Protesters of Immigration Policies Launch Boycott Against Technology and AI Companies

Economic Pressure on Tech Giants

Groups protesting immigration policies in the US have adopted a new action strategy. The movement called 'Resist and Unsubscribe' launched an economic boycott targeting ten major technology and artificial intelligence companies throughout February. Scott Galloway, an NYU Stern marketing professor leading the movement, stated that these companies are where economic and political power is most concentrated.

Targeted Companies and Demanded Actions

The boycott targets Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Paramount+, Uber, Netflix, X, Meta, and OpenAI. Protesters demand that people cancel paid subscription services from these companies, such as Amazon Prime, Uber One, ChatGPT Plus, Microsoft Office, and YouTube Premium, for the month of February. Additionally, they request that Apple hardware products not be purchased until March and that Meta platforms WhatsApp and Facebook be deleted. Instagram will continue to be used to spread the message, but it is advised not to click on ads on the platform or use shopping links.

Political Influence of Technology Companies

One of the movement's core arguments is that these large technology companies influence not only the economy but also political decision-making processes. For example, it is known that in recent months, Apple removed an app that allowed users to track ICE activities at the request of the Attorney General. Similarly, it was reported that the company Palantir developed a $30 million surveillance platform for ICE. Technology workers have also drawn attention to this influence, signing a letter demanding that company executives terminate all contracts with ICE and call on the White House to review immigration policies.

Second Wave: Consumer-Facing Companies

In addition to technology companies, the boycott also targets nine consumer-facing companies described as 'active supporters of ICE.' AT&T, Comcast, Dell, FedEx, UPS, Home Depot, Lowe's, Spotify, and Marriott are on this list. It is claimed that these companies have service contracts with ICE or provide various forms of support to the agency. For instance, last year, Spotify faced criticism for running ICE recruitment ads on its platform.

Previous Successes and New Strategy

Protest groups have previously succeeded in persuading companies to end their business partnerships with ICE through similar actions. For example, Avelo Airlines decided last month to stop ICE deportation flights. On Sunday, French technology giant Capgemini announced that it had divested its shares from its US subsidiary doing business with ICE. Galloway stated that general strikes struggle to sustain participation, whereas this narrowly targeted boycott has the potential to create a more sustainable economic impact. It is also considered that such an AI-focused economic movement could influence broader AI choices and ethical debates shaping the future of the technology industry.

Gizmodo, the source of the news, stated that it asked all the mentioned companies for their comments on the matter and would update the article upon receiving responses. The economic impact of the boycott and the companies' reactions will become clearer in the coming days.