The State is being replaced as regulating agent of public policy by free market forces and private bodies. Controversial areas of the technology sector are resolved by external experts who are often professionals or private entities; media manipulation has become a key element in the control of information about the products of science and technology. The health industry sells technology as the main solution to health problems that could be better addressed by reforms in public health; at the same time, defence expenditure eats into science and technology budgets.
