Back to news
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Email
17.06.25

Break Up Big Tech: Civil Society Declaration

We, people and civil society organisations from Europe and around the world, call on the European Commission to act now to break up the powerful Big Tech monopolies that have a stranglehold over our digital world. Big Tech isn’t just dominating markets – it’s dominating European democracy.

Europe needs a thriving and diverse digital economy that serves the needs of European citizens, not billionaire tech CEOs. President von der Leyen has affirmed that in the EU, “we don’t have bros or oligarchs making the rules.” The Commission must now stand up to the tech oligarchy by strongly enforcing the EU’s digital rules and competition law.

Right now, the Commission has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to dismantle Google’s advertising monopoly, which is destroying the news media, ripping off consumers, and was ruled illegal in a landmark US judgement.

Big Tech’s monopoly power threatens democracy

We cannot address Big Tech’s harms without first confronting its power. A handful of tech giants have concentrated control of our core digital infrastructure – including search engines, social media, app stores, and cloud. The companies’ unchecked power over their digital empires enables them to abuse people’s rights, exploit businesses, and crush competitors.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has warned that tech billionaires want “to overthrow democracy”. When a small number of billionaires and tech giants control the internet, they wield their power – and their vast profits – to influence political discourse and interfere with democratic laws. This year, tech CEOs and the Trump administration have worked hand in glove to try to thwart the EU’s landmark digital laws that hold Big Tech to account.

Break up Big Tech monopolies

Teresa Ribera, the EU’s competition chief, recognises that break-ups can prevent Big Tech from grabbing too much market power. These corporations treat billion-euro fines as the cost of doing business, while behavioural remedies are ineffective and often flouted by the companies. Forcing these giants to sell off parts of their businesses will curb conflicts of interest, level the digital playing field, and make the companies easier to hold accountable for their growing societal harms.

Breaking up Google’s advertising monopoly is an open goal for the EU, backed by eighteen former European presidents and prime ministers. Google’s monopoly unfairly sucks revenue from publishers, killing journalism and the news media, while forcing consumers to pay more through an “adtech tax” to industry middlemen. In its final ruling on Google ad-tech, the Commission must reaffirm that “only the mandatory divestment” by Google of part of its services will address competition concerns.

Breaking up tech monopolies is a step towards a freer, fairer internet. Europe can and must resist threats from Big Tech and the Trump administration, and stand firm in upholding EU law against Big Tech. Break up Google. Break up Big Tech.

Signatories:

  1. Balanced Economy Project
  2. Foundation The London Story
  3. LobbyControl
  4. People vs Big Tech
  5. Rebalance Now
  6. WeMove Europe
  7. Defend Democracy
  8. Foxglove
  9. Xnet, Institute for Democratic Digitalisation – Spain
  10. Uplift, Ireland
  11. Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO)
  12. SOMO
  13. Enforce (Irish Council for Civil Liberties)
  14. AlgorithmWatch
  15. Save Social - Networks for democracy
  16. Canadian Anti-Monopoly Project (CAMP)
  17. Open Markets Institute
  18. Hope and Courage Collective, Ireland
  19. IT for Change
  20. German NGO Forum on Environment & Development
  21. taxmenow
  22. Goliathwatch
  23. Campact
  24. Global Justice Now
  25. Another Europe Is Possible
  26. Avaaz Foundation
  27. Epicenter.works - for digital rights
  28. Digital Action
  29. European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
  30. Greek Helsinki Monitor
  31. India Labour Solidarity
  32. Waag Futurelab
  33. Deutscher Journalisten-Verband (DJV, German Journalists Association)
  34. The Citizens
  35. Alliance4Europe
  36. Global Project Against Hate and Extremism

This website does not use tracking cookies. We will update you if this changes. Read our privacy policy

Got it!