Farhad Manjoo

New York Times tech columnist Farhad Manjoo warns that the "frightful five" — Amazon, Google, Apple, Microsoft and Facebook — are collectively more powerful than many governments.

Facebook, Google, Amazon and Apple are expanding rapidly into finance, advertising, media and retail. Tech writer Farad Manjoo outlines how the four companies are heading in new directions -- and encroaching on each other's territory -- as they try to expand their customer base.