms often operate beyond traditional regulatory reach, accumulating power that defies existing legal and political checks. The result is a dual erosion: weakened democratic governance and unrestrained tech influence.

5. Historical Analogies: Power and Predation

Da Empoli draws historical comparisons to illustrate how cycles of power consolidation and institutional breakdown have recurred in various forms. He likens modern tech billionaires and political strongmen to historical figures whose authority was built by bypassing prior norms and forging direct claims to loyalty, resources, and narrative control.

These analogies  (from Renaissance power brokers to early modern empires)  help illuminate both the scale of the transformations we face and the persistent human dynamics at play when rules lose coherence and are replaced by forceful actors exploiting ambiguity.

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6. Why The Hour of the Predator Matters Now

The modern world is characterized by overlapping crises  geopolitical tensions, economic inequality, climate disruption, and technological unpredictability. Da Empoli’s book serves as a framework to explain how these crises intersect with changing power patterns.

Rather than treating technological progress or political polarization as isolated phenomena, the book invites readers to see them as part of a broader restructuring of authority and influence. It calls for urgent reflection on how democratic societies can defend core values  (accountability, transparency, civil rights)  in an era where traditional safeguards are under strain.

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7. The Elon Musk–Europe Clash (December 2025): A Contemporary Case

The relevance of da Empoli’s framework is underscored by recent clashes between Elon Musk, the owner of social media platform X, and the European Union (EU)  a confrontation unfolding in December 2025.

In early December, the European Commission imposed a €120 million fine (approx. $140 million) on X for multiple violations of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), citing issues such as misleading verification practices, insufficient transparency in advertising repositories, and failure to provide adequate data access for independent researchers.

Musk responded with vehement criticism, publicly calling for the abolition of the European Union and arguing that regulatory overreach and bureaucracy stifle innovation and sovereignty.  These statements reflect the broader tension between tech titans’ claims to innovation freedom and public institutions’ mandates to ensure accountability and user protection.

The dispute escalated beyond regulatory penalties. Musk framed the fine as personal and political, suggesting that it constitutes an attack on free expression and national self-determination  rhetoric that mirrors broader populist narratives about external bureaucratic restraint.

The dispute has also drawn official U.S. attention. The U.S. Trade Representative warned of possible retaliatory measures against European service providers, framing the EU’s actions as discriminatory toward U.S. tech firms.

This confrontation highlights several key issues da Empoli emphasizes: the clash between powerful tech actors and democratic regulatory regimes; the politicization of platform governance; and the ways public discourse itself becomes a battleground for broader ideological conflicts.

8. Critiques and Nuances

While da Empoli paints a dramatic picture of rising “predators,” critics note that his analysis can sometimes risk overstating the coherence of these forces or underplaying the resilience and adaptability of democratic institutions. Institutions can and do push back (through legislation, civic engagement, and legal accountability)  against concentrations of power. Moreover, the binary framing of authoritarian vs. democratic can dilute nuance in understanding how democracies evolve under pressure.

Nevertheless, the book’s strength lies in its capacity to provoke reflection on power’s shifting loci and to challenge complacency about the stability of democratic governance in the face of technological disruption.

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9. Why You Should Read This Book

The Hour of the Predator is indispensable for several reasons:

1. Framework for Understanding Power: Its analytical lens helps interpret contemporary political and technological dynamics beyond surface headlines.

2. Integration of History and Theory: The book grounds current trends in historical cycles, offering depth to contemporary debates.

3. Clarity on Digital Politics: Da Empoli’s examination of digital influence and polarization is among the most incisive available.

4. Strategic Insight: The book doesn’t just describe problems  it urges strategic responses from citizens, leaders, and institutions.

Reading this work equips you to engage meaningfully with debates around regulation, governance, and the evolving role of technology in public life.

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10. Conclusion

Giuliano da Empoli’s The Hour of the Predator offers an eye-opening exploration of how modern power is being reshaped by figures who sidestep traditional democratic constraints and command platforms with global reach. The book’s depiction of a world in flux  (influenced by charismatic autocrats and digitally fluent billionaires) resonates strongly with current events, such as the unfolding clash between Elon Musk and European regulators over platform governance.

Rather than resigning to a deterministic future, da Empoli calls for strategic responses that reinforce democratic values, strengthen institutions, and ensure that the march of technology serves (rather than subverts) the public good.

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Glossary of Terms

Autocrat: A political leader who centralizes authority and often weakens democratic checks and balances.

Digital Services Act (DSA): EU law regulating online platforms to improve transparency, safety, and accountability.

Predator (Concept): In da Empoli’s framework, actors who leverage power without respect for democratic norms to reshape public space.

Algorithm: A computational process that governs what users see on digital platforms.

Polarization: The intensification of social or political differences into rigid opposing camps.

Transparency: Clarity around how platforms operate  particularly regarding data access, advertising, and user verification.

Regulation: Government or institutional rules designed to ensure fair, safe, and accountable practices.

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References (APA)

Da Empoli, G. (2025). The Hour of the Predator: Encounters with the Autocrats and Tech Billionaires Taking Over the World. Pushkin Press.

European Commission. (2025, December 5). EU fines X under Digital Services Act for transparency and compliance violations (summary based on reporting). The Guardian

Reuters. (2025, December 16). USTR threatens countermeasures over EU fine on Musk’s X. Reuters

TabletmAg. (2025, December 11). Is the EU’s Spat with Elon Musk really about free speech?.