User ownership and control can combat billionaire monopoly of big tech says Co-operatives UK CEO Rose Marley in response to Twitter takeover

Rose Marley, CEO of Co-operatives UK, said: “In recent years, we’ve seen increased demand for fair and equitable technology platforms, where users have more of a say over how the platform is run and how their data is used.

"These types of technology co-ops already exist in sectors such as food, logistics and social care. For example, Equal Care Co-op is a digital care and support platform that puts care users and providers in control. We're quietly confident that co‑operative tech platforms will steadily and exponentially grow over the next decade – including in the realm of social media.

"The reaction to Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter shows growing unease with Big Tech as an industry, where the power and control is held by a handful of billionaires. That’s why our UnFound programme is focused on creating co-operative tech platforms – ethical, digital businesses that are owned and controlled by those that create and use the platform.”

We've exciting news about our UnFound Accelerator - business support programme for founders at the early stage of setting up their platform co‑op - on the horizon. Sign up to our newsletter to be the first to hear the latest on platform co-ops.