At its best, the online world can foster connection, creativity, activism, and enterprise. However, the online space has become distorted by social media companies that prioritise profit over people. 

These platforms are often designed to maximise engagement while constantly and intrusively surveilling online behaviour. The algorithms that curate a user’s experience optimise for attention, even if that means actively promoting content that is polarising, hateful, or simply untrue. 

The social harms of these business models are becoming clear. We are seeing the erosion of our shared reality, our trust, and our rights. In turn, this impacts wider issues, from the fight for climate justice and women’s equality to children’s rights and racial justice.

Societies can address such harms by creating and enforcing the right rules and standards, and by building a better, safer, more inclusive online world.

Luminate Strategic Initiatives is focused on addressing these global digital threats through policy change, campaigns, partnerships, and litigation. We aim to help advance a healthier information ecosystem by strengthening the integrity of digital media. We seek urgent change in moving from today’s polarising information market to a healthy digital environment that promotes reason and social cohesion. 

The team operates primarily in Europe, where rules and standards to constrain Big Tech are the world’s strongest and seem most likely to transform positively harmful business models and practices. We also work where we see an opportunity for change by applying direct pressure on the companies. We do this primarily in the US, where many platforms are based. Along with this work, we act to support Luminate’s regional priorities across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.