[New guide] Democracy and the rule of law in the face of the far right: the role and responsibility of Big Tech
July 1, 2026 dans dans Big Tech et démocratie
The alliance forged between tech giants and far-right circles poses a direct and already very real threat to democracy and the rule of law. How can one not be left speechless? This new guide from VoxPublic sets out strategic approaches and contributes to the debate on the need for civil society to organise collectively, with the 2027 presidential election in mind.
In February 2026, around fifty French and European civil society organisations gathered in Paris, at the initiative of VoxPublic, to share a realisation that is clear to us all: we can no longer ignore the role of the tech giants in the rise of the far right. YouTube, TikTok, Meta, X and their counterparts: these platforms are not neutral. Their algorithms amplify hateful content, render our actions invisible, and their leaders have chosen sides. In France, as elsewhere, the threat is real. Faced with this, our organisations and collectives could succumb to a sense of paralysis. Instead, we have chosen to understand, to share and to take action.
This guide is the result of these two days of discussions. It does not claim to be exhaustive, but rather practical. It maps out the mechanisms of the threat, documents the inspiring resistance already underway, and sets out concrete ways to organise a collective response: legal, digital and activist. The report can be found in our resource centre
Summary:
I. Understanding the links between Big Tech and the rise of the far right
A. A penchant for controversy: the far right gains an advantage whilst civil society organisations are marginalised on social media
B. Civil society under attack: identifying the threat in order to protect our democracies
II. Preparing for the worst: inspiring resistance from civil society
A. Reclaiming cyberspace through free and independent digital tools
B. Mobilising the law against Big Tech: shifting the boundaries from within
