[rhamzeh]

Yes, just as much as airlines are an arm of the US government:

> U.S. airlines avoided broad bankruptcies and cuts with the record $74 billion in government Covid-19 aid (https://skift.com/2021/07/29/federal-aid-saved-u-s-airlines-...)

Or the US semiconductor industry > Most of the money is going into industry and supporting industry investments. Of the $52.7 billion in subsidies, the bulk of that will end up going to private companies. (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/nearly-53-billion...)

Of course there's more examples for almost any country.

I'm not debating your conclusion. I think it is spot on. I am calling out the tone though as if this was not the norm for all the mega corps/mega industries.

[throwaway29812]

Yes but no government puts listening devices into their planes to spy on passengers considering they have full control.

Wait, that's actually a good idea. Probably likely that one of China/Russia/N Korea/Iran have done this.

[throwaway29812]

..a good idea from the perspective of an authoritarian government. Not saying it's good for airplanes to do this.