Hello, I'm Marina, from Madrid, Spain, although I've been living in Germany for over 10 years now. I studied industrial engineering, and life eventually led me down paths that made me professionally dedicate myself to digital product and software management. But the truth is, that's not why I ended up immersed in activism against Big Tech.
When I started deleting profiles from the GAFAM ecosystem, it was more because of comments we all began hearing: "my phone listens to me and now I get targeted ads." This never felt right to me, and little by little, I started researching and taking small steps to make things harder for Big Tech companies to access my data. Over the years, the reasons for leaving have only multiplied: I went from simply being aware of my digital privacy and feeling the need for digital freedom and autonomy, to understanding the attention economy they rely on, the risks associated with their market dominance, surveillance capitalism, their growing influence on our behavior and society, and the long-term impact they may have if we don’t try to set some limits.
I see technology as a superpower that humanity has developed, and it's in our hands to use it ethically, sustainably, and in ways that contribute to the common good. From a professional standpoint, I work trying to ensure that the products I develop follow this vision; and from a personal standpoint, I fight against those who don't.
I'm here because I've been moving away from Big Tech towards more sustainable and ethical alternatives since 2019, and today I can say it's possible to live without Google, without Amazon, without Meta… Unfortunately, it's not an easy process as they've managed to weave a web that's hard to escape, but there are alternatives and life doesn't end when you leave them.
I'm here to raise awareness, share my experience and reasons for leaving Big Tech, talk about what I've learned along the way, continue learning, and help anyone who wants to embark on this journey.
