Don’t let Big Tech lobbyists exploit our data!

In today’s world, those who control data can wield disproportionate power over people. For this reason, democracies must ensure mechanisms and legislation that respect citizens’ privacy. In Ireland, home to all Big Tech companies thanks to its low taxes, the government did the exact opposite, appointing an ex-Facebook lobbyist as its new data chief.

WeMove Europe gGmbH’s campaign “Don’t let Big Tech lobbyists exploit our data!” targeted the European Commission, the Irish Government, and the Irish Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, asking to re-hire a new Data Protection Commissioner and ensure the impartiality and independence of all national Data Protection Authorities.

Launched in November 2025, the campaign raised more than 75,000 signatures, a result that confirms the importance of this issue for European citizens. The petition was launched on the back of a civil society letter and complaint, which highlighted the problem of hiring an ex-Meta lobbyist into an institution supposed to oversee the Big Tech companies in Ireland.

Despite the strong demand to re-hire a new Data Protection Commissioner, the Irish government kept ignoring civil society complaints and confirmed its lack of interest in what Europe or the EU think about its problematic corporate capture of its tech regulators.