Charles Rollet is a senior reporter at TechCrunch. He has been making a name for himself for his investigations into big tech trouble, particularly the never-ending antitrust case against Google. Based in San Francisco, Rollet has played a pivotal role in uncovering information that has led to U.S. government sanctions against four major tech companies, including China’s largest AI firm.
On May 9, Rollet reported on the amicus brief that Y Combinator (YC) submitted in the ongoing lawsuit of U.S. v. Google. This story is at the heart of the Tech Giants, Google in particular, debate that is raging in America today. Venture capitalist Sheel Mohnot was among those who first noticed the brief on social media platform X. He noted that the suggested remedies would have a disproportionately positive impact on OpenAI, which has a tight relationship to YC.
Rollet’s reporting paints a stark reality of what the legal fight against Google looks like. He noted that YC characterized the tech giant’s influence as having “effectively frozen the web search and text advertising markets for over a decade.” This claim is notable for what it suggests about the broader implications of Google’s dominant position in the market, and the impact that the antitrust proceedings could have.
In his coverage, Rollet further echoed Mohnot’s observation about how the industry views Google’s power, as he detailed in his coverage. Mohnot stated that the situation “paints Google as more powerful than it is,” suggesting that public perception may not fully align with the reality of Google’s operational capabilities.
Garry Tan, the new CEO of YC, provided more color on their proposed fixes. In a recent post on X, he even called them a “spinoff hammer,” intended to smash through Google’s market monopoly. This particularly vivid characterization brings to light the more aggressive tactics that could be used to fight real or imagined monopolistic behavior.
Rollet’s expertise extends beyond this particular case as he consistently reports on various tech topics, including YC’s initiatives and broader issues in big tech. His work not only informs the public but shapes discussions among policymakers and industry leaders about how to address potential monopolistic behaviors in technology.
In addition to his professional achievements, Rollet enjoys outdoor activities in San Francisco, often hiking with his dogs. It’s this quality that makes his personal interests so relatable. He is a selfless artist who masters the juxtaposition of craft with an earned elegance and poise.
For anyone who would like to get in touch with Rollet confidentially, he can be reached on Signal at charlesrollet.12 or at +1-628-282-2811. Check out his Twitter bio on his TechCrunch author page to learn more. Over there, he’s blogging about his reporting and the larger tech industry.