What Does Real Accountability Look Like in the Digital Age?
Jun 19, 2025
This week, we’re looking at how today’s tech giants maintain their influence—and what meaningful accountability could look like in the digital age.
One Research Paper
This paper explores why leading tech platforms rarely face antitrust penalties—not due to negligible impact, but because their services are free. Still, users pay through reduced privacy, subtle manipulation, and a loss of agency. It argues for redefining harm in digital markets and rethinking responsible innovation and regulation.
One YouTube Video
This video breaks down how we slowly gave up control of our data—trading privacy for convenience. From surveillance to social media data harvesting, he traces how we became the product and why it’s time to rethink the Internet’s engine.
One Article
We say privacy matters to us—but our choices don’t always reflect that. This explores the gap between what we believe and how we behave online. It also offers five approachable ways to push back on how Big Tech handles our data—without having to go fully off-grid.
One Alternative
Can Big Tech share data responsibly? Mayana Pereira says yes. With differential privacy and clear documentation, Microsoft’s broadband and literacy datasets show it’s possible to support social good—without compromising user trust.
One Meme
