Big Tech’s influence now extends deep into public services, threatening individual rights and democratic governance. Discussions from the 2021 EPDS Civil Society Summit highlight the urgent need for regulating its power in healthcare and education. As these corporations shape our public discourse and infrastructure, critically reassessing their dominance is essential for the preservation of justice and equity in society.
In an era where technology permeates every facet of public life, the hold of Big Tech raises critical concerns about rights, democracy, and justice. As discussed at the 2021 EPDS Civil Society Summit during PrivacyCamp21, its influence stretches beyond traditional domains into vital sectors such as healthcare and education, fundamentally reshaping our understanding of the public. This article explores the shift from practices grounded in data extraction to a powerful grip over public infrastructure and governance. At the forefront of the conversation were experts discussing the multifaceted threat posed by Big Tech’s omnipresence. The distinct angles presented by speakers tackled issues like freedom of expression on platforms, the implementation of technology in Smart Cities, and the mechanisms through which corporations command influence. The European Data Protection Supervisor reinforced the need to redefine the public sphere in light of this growing dominance, pushing for regulatory adaptations. The stark reality is that companies, often veiled in opacity, dictate online public discourse. The removal of applications such as Element and Telegram showcases their effortless control, manipulating so-called public spaces according to corporate interests. This alarming trend fosters a dialogue on the pressing need to hold tech companies accountable for their exploitation of personal data and the amplification of harmful content. Beyond speech and data, the industry, with an astonishing valuation exceeding $6 trillion, has branched into public service sectors, entrenching itself in everyday governance. By providing community-oriented solutions, often with subsidized costs, these corporations infiltrate essential civic operations. This reliance risks creating significant ethical quandaries and exacerbating inequalities as seen in the Smart Cities initiative in Slovenia, where minor local issues were privatized under the guise of modernization. The concentration of power is starkly evident in the landscape of technology infrastructure. Major firms control critical foundations such as cloud services and APIs, limiting the software development landscape to a few dominant players. This monopolistic structure reinforces a cycle of dependency that disadvantages individuals, developers, and public institutions alike, leaving them at the mercy of corporate regulations and oversight. The pandemic illuminated this imbalance, especially with the development of contact tracing apps that solidified corporate autonomy over governmental functions. Google and Apple’s choice to integrate solutions into their operating systems displayed their unrivaled infrastructural power. Experts stressed that the narrative must shift from merely ensuring privacy to actively challenging and dismantling Big Tech’s sprawling authority.
The dominance of Big Tech in the digital realm has far-reaching implications for individual rights and societal structures. The 2021 EPDS Civil Society Summit brought attention to how these companies, initially focused on data extraction, have since expanded their influence into critical public areas. This shift, exacerbated by the pandemic, highlights an urgent need to confront corporate power and redefine what constitutes the public sphere amidst evolving digital landscapes.
Confronting the dominance of Big Tech requires a collective resistance grounded in the recognition of structural power imbalances. As corporate interests threaten the public good, it is imperative to advocate for regulatory frameworks that prioritize transparency and fairness. Moreover, the conversation must evolve to challenge the very foundations of this power, distinguishing between ephemeral technological improvements and enduring societal justice.
Original Source: edri.org
