Digital platforms and large technology companies - often summarized under the heading Big Tech - form the backbone of our digital society. Their infrastructure defines how we search, communicate, work and consume. From cloud services and social media to artificial intelligence and app stores, dependence on a limited number of global players is growing, as are concerns about power, transparency and public control. At the same time, we see a European counter-movement, with increasing attention to digital sovereignty, fair competition and protection of personal data.

In the "Big Tech" file , we examine the power relations, regulation and societal impact of these digital ecosystems - at strategic, legal and ethical levels.

We address:

• The market dominance and influence of major platforms such as Google, Meta, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and TikTok, and their role in the data economy, information delivery and public infrastructure.

• The distinction between gatekeepers and other market participants, and the implications of platformization in areas such as healthcare, education, media and government services.

• New and existing laws and regulations, including:

  • The Digital Markets Act (DMA) - to prevent unfair dominance and market foreclosure.

  • The Digital Services Act (DSA) - on transparency, moderation and risk management on online platforms.

  • The AVG and additional national data protection frameworks.

  • Policy debates around fiscal justice, competition and digital autonomy.

• Current developments such as European enforcement actions against platform abuse, AI-driven power concentration, and initiatives for open source, public infrastructures and alternative platform models.

• Case examples of public dependence on Big Tech - for example, in cloud use within healthcare and education - as well as strategies of governments and organizations to operate more digitally resilient, transparent and independent.