Mobilize small businesses, entrepreneurs, and consumers in a public campaign highlighting Big Tech unfairness to maintain political pressure.
Run sustained narrative and organizing work that elevates concrete small business and consumer harms from platform “gatekeeping.” Use stories and explainers to counter lobbying and keep competition reforms politically viable, while linking pressure to specific action points in Congress, agencies, and courts.
Why this works
- Continued public spotlight and stories of harm help counter Big Tech’s lobbying.
- For example, Accountable Tech and other groups launched a “Main Street Against Big Tech” campaign to showcase how local businesses are squeezed by platform practices.
- Such real-world stories (the bookstore that can’t survive Amazon’s cut, the app developer paying 30% tax to Apple) make the issue concrete and build a broad base of support beyond policy wonks.
- This can push reluctant legislators to act and keeps media interested.
- It also helps avoid the narrative that this is just about tech rivals complaining – when ordinary small businesses speak up, it’s more compelling.
- Public pressure also ensures enforcers stay bold; they know the public is watching and demanding action (for instance, 86% of voters in one survey favored banning Congress members from owning Big Tech stocks – reflecting a desire to remove conflicts and get tough).
Environmental Working Group
Tax-deductibleNonprofit research and advocacy driving safer chemicals, clean water, and transparent food systems.
Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a nonprofit research and advocacy organization focused on toxic chemicals, safe food, and clean water. EWG is known for public testing, consumer guides, and policy advocacy that helps people make informed choices and pushes industry and government toward safer standards.
Mechanism
About MediaHow Environmental Working Group uses funding
- Recruit small businesses, entrepreneurs, and developers to document harms.
- Produce clear explainers on self-preferencing and platform “tolls” in plain language.
- Launch a campaign that spotlights gatekeeper conduct and proposed fixes.
- Time mobilization to committee votes, key filings, and agency comment windows.
- Counter astroturf and ads with rapid-response communications.
- Sustain engagement so attention does not fade before outcomes land.
Milestones
Checkpoints and the expected timing for each step
- 1
Story bank and toolkit ready
Near termStories, talking points, and visuals are finalized.
- 2
Campaign launch
Near termPublic materials and distribution plan go live.
- 3
Mobilization peaks at decision points
Before key actionsConstituents engage visibly around specific asks.
- 4
Follow-through maintained
OngoingCoverage and actions continue through results and implementation.