We are a growing, global movement fighting for a different digital future
We believe in the original promise of the internet as a force for good.
But a small group of tech corporations have cheated us of that dream, instead constructing a toxic, online world where they exploit our private data and attention to build vast advertising empires.
While they make obscene profits, we face the devastation of a system designed to keep people scrolling at all costs – rising hate and lies, stolen childhoods, polarisation, fragmentation of society and even violence.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. In fact, we’re already shifting the dial. Because together we are stronger than any corporation… and together we’re rising up to build a better digital world.
Our three priorities
Fix Our Feeds
Hate, disinformation, division... it's not a glitch in the system, it is the system. But tech giants can design their products to be safe. We just need to make them.
Stop Surveillance For Profit
Tech corporations spy on and profile us, then exploit our vulnerabilities to build vast fortunes. It's time to dismantle the spy machinery and reclaim our rights.
Break Open Big Tech
True tech progress serves people everywhere, not just a tiny group of CEOs. We're pushing to end Big Tech's stranglehold, so we can build a different future.
Our latest campaigns
YOUTH CAMPAIGN – applications closed.
Join us and be part of a European youth campaign to make social media safer, healthier and more supportive!
[Deadline extended to July 24th]
Campaign
FIX OUR FEEDS – EU Elections 2024
In a year of critical elections, we’re asking regulators to restore public trust in information and democracy by disabling toxic recommender systems
Latest news
What we have achieved so far
We won an EU-wide ban on the use of sensitive personal data for targeted advertising
Targeted advertising is at the dark heart of big tech’s twisted business model. It means corporations slicing and dicing the most intimate details of our lives to prey on our vulnerabilities, hijack our time and sell us things we don’t need or want.
So when the pundits said we had no hope of getting action on ads into the EU’s new tech law, a powerful movement of organisations, activists, and businesses refused to listen – instead working up watertight policy proposals and launching a massive people’s advocacy push for change.
The resulting ban on using sensitive data like race and religion to target people with ads is a vital first step towards the surveillance-free future we’re determined to build for everyone.
We got the EU to prohibit targeted advertising to kids
Keeping children safe from harm is society’s most basic job. But for years, a handful of tech CEOs have had free rein to spy and experiment on our kids – to sell them stuff, addict them to dangerous products and exploit their developing brains for profit.
Now a mega movement of parents, teachers, psychologists and concerned citizens is rising up to demand a safer, more enriching online world for children. And it’s winning results, like getting MEPs to vote for a ban on insidious spy-advertising to kids in Europe.
We’re just starting to see what the determination and moral clarity of this powerful coalition can achieve. Next stop? An internet that truly meets kids’ needs.
We teamed up with Nobel Laureates to write a 10-point plan to end disinformation
Sometimes people everywhere agree, and what’s needed is a powerful rallying call to connect, unite and galvanise action. So when Nobel prize-winners Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov said they wanted to issue a global call to rein in Big Tech and support journalism, our members leapt into action – teaming up to help develop, draft and promote a compelling manifesto for change.
Launched at the Nobel Peace Center in 2022, the actionable, 10-point plan has since been endorsed by over 294 Nobel laureates, organisations and individuals around the world. It’s a vision for a different future, and the best part is it’s totally doable.
Our members got the EU Commission to investigate Meta
Getting Europe to pass a strong tech law was a major victory for this movement. But the real work is making sure that law is enforced. That’s why the digital detectives at AI Forensics hit the ground running, with a deep-dive investigation revealing how Meta is letting pro-Russia propaganda ads flood the EU, in alleged breach of the Digital Services Act.
The European Commission has since launched formal proceedings against Meta, citing AI Forensics’ research. This is accountability in action!
Our members are pushing regulators to tackle gender-biased algorithms
Tech justice and women’s rights campaigners have united in a mighty coalition to tackle the insidious challenge of discriminatory algorithms, and made vital progress pressing authorities in the Netherlands and France to take up the cause.
PvBT member Global Witness, together with Bureau Clara Wichmann in the Netherlands and Fondation des Femmes in France, submitted four complaints to national regulators based on the suspicion that Meta’s algorithms to determine which users see certain job ads discriminate against women and breach equality and data protection laws.
The Dutch Institute of Human Rights has since held a hearing on the complaint while France’s Défenseur des Droits has written “investigation letters” to Meta demanding a response. This is the first time Meta has been questioned on the issue in the EU!
People vs Big Tech is a movement formed by more than 120 organisations
Sign the People's Declaration
Read the summary:
We, the people, demand technology that serves us, instead of putting us, our communities and our democracies at risk.
We call for an end to Big Tech’s destructive business model which has turned our own data into weapons against us.
We urge all those involved in scrutinising, passing, and enforcing legislation globally to stand on the side of the people you represent and take all necessary measures to rein in Big Tech’s abuses whilst defending people’s fundamental rights, critically - the right to free speech for all We urge all those involved in scrutinising, passing, and enforcing legislation globally to stand on the side of the people you represent and take all necessary measures to rein in Big Tech’s abuses whilst defending people’s fundamental rights, critically - the right to free speech for all.
