Dear Friend –

It’s been a wild ride in the world of Big Tech this October. With four major stories breaking this past week, it’s clear that these powerful companies are doubling down on problematic behaviors—whether it’s spreading disinformation, crushing competition, or evading accountability.

Here’s a quick roundup of what’s been happening:

1. AI-Fueled Disinformation Gets More Sophisticated

In a chilling demonstration of how far deepfake technology has come, a fake “Jake Tapper” introduced a completely fabricated segment on CNN recently, using AI to impersonate his voice and appearance. This technology is evolving rapidly, making it even more challenging to discern truth from fiction. It’s why we’re calling on major social media platforms to stop the spread of dangerous deepfakes for our democracy with the U.S. election just a few weeks away. [1]

2. TikTok Faces Major Lawsuit Over Child Safety Concerns

TikTok is now the target of a lawsuit brought by 13 states and DC, accusing the company of contributing to a mental health crisis among children and teens. The suit alleges that TikTok’s algorithm promotes harmful content that endangers the well-being of young users. This legal battle could have sweeping implications for how platforms are held accountable for protecting—or failing to protect—vulnerable users online. [2]

3. Snapchat Sued Over Child Exploitation and Grooming Concerns

Another troubling development is Snapchat being sued for failing to protect young users from predators. The lawsuit accuses the platform of enabling sextortion and grooming, raising urgent questions about how these companies handle the safety of their most vulnerable users—and further exposing the real-world dangers of unregulated social media platforms. [3]

4. Google Faces Antitrust Actions Over Its App Store

Google is in hot water again—this time, facing off against Epic Games in a massive antitrust lawsuit over its Play Store policies. The case found that Google uses its dominant position to unfairly crush competition, stifle innovation, and harm consumers. Google was ordered to revamp its Android mobile app experience to give users more options to download apps and pay for transactions. [4]

Big Tech companies continue to wield enormous power and influence, often with dangerous consequences, as they paint the picture that self-regulation is sufficient. At Accountable Tech, we’re fighting back. We’re working to push for independent oversight and regulation to hold these companies accountable for their harmful practices and protect democracy from their unchecked power. But we can’t do it alone. Will you donate to support our efforts?

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Your contribution will help us take on these tech giants, advocate for robust policies, and ensure the public is informed about these critical issues.

Thank you so much for your continued support as we navigate going up against some of the most powerful companies in the world.

Onward,

Nicole Gill
Co-founder and Executive Director
Accountable Tech

Sources

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