New York (CNN Business) Bill Gates says the US government must step up its regulation of big tech companies, whose influence in culture, business and all areas of life is becoming more pervasive.

Microsoft MSFT "Technology has become so central that governments have to think: What does that mean about elections? What does that mean about bullying? What does it mean about wiretapping authorities that let you find out what's going on financially or drug money laundering, things like that," thefounder said at the Economic Club of Washington, DC, on Monday. "So, yes, the government needs to get involved."

Facebook FB Amazon AMZN Apple AAPL Google GOOG Gates discussed everything from the early days of Microsoft to his investments in clean energy during the talk. But his thoughts on government interference in the tech sector were particularly relevant given recent government scrutiny of the size, influence and privacy practices of tech companies such asandby both antitrust enforcement agencies and political candidates.

Gates said he expects "there will be more regulation of the tech sector," particularly as it relates to privacy issues. The protection of user privacy and use of user data has been a flashpoint especially for Facebook, which has been criticized for multiple data scandals

"The fact that now this is the way people consume media has really brought it in to a realm where we need to shape it so that the benefits need to outweigh the negatives," he said.

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