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The DFA must tackle the systemic invasion of privacy that allows Big Tech to keep us hooked with hyper personalised content. The Commission has already linked this to anxiety, depression and many other harms. Now it must act - by stopping tracking by default and #SurveillanceAds
McGrath promises a Digital Fairness Act and says it “will cover all consumers, irrespective of age, and i think it's important to put that on the record” #AddictiveDesigns
“There are harmful functionalities on these platforms that have an impact on children in particular in these formative years… we have enough evidence to allow us to take action” says McGrath.
He’s right. That’s why measures to end the addictive business model must be binding.
Today, Michael McGrath, Commissioner-designate for #Democracy #Justice and the #RuleOfLaw, commits to “deal with” Big Tech’s harmful and addictive business model:
“I understand the business model of Big Tech... They want to keep people online constantly, including our children”
Live: nominees for EU Commissioners are being grilled by parliament on their credentials and plans. This is a crucial moment to get a sense of who these people are and what they mean for #BigTech regulation
“Weeks after Meta’s PR tour claiming Mark Zuckerberg was ‘done’ with politics and the company had ‘distanced’ itself, reporting continues to show Meta’s colossal failures and outsized impacts on the 2024 US election: from misogyny and racism flourishing to deceptive political ads thriving to Facebook literally “Auto-Generating Militia Group Pages.”
It's #USelection week. Read The Real facebook Oversight Board's full statement here: https://rfob.medium.com/meta-puts-democracy-and-2024-election-at-risk-as-november-5th-approaches-e6070f69dce3
Q: What are you doing on your lunch break today?
A: Joining us over on Insta for Peter McGuire's live interview with Siobhán O' Donoghue @Uplift to learn about the role of Big Tech in Ireland + the impact its having on its citizens! https://www.instagram.com/peoplevsbigtech/
Big Tech companies have a monopoly over our online experience — and the ‘Big Five’ are all from the majority-English speaking US. What effect is this having on the rest of us?
Anmol Irfan, author of our newsletter exploring the impact of anglocentrism in Big Tech, breaks it down. You can read her full story here (+ don't forget to subscribe!): https://blog.peoplevsbig.tech/the-people-vs-anglocentrism/
The Irish government is such a fangirl of #bigtech that it literally argued *against* the need for Apple to pay them $14 billion after the EU accused the country of giving them illegal tax advantages.
What does this cosy relationship mean for the rights of people in #Ireland - and the rest of Europe? Peter McGuire investigates in the latest issue of The People! Read and subscribe here: https://blog.peoplevsbig.tech/ireland-big-techs-reluctant-regulator/
Tune into our Insta tomorrow (https://www.instagram.com/peoplevsbigtech/) @ 5pm GMT (9am PST) where our newsletter editor Alice McCool will be talking #onlinesafety with Nicki Reisberg, who hosts Scrolling 2 death, a podcast for parents worried about social media.
And don't forget to read our recent newsletters on this topic, from misogyny to smartphone bans, TikTok brain to racism: https://blog.peoplevsbig.tech/
Want to win £100 + help us investigate the harms of Big Tech?
Please fill out our survey ⬇️ and help us to reach and represent more people looking to build a better life online.
🙏
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Want to win £100 + help us investigate the harms of Big Tech? Of course you do!
As we approach the 10th issue of our newsletter, please fill out this survey and help us better understand our audience, and how best to connect with you around this complex issue.
We want to hear from everyone, but are particularly interested in getting feedback from people aged 18-24.
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US tech bros dominate our online experience. What does this mean for non-English speakers around the world?
From the fading of already minoritised languages to poor moderation of non-English content, Big Tech companies seem unable to cater for the needs of the Global Majority. Why is this – and what needs to change?
Join Anmol Irfan as she explores the topic in the latest issue of The People – read + subscribe here ⬇️👾
https://blog.peoplevsbig.tech/the-people-vs-anglocentrism/
People vs Big Tech is excited to be part of the upcoming #EUTechSociety Summit. Curious about the roundtable we're moderating?
➡️👾 Check out the full programme: https://tinyurl.com/7ewm3uvj
On Friday we saw headlines about a chain of UK #schools with 35k pupils going phone free 🤳🤳🤳
It's a great step, but as our newsletter editor Alice McCool explains, #smartphone bans don’t tackle the core issue. Read the full story here: https://blog.peoplevsbig.tech/the-people-vs-smartphones/
Smartphone bans for kids: necessary safeguard or punishment for #BigTech failures?
This back to #school season, Daisy Bata explores #smartphones, companies behind them and how tech could play a more positive role in our lives.
https://blog.peoplevsbig.tech/the-people-vs-smartphones/
How does #BigTech expand #racist rhetoric?
@Dahabaalihussen talks us through what she found when reporting for us on the role the #algorithm played in the recent racist violence in the UK. Subscribe to The People newsletter for the full story: https://blog.peoplevsbig.tech/
Have you got a case of ‘TikTok brain’? 🧠🫠
Read our latest newsletter find out what researchers are saying about the effect internet overuse, particularly endless short videos on social media, might be having on our cognitive function + mental health. https://blog.peoplevsbig.tech/the-people-vs-tiktok-brain/
"Together we’re rising up to build
a better digital world.''