CTRL your digital rights
Big Tech’s surveillance-for-profit business model is turning our own data into weapons against us, while predatory and addictive algorithms spread hate speech and disinformation. Don’t lose your head in the cloud. There’s a brighter future ahead.
“The Big Tech monopolies have conned us into giving “consent” to grow their vast empires of personal data extraction and surveillance,” explains People vs Big Tech.
This is a surveillance-for-profit business model that gives us no choice but to hand over our data in exchange for simply using a platform. It is now considered 'normal' that platforms should get to know every little thing about us, from our date of birth, to our private health information to how much our household income is.
All around us algorithms are deciding what we see, from what appears on page one of search, to prioritising content that gets more engagement. These algorithms are subtly following us around the internet, harvesting personal information, invading our privacy and trying to influence our behaviours.
All of this helps ‘Big Tech’ make profits from us and our data, and erodes our right to a private life.
People Vs Big Tech
(PvBT) is a global movement fighting for a different kind of Internet – one free from intrusive surveillance, addiction-algorithms, harmful content and echo chambers. For too long a small handful of tech CEOs have been allowed to trample on our rights and disrupt our communities, unleashing industrial-scale disinformation, driving hate and polarisation and preying on our vulnerabilities - all to keep us clicking and scrolling while they profit from our data.
What is ‘big tech’?
Big Tech is becoming a pretty common phrase, but who or what is it?
In simple terms, it’s used as an umbrella to reference the largest, most influential, most dominant, and most profitable tech companies. These are Google (Alphabet), Amazon, Apple, Meta, and Microsoft.
What we need to do to support People vs Big Tech
Our 2023 study found that two thirds of global consumers don’t want social media brands to use their data for commercial benefit, whilst 70% of people are calling for global legislation that protects the safety of users online. With the newly passed Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA) providing a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rein in the Big Tech companies in Europe, the voice of citizens in ensuring strong enforcement of the law has never been more important.
Sign The People’s Declaration where your voice will join an open network of civil society organisations and concerned citizens working together to challenge the power and abuses of Big Tech.