From the article: In an interview with Logic magazine in June, Maciej Ceglowski of Pinboard laid out all the reasons why the usual methods that the public has

From the article: In an interview with Logic magazine in June, Maciej Ceglowski of Pinboard laid out all the reasons why the usual methods that the public has used to exert pressure on large companies will not work in the case of platforms like Google or Facebook. First, boycotts are unlikely to be effective. Many big tech companies are near-monopolies. Facebook is fun because everyone you know is on Facebook. The Google algorithm works well because everyone uses it to Google things. If Amazon has put all your local stores out of business, it is not so easy to take your business elsewhere. A growing number of gig-economy jobs rely on apps built on top of these platforms. Social media networks are used for background checks on everything from job applications to renting a place to stay. They have become part of the infrastructure of everyday life – like electricity or running water. --- Traditionally, boycotting works because you refuse to do business with whoever you are boycotting in that there is was direct link customer relationship between the boycott-ee and boycott-er. In the case of Google and Facebook, the people searching or posting aren't the customers, the ad buyers are, so you can boycott them instead. And in the case of Facebook, boycott-ers can really make it painful by using the same platform to organize. Yes, it's more indirect, so it definitely more likely to be ineffective, but I think it is still possible. If boycott-ers really wanted to turn up the heat, they could escalate by refusing to do business with vendors and major investors, or refuse provide services to C-level executives, board members, vendors, and investors. Now of course, boycotting activity should remain peaceful, and not endanger life (either through causing harm, or preventing access to life-saving medical care or necessary nutrition). However, it is totally possible to be both peaceful and to be a very painful thorn at the side of the boycott-ee. If you have a security mindset/background, it is basically "think like an attacker", but with a different set of criteria, constraints, and allowable tools.