Big Tech’s Election Efforts Raise Alarms Over Corporate Power

• Tech companies are running election initiatives to boost voter turnout.
• The role of Tech companies in voter mobilization raises questions.
• Big Tech has been making a public effort to battle AI election interference this year.

With the U.S. Presidential Election approaching in less than two weeks, several major tech companies are launching initiatives aimed at boosting voter turnout.

While many in Big Tech have committed to combating misinformation and AI-related disruptions in elections, companies like Uber, Lyft, and Google are also exploring additional ways to engage voters.

Big Tech’s Initiative To Boost Voter Turnout

Ride-hailing firms Uber and Lyft have announced that they will offer customers half-price rides on election day.

In a blog post , Lyft said it was “committed to breaking down those barriers so everyone’s voice can be heard.”

“Our Voting Access Program reflects our commitment to being a force for good, and we’re proud to encourage riders and drivers to exercise their fundamental right to vote, regardless of income, zip code, or political affiliation,” Jerry Golden, Lyft’s Chief Policy Officer, said.

Google has also promoted voter registration through its search engine.

During election seasons, the search engine displays prompts that direct users to state-specific registration resources when they search for terms like “how to register to vote.”

Meta also previously partnered with various organizations to provide users with information about how to vote, including deadlines and polling locations.

Tech Election Concerns

Big Tech’s role in voter mobilization, no matter how small, has the potential to blur the lines between corporate interests and public good.

Many tech companies, including Uber, Lyft, Meta, and Google, collect extensive data about their users. However, participating in election-related activities can raise potential concerns surrounding privacy and voter profiling.

In 2018, the Cambridge Analytica scandal saw the data of approximately 87 million Facebook users improperly harvested without consent.

The data was then used for targeted political advertising during the 2016 U.S. presidential election and the Brexit referendum.

Big Tech has been making a public effort to battle election interference this year, with increased transparency on how they approach election season.

Tech Giants Against Election Interference

In February 2024, the world’s leading tech companies signed an accord committing to fighting harmful AI in elections.

Twenty companies, including Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, said they would work on deploying technology to deter indoctrinated material on their platforms.

The symbolic agreement encourages companies to collaborate to address the distribution of deceptive AI content and conduct public awareness campaigns.

Since the agreement, platforms like Meta and OpenAI have started labeling AI-generated images.