About

The Problem We Face Today

Big Tech companies including major social media platforms serve as information gatekeepers, putting unparalleled power in the hands of a few decision makers, with very little oversight. These companies – like Facebook, Twitter, Google, Amazon, and Apple – were not fundamentally designed to serve the public good, but to generate growth and profits.

Their toxic surveillance advertising business model relies on harvesting and monetizing data, so they developed products and algorithms to maximize engagement. Those algorithms reward outrageous, inflammatory and often misleading content, and filter like-minded individuals into small echo chambers.

Moreover, bad actors are weaponizing these data-rich platforms to manipulate users – be it to suppress voters, prey on consumers, or promote extremism. Democracy requires a shared baseline of facts. But this online information landscape is instead creating a toxic patchwork of personalized pseudo-realities.

How We Create Meaningful Change

Accountable Tech is working to bring about long-term structural reform to tackle the existential threat Big Tech companies pose to our information ecosystem and democracy. We advocate to rein in Big Tech’s societal harms through legislation, regulation, and direct advocacy.

Our Leadership

Nicole Gill

Nicole Gill

CO-FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

She/Her

Nicole Gill is Co-founder and Executive Director of Accountable Tech where she leads organizational development and strategy to tackle digital threats to democracy. Before founding Accountable Tech, Nicole led national campaigns on marriage equality, progressive tax reform, and protecting the Affordable Care Act. She has extensive experience building and leading coalitions that win in Congress, in state houses, at the Supreme Court, and at the ballot box.
Jesse Lehrich

Jesse Lehrich

CO-FOUNDER AND SENIOR ADVISOR

He/Him

Jesse is a co-founder of Accountable Tech. He has a decade of experience in political communications and issue advocacy, including serving as the foreign policy spokesman for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, where he was part of the team managing the response to Russia’s information warfare operation.