The email arrived late at night: “Time to unsubscribe.” It felt like a call to arms, a digital rebellion brewing beneath the surface of our everyday tech addictions. But could canceling a few subscriptions really make a difference against something as vast as current immigration policies?
“Resist and Unsubscribe,” a coordinated economic strike, aims to do just that by targeting a group of tech and AI companies for the next month. According to NYU Stern marketing professor Scott Galloway, who is spearheading the movement, these are the places “where economic and political power is most concentrated.”
“The most radical action in a capitalist society is non-participation,” Galloway said in a video promoting the boycott. He suggests the Trump administration responds more effectively to economic pressure than public outrage.
The movement has spotlighted ten subscription-driven consumer tech and AI companies they believe wield significant influence on both the administration and the broader economy. These include Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Paramount+, Uber, Netflix, X, Meta, and OpenAI.
Galloway argues that these seven tech companies represent over a third of the S&P 500. He outlined his reasoning in a blog post.
These companies not only drive the economy but also maintain connections to the President. Silicon Valley’s interests have demonstrably shaped Trump’s stance on trade and regulation. Consider his initial threats against anti-ICE protesters, which he softened after discussions with tech executives such as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff.
Tech’s Influence: More Than Just Innovation
I watched a documentary recently about the inner workings of Silicon Valley, and it struck me how deeply intertwined tech companies are with governmental policies. It’s easy to see them as separate entities, but in reality, the connections are undeniable.
Some tech companies have visibly backed Trump’s immigration policies. Back in October, Apple, following a request from Attorney General Pam Bondi, removed an app used to track ICE activity. Additionally, Palantir has developed a $30 million (€27.6 million) surveillance platform for ICE.
Many tech workers are conscious of this influence. A letter signed by numerous employees urged company executives to publicly denounce current policies, terminate contracts with ICE, and press the White House to end its crackdown. Following the letter, Apple CEO Tim Cook stated that he had raised the issue in a conversation with Trump.
How the “Resist and Unsubscribe” Boycott Works
Imagine your monthly budget suddenly freed from streaming services and premium app subscriptions. That’s the goal for February, as protesters unsubscribe from paid services offered by these ten major tech companies. The list includes Amazon Prime, Uber One, ChatGPT Plus, Microsoft Office, and YouTube Premium. Organizers are also advocating for a halt on Apple hardware purchases until March and the deletion of Meta platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook. However, Instagram will remain a tool for spreading the message, with a request to avoid ad clicks and shopping links.
What other companies are being targeted in the boycott?
Besides the tech giants, the strike also targets nine consumer-facing companies identified as “active enablers of ICE”: AT&T, Comcast, Charter Communications, Dell, FedEx, UPS, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Spotify, and Marriott.
AT&T, Xfinity provider Comcast, and computer maker Dell’s government contracting arm have contracts with ICE. Charter, the parent company of Spectrum, supplies cable TV and internet to the Homeland Security Investigations office in Beaumont, Texas. A 404 Media report claimed that Home Depot and Lowe’s share data from their AI-powered license plate readers with law enforcement systems, which ICE can potentially access, but Home Depot has denied the claim. Spotify faced scrutiny for running ICE recruitment ads, and carriers FedEx and UPS have delivery contracts with the agency. Reports have also claimed that a Marriott-owned Sheraton hotel in Louisiana was used by ICE agents to hold detained families.
These companies are caught in a complex web, their services enabling agencies whose actions spark intense debate.
Success Stories: When Protests Make a Difference
I remember reading about a similar protest a few years ago, and being surprised by how effective it was. It made me realize that even small actions can ripple outwards.
Past protests have pushed companies to sever ties with ICE. Avelo Airlines, for instance, halted its ICE deportation flights following scrutiny. French tech giant Capgemini also divested from its U.S. subsidiary that worked with ICE, prompted by union workers and French government officials.
What impact can a month-long boycott really have?
While both the general strike and “Resist and Unsubscribe” aim to apply economic pressure, the month-long strike adopts a focused strategy, targeting specific businesses. Retail analysts told Axios that general strikes often struggle to maintain participation long enough to significantly impact sales data. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Galloway explained that generalized walkouts can hurt small businesses, potentially leading to job losses. He emphasized that the goal isn’t to urge local businesses to sacrifice sales.
This boycott is a calculated gamble, a way to leverage consumer power against specific entities. The hope is to create a domino effect, influencing not just these companies but also the policies they indirectly support.
Gizmodo has reached out to Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Paramount+, Uber, Netflix, X, Meta, AT&T, Comcast, Dell, Charter, FedEx, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Marriott, Spotify, UPS, and OpenAI for comment and will update accordingly.
Is this month-long tech boycott a symbolic gesture or a genuine catalyst for change, and could it inspire similar actions in other sectors?