If private arbitrary power is equivalent to state arbitrary power, and if state arbitrary power is a Rule of Law problem, then private arbitrary power is a Rule of Law problem. In accepting state arbitrary power as a Rule of Law problem and in questioning whether private arbitrary power is equivalent to state arbitrary power, I explore a minimalist, yet extreme, departure from the state-based concept: giant global tech companies. The departure is minimalist as these corporations exert state-like control within their (virtual) territorial spheres. The example is extreme as if the Rule of Law is to apply to any aspect of private power, it applies to these companies. In considering Google, I suggest that, despite the minimalist departure, dissimilarities in the private/public exercise of arbitrary power temper claims that private arbitrary power is a Rule of Law problem and, given the extreme nature, this can be extended to any claim that private arbitrary power is a Rule of Law problem.

Our 2020 Annual Conference was scheduled to be held at the University of Wrocław in Poland on July 9-11, 2020.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ICON·S Executive Committee has decided to postpone our 2020 Conference to 2021. Our next Annual Conference will take place from July 8-10, 2021, in Wrocław, Poland.
Procedural details regarding the organization of the 2021 Conference will follow in the months ahead.
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