@PeopleVsBigTech

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Algorithm, we’re onto you. Let’s build a better digital world.

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📩 Newsletter blog.peoplevsbig.tech

👾 The 20th edition of The People, our newsletter with
@thecitizens, is out!

US tech giants control much of our online world. This week, we're looking at the impact this has not only on the security of other nation states, but on people and planet. https://blog.peoplevsbig.tech/wtf-is-tech-sovereignty/

WTF is tech sovereignty?

Spoiler – it’s not just about geopolitics, it's about you.

The People
"As social media becomes more toxic and weaponised by extremists, reliable news continues to wither. Publishers, who rely on advertising to sustain independent reporting, are competing in a market where Google sets the terms and takes the largest share of profits." https://www.ft.com/content/2b78019f-dc5b-4c59-897d-e90406898fe6
The US ruled against Google’s monopoly — Europe should do the same

As Big Tech tightens its grip on governments and markets, the EU must ensure competition can flourish

Financial Times

A Kenyan court has ruled that a case against Meta over fueling ethnic violence in Ethiopia can go ahead.

Congrats to all involved inc. our members Amnesty International + Foxglove. Meta's harms cannot be undone, but cases like this can stop history from repeating itself. https://www.foxglove.org.uk/2025/04/04/facebook-algorithm-death-hate-speech-can-proceed/

NEW: Court says our case challenging Facebook's algorithm spreading death and hate speech can proceed in Kenya! - Foxglove

Meta tried to argue the Kenya courts didn't have the power to hear Abrham and Fisseha's case. Yesterday the court rejected that argument.

Foxglove

🚨 NEW: Our devices increasingly anticipate our wants before we even articulate them. We overconsume, while our planet burns.

But with Broligarchs at the helm, are we consuming by choice – or by design? Read our latest newsletter by @lianademasi @thecitizens https://blog.peoplevsbig.tech/the-people-vs-overconsumption/

The People vs Overconsumption

The tech giants are tricking us into destroying our pockets – and planet 😒

The People
🚨🥳 WIN: Our incredible co-founder Tanya O'Carroll has won a legal case against Meta! She took them to court after being served creepy personalised ads about her pregnancy. Now the tech giant has agreed to no longer show her targeted surveillance-ads on Facebook. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1en1yjv4dpo
Facebook to stop targeting ads at UK woman after legal fight

Tanya O'Carroll says her case opens a "gateway" for others wanting to stop personalised adverts.

🚨 NEW: The EU Digital Services Act requires Big Tech to be more transparent about platform harms + how they're mitigating them.

So a group of us took a deep dive into their latest reports on this, and let's just say...there's a lot of room for improvement. Get into it here 👀 https://cdt.org/insights/dsa-civil-society-coordination-group-publishes-an-initial-analysis-of-the-major-online-platforms-risks-analysis-reports/

Civil Society Responds to DSA Risk Assessment Reports: An Initial Feedback Brief

The DSA Civil Society Coordination Group, in collaboration with the Recommender Systems Taskforce and People vs Big Tech, has released an initial analysis of the first Risk Assessment Reports submitted by major platforms under Article 42 of the DSA. This analysis identifies both promising practices and critical gaps, offering recommendations to improve future iterations of […]

Center for Democracy and Technology
"Vance’s warning not to engage in “hand-wringing about safety” seems to have been thoroughly received by the platforms. The word “safety” appears just once in the submissions from Open #AI & Google...and not at all in Meta’s" https://www.platformer.news/ai-action-plan-submissions-meta-google-openai-anthropic/
America crafts an AI action plan

Tech platforms got a rare opportunity to present President Trump with a wishlist — and they're using DeepSeek's success to push for controversial policies

Platformer

Last night, Isr@e1 launched dozens of attacks in #Gaza. P@lestin!an officials say >320 people have been killed.

Big Tech's involvement in Isr@e1's ap@rthe!d + genoc!de goes beyond complicity. Find out more in the latest version of our free newsletter: https://blog.peoplevsbig.tech/the-people-vs-genocide/

The People vs Genocide

Big Tech workers are resisting their industry’s involvement in Israeli apartheid

The People

🚨 New report alert! Going forward we want Big Tech platforms to focus on design-related risks, enhance transparency, and ensure risk assessments reflect real-world harms.

Check out the full report here 🤓👾 https://cdt.org/insights/dsa-civil-society-coordination-group-publishes-an-initial-analysis-of-the-major-online-platforms-risks-analysis-reports/

Civil Society Responds to DSA Risk Assessment Reports: An Initial Feedback Brief

The DSA Civil Society Coordination Group, in collaboration with the Recommender Systems Taskforce and People vs Big Tech, has released an initial analysis of the first Risk Assessment Reports submitted by major platforms under Article 42 of the DSA. This analysis identifies both promising practices and critical gaps, offering recommendations to improve future iterations of […]

Center for Democracy and Technology