As a clear example, the article cites the 2012 SOPA/PIPA anti-piracy bills. Faced with well-funded traditional lobbying from entertainment giants, Google realized it needed a different approach. A “Don’t Kill the Internet” campaign emerged, aiming to “mobilize” users and present the bills as censorship threats.
Millions of users saw blacked-out sites like Wikipedia and received “calls to action.” Conclusion? Massive online outrage led to the bill’s failure.
This “us versus them” approach has become the norm. Airbnb, Uber, and Lyft have used similar tactics to influence local regulations and labor laws.
So is this the victory of democracy or manipulation? The Washington Post expresses concern that Big Tech is turning users into unknowing pawns. While users may feel empowered, are they truly informed about the consequences of their online activities?
Source: Ferra
I am a professional journalist and content creator with extensive experience writing for news websites. I currently work as an author at Gadget Onus, where I specialize in covering hot news topics. My written pieces have been published on some of the biggest media outlets around the world, including The Guardian and BBC News.
