As technology, politics, and society become increasingly intertwined, the power of global tech corporations continues to grow. Companies like Google, Meta, and Amazon now shape not only markets and communication spaces but also political and social decision-making processes. Under the banner of “innovation,” structures of economic and informational dominance have emerged. While largely escaping regulatory oversight, these structures create new dependencies for citizens and governments alike – also in democracies.
In her book Silicon Valley Attacks (original title: The Tech Coup), Marietje Schaake, former member of the European Parliament and current International Policy Director at Stanford’s Cyber Policy Center, exposes how Big Tech has become both a geopolitical and normative power and explores how democracies can push back. She shows how digital platforms manipulate markets, weaponize personal data, and indirectly empower authoritarian regimes. At the same time, she outlines the political, legal, and societal responses needed to ensure that technological innovation serves freedom and self-determination rather than undermining them.
Input:
Marietje Schaake, International Policy Director, Stanford Cyber Policy Center
Chair:
Katja Muñoz, Senior Research Fellow, Center for Geopolitics, Geoeconomics, and Technology, DGAP
If you have any questions or would like to attend the event, please contact events@dgap.org.