A broad coalition is pushing back against Big Tech and AI power

In short: A wider mix of groups is joining efforts to limit Big Tech’s power, citing harms linked to social media, surveillance, and AI.

What's going on

A growing “People vs Big Tech” movement is bringing together a wide range of people, from civil society groups and parents to psychologists and some conservative activists. They share a concern that large tech firms make money while the public pays the price, through problems like addiction, misinformation, and unequal power.

One part of this effort is a coalition of 155 organizations and individuals across Europe and beyond. It focuses on issues such as addictive algorithms (the automated rules that decide what you see next, like a conveyor belt for content), harms to mental health, child exploitation, and the control a few companies have over AI development. The coalition has pushed for stricter enforcement of antitrust laws, which are rules meant to stop companies from becoming too dominant, and for more public-interest investment in technology.

There are also U.S. efforts that use consumer pressure. NYU professor Scott Galloway has argued for a targeted “economic strike,” for example asking people to cancel subscriptions for a month to services like Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Paramount. His idea is that a short boycott is low effort for consumers but can still hit companies where it hurts, their revenue.

Criticism is also showing up in places that once sounded more friendly to Silicon Valley. At the 2025 National Conservatism Conference, some speakers attacked Big Tech and AI as threats to jobs and culture, and floated unusual alliances, including with labor unions.

What to watch

Expect more calls for regulation and breakups, plus more campaigns aimed at everyday habits like subscriptions and ad tracking. The key question is whether these connected groups can turn shared frustration into lasting policy changes.

Source: NYTimes