Why Crikey joined a multinational investigation into big tech

On a cold March morning, in a hotel conference hall in Bogotá, Colombia, about three dozen journalists from 15 different countries became crowded around a plastered wall with post-it grades. The words written in bright colored notes have drawn the rude draft of a new transmitter investigation called Big Tech’s invisible hand, so that we have accepted to explain its details so far.

The reporters in the room had come to create an alliance of international reporters in order to map the wide impact of large technology lobbies around the world, from very distant places such as South Africa, Indonesia, Canada and Greece, and all corners of Latin America.

Like Ciikey’s Political reporter, I was there to represent Australia, months ago, the Brazilian investigation journalism organization Agência pública. Reaching an exit in Australia was a natural step for Brazilian journalists – as a result, Australia’s 2021 News Media Bargaining Code and other recent legislative efforts towards the power of US technology giants showed worldwide interest. Ciikey’s Focus on the intersection of politics and technology – (consider Bernard Keane’s articles on the ongoing study of the young social media ban for the young social media for beginners) – a natural harmony for the project.

Crirase In October last year, it was signed in the shadow of the US election race. My rhythm and Ciikey’s Remit means that I have regularly reported lobbyists about their efforts to influence the relationships behind closed doors. The influence of lobbyists on media and technology policy is not a hidden, but this addressed for the project scale and ambition – offered the opportunity to compare notes about journalists from all over the world about the tactics and speech points of great technology.

Shortly after Crirase He began to attend the planning meetings on the investigation, and was re -elected as the US President of Donald Trump. The world was watched as Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, and Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk. front row seats At the opening of Trump. Suddenly, the intersection of technology and politics became the story of that moment.

Just a few weeks ago, the workers’ government announced its plan The Morrison Government has been called news bargaining incentive to update the news media bargain code with a new, revived regime. Incentive will effectively close a gap by ensuring that the platforms that choose not to enter or renew commercial agreements with news publishers to pay a fee.

Like Elon Musk took a cabinet position And his Doge project Reaching the heart of the US government, President Trump began to defend the impact on abroad with the threat of a constantly growing tariff list, including those who directly protect the interests of US technology companies. Our reporting accelerated when the Australian government has lost acceleration by Trump about the incentive due to bullying with the tariff. After the meeting at Bogotá, cooperation was inevitably with online meetings held in Australia-time-term time period at midnight.

Today, we’re starting a new research series entitled Big Tech’s Invisible Hand. Agência pública In collaboration with Colombia Centro Latinoamericano de researcher periodística (Clip), with the other 15 other participant news organizations (including the US). The series sheds light on how technology companies are trying to shape the legislation around the world, that they have sued against governments in the courts, that they return against the regulation and affect public debates.

For the first time, this collaborative and cross -border investigation, Approximately 3,000 lobbying action It was held in front of congresses and governments in various countries.

Next week, Crirase And in many cases, our investigation partners will publish the stories we have written together, focusing on the efforts to introduce compulsory bargaining codes that are inspired directly from the Australian Law. Stories will explain how lobby efforts against these laws have been increased worldwide, and in some cases it has successfully stopped the passing of laws.

Companies such as Meta, Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Tiktok and others use a series of strategy to protect their interests from public examination and the results fall on citizens, governments and democracies around the world. Trump White House is more important than ever to examine the technology industry as responsible for shareholders, while supporting them by supporting them and rewriting all areas of public life.

For now, enjoy the first story that focuses on lobbying tactics used by technology companies in Latin America. Also, make sure you check the interactive database that allows you to search through thousands of lobbying and hundreds of legal proceedings and draft legislation parts.

Big Tech’s invisible hand A collaborative journalism investigation directed by the Brazilian news organization Agência pública And Centro Latinoamericano de researcher periodística (Clip)with Crirase (Australia), CUESTİóN PúBlica (Colombia), Daily Maverick (South Africa), Al -diario ar (Argentina), Alti (Paraguay), Facultum (El Salvador), ICL (Brazil), Researcher Journalism Foundation – IJF (Canada), Lab (Chile), Lighthouse reports (International), N+focus (Mexican), Núcleo (Brazil), Premiums (Ecuador), Technology Policy Press (USA) and Tempo (Indonesia). Unlimited reporters And law team Hand Veinte supported the project and La Fábrica Meméicica Designed a visual identity.

Description: News Media as part of the bargaining code, Private Media (Cikey’s parent company) received funds from the middle of 2021 from Meta and Google. Meta terminated its agreements with all publishers in 2024. Private media continues to receive funds from Google as part of the code.