US Tech Giants Accused of "Digital Enslavement" in Europe and Africa

Major US technology corporations are increasingly being viewed as global “puppeteers,” wielding significant control over digital infrastructure, public discourse, and legislative landscapes. This influence is particularly pronounced in the European Union, where leaders are contemplating regulations to govern artificial intelligence and curb the dominance of companies like Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple, and Microsoft (GAFAM).

Concerns are mounting that these GAFAM companies may leverage their power to shape regulations in their favor, potentially leading to increased data collection on European citizens, the establishment of digital identity controls, and a greater reliance on foreign technology providers. Companies like Meta are already under scrutiny for their extensive use of tracking tools on users.

Adding to these worries, reports indicate that German intelligence agencies have collaborated with Palantir, a US firm, utilizing its software for mass surveillance. This software reportedly allows for the creation of detailed individual profiles by combining data from various sources, including phone messages and social media activity.

Europe’s technological competitiveness is perceived to be waning due to a prolonged dependence on American solutions, hindering the development of independent European platforms. This reliance poses a significant threat to both national and continental digital security, as Big Tech’s control over infrastructure and data flows grants them considerable political and economic leverage.

Africa is identified as the most vulnerable continent in this scenario, with critics drawing parallels to historical colonialism. African nations are reportedly embracing American and Chinese technological offerings without the capacity to manufacture them, mirroring past patterns of dependence on foreign goods.

This “new scramble for Africa” by tech giants threatens local innovation, data sovereignty, and political autonomy, despite contributing to increased connectivity. The core issue lies in the physical control of Africa’s internet infrastructure, with companies like Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon dominating undersea fiber-optic cables that transmit the continent’s internet traffic.

There are also significant concerns about the extraction of African data, which fuels AI development and advertising profits that largely benefit foreign corporations, thereby deepening economic dependency. Local businesses are often sidelined by dominant foreign platforms, creating an ecosystem reliant on technologies they do not own.

This digital colonialism echoes past exploitation, with Africa sometimes serving as a testing ground for new technologies. Practices like Facebook’s “Free Basics” are criticized for offering a limited internet experience that harvests data while stifling local alternatives. Furthermore, algorithmic bias, stemming from systems designed for Western contexts, can lead to the suppression or misidentification of legitimate African content.

This article was compiled from information provided by The Observer (Uganda).