Thousands of people took action in the days before the Digital Services Act (DSA) vote in the EU Parliament, asking Members of the EU Parliament (MEPs) to end surveillance advertising.

As part of the Platform Power campaign, we have coordinated with many civil society organisations and raised our voices for stronger laws against the business model of Big Tech online platforms. Together, we succesfully pressured law-makers to put people at the center of the debate.

On 20 January 2022, the Members of the EU Parliament (MEPs) decided BigTech platforms should no longer be allowed to use surveillance ads on children and have significantly limited surveillance ads for adults. More, the EU Parliament voted BigTech platforms should be prohibited from using ‘dark patterns’, so called manipulative interfaces 

Banning surveillance ads

See below how our representatives in the EU Parliament voted on the restrictions to surveillance ads.

Despite the fact that MEPs did not vote for a full ban on surveillance ads, they voted a strong amendment that severely restricted the use of people’s most sensitive personal data to target them with paid messages. In detail, the amendment prohibits the targeting or amplifications techniques that process, reveal or infer personal data of children or the sensible data of adults – for the purpose of displaying advertisement. Such sensible data includes religious beliefs, sexual orientation and racial or ethnic origin.

Prohibition on ‘dark patterns‘

MEPs also agreed to prohibit the use of ‘dark patterns’, so called manipulative interfaces that are designed to trick users into unintentionally consenting to sharing their personal data. Dark patterns are systematically used by Big Tech platforms like Facebook and Youtube but also by countless apps and websites to push users into consenting to surveillance based advertising.

See below how our representatives in the EU Parliament voted on ending ‘dark patterns’

People power makes change happen

The actions digital rights activists have taken ahead of the vote have been crucial for this success. We cherish the energy you put into making the digitalised society one based on fairness, equal opportunities, choice and justice.

The January DSA vote in the EU Parliament emphasised important protections for our rights – also in regards to people’s freedom of expression online and right to secure communications.

Moving ahead, the EU negotiations on how to regulate BigTech go into trilogues – a process notorious for its opacity and lack of democratic scrutiny. Do you want to know more about how the EU works and why the trilogues are special?

Let us know with a vote in the Twitter poll below.

On 20 January, your representative will vote on whether surveillance advertisement should be allowed. It’s time they hear from you.

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Almost 3 years ago, you voted for politicians to represent your rights in the EU Parliament. In the same time, Members of the EU Parliament (MEPs) promised to defend those who voted them.

In a few days, MEPs will vote whether BigTech platforms should be allowed to continue targeting all of us with surveillance ads. Will they side with PEOPLE or BIGTECH?

Surveillance ads sit at the core of Big Tech’s business model. By now, everyone knows how damaging Big Tech’s business model is – for our democratic systems, our rights as consumers and as human beings. By now, everyone knows surveillance ads polarise, discriminate, and affect the mental well-being of children, youth and adults alike.

In Brussels, BigTech lobbying is intense and deceitful.

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BigTech’s people are talking to EU legislators, trying to reshape the narrative. They claim people want surveillance ads and that small businesses are happy with BigTech’s business model.

Big tech lies. You must tell the truth.

The truth is, 83% of people surveyed recently in Germany and France refuse to be targeted based on their personal data. More, another survey shows 75% of the leaders of small and medium business (SMEs) in Germany and France think surveillance ads intrude privacy. 69% of SMEs interviewed feel they have no other option but to use surveillance ads – due to BigTech’s industry dominance.

This is the reality BigTech lobbyists are trying to hide. We need you to raise your voice against BigTech’s power. Ahead of Thursday’s vote, tweet at your MEPs.

Let your representatives know we need to put an end to surveillance ads:

No, thank you.

That’s what people think about surveillance ads.

Global Witness commissioned a research to conduct a survey amongst 2,034 regular social media users (past 30 days) in France and Germany to find out if the biggest argument used by Big Tech to keep prying on our personal data was true. The results show that 83% don’t want the personal data they’ve shared with the social media company to be used for targeted ads.

Big Tech companies argue that surveillance ads are needed for us to get the full experience: get the info we care about, find the shoes we want, and discover new worlds. But we know that is not true. Most often, surveillance ads end up discriminating against us, limiting our choice and opportunities, and harming our mental health.

However the question remained. ‘Do people want personalised ads online?’

The research found out that people don’t even want the personal data that they shared with the social media company to be used for targeted ads (83%) nor their behavioural data tracked outside the platform (78%). In fact, they found that regardless of the purpose, the majority of people don’t want to receive personalised ads online (57%), including commercial or political. Furthermore, in the particular case of political ads, there is also a solid understanding of how using surveillance ads can hinder democracy (44%).

There is much more interesting data you can find in the full report, but if you are leaving this blog with a message, let it be: surveillance ads only benefit Big Tech. People don’t want them.