The escalating influence of major technology platforms is prompting a forceful call for increased accountability from Germany’s service sector trade union, Verdi. The union argues that individuals like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Sam Altman exemplify the outsized power wielded by these platforms, significantly impacting political and societal landscapes both within the United States and globally.
Verdi’s spokesperson for media affairs, Christoph Schmitz-Dethlefsen, highlighted the concerning convergence of political, media and economic influence concentrated within a small group of individuals. He asserted that dominant online platforms are no longer neutral conduits for content but have effectively become curators, actively shaping narratives and controlling access to information.
This shift, according to Schmitz-Dethlefsen, presents an “acute need for action” to bolster democratic resilience against potential authoritarian overreach. He criticized the longstanding provider privileges that have allowed tech giants to operate with minimal oversight, labeling the current situation “outdated” and arguing that “tech oligarchs” must assume greater responsibility for the content distributed on their platforms.
The core of Verdi’s argument centers around the functional equivalence between major platforms and traditional media organizations. If these platforms operate editorially, shaping and prioritizing content, they should be subject to the same regulatory frameworks – including associated rights and, crucially, verifiable obligations. This proposed shift challenges the prevailing legal protections afforded to tech companies and suggests a fundamental re-evaluation of their role and responsibilities within a democratic society, raising questions about the potential for increased scrutiny and potential limitations on the unbridled power currently held by a handful of individuals.