Parliamentarians challenge Big Tech power and push for a strong UN Binding Treaty
Digitalisation is reshaping corporate power, as Big Tech companies control data, AI and digital infrastructures while raising serious human rights and accountability concerns. The experience of Palestine highlights the urgent need to hold technology companies accountable for their role in occupation, genocide and human rights violations.
During the 12th Session of the UN negotiations on a Binding Treaty on transnational corporations and human rights, the Global Interparliamentary Network (GIN) delegation brought these concerns into the international debate. Current and former parliamentarians Dr Khanyisile Litchfield-Tshabalala (South Africa), Haima ‘Dadah’ Kiram Ismula (Philippines), Alírio Uribe (Colombia), Martin Günther (Germany), Rudi Kennes (Belgium) and drew on their political and advocacy work to highlight the impacts of corporate power on communities, workers and human rights defenders across their regions.
Through their interventions, the parliamentarians explored how Big Tech is reshaping corporate power, how communities and social movements are resisting corporate violations, and why stronger international rules are needed to close accountability gaps. Their contributions reinforced the importance of a strong and effective Binding Treaty to ensure that transnational corporations are held accountable for human rights violations and that human rights take precedence over corporate profit.
“Big Tech’s growing dominance threatens Africa’s sovereignty, placing our data, resources and digital future in foreign hands. African governments must unite in the UN Binding Treaty negotiations. We call on South Africa to join Palestine in leading the Global South to secure both a strong UN Binding Treaty and a dedicated International Tribunal on Transnational Corporations and Human Rights. Our data, our resources, our future, Africa must decide. End corporate impunity!”, Dr Khanyisile Litchfield-Tshabalala, Member of Parliament, South Africa
“From our experience in the Philippines, we know that confronting corporate power and impunity requires more than aspirational language. It demands enforceable mechanisms, clear accountability structures, and binding obligations. The Binding Treaty must become a genuine instrument of accountability under international law, ensuring that corporations cannot simply bypass responsibility for their human right violations.”, Haima ‘Dadah’ Kiram Ismula, Member of the Parliament in Philippines.
“Colombia’s experience shows why we need a strong and effective Binding Treaty. More than 600 national and transnational companies have been mentioned in judicial proceedings related to the armed conflict. We cannot end corporate impunity without binding international rules that ensure accountability for corporate violations, access to justice for victims, and guarantees of non-repetition.” Alírio Uribe Ex Member of the Parliament, Colombia.
“Historically, European corporations have profited across borders. Yet when affected communities seek justice, borders become walls. This Treaty is a historic opportunity to end corporate impunity and deliver justice through enforceable liability, access to justice and international accountability mechanisms. The EU must negotiate binding rules that reflect the demands of communities in the Global South. Where corporate power is global, accountability must be global too.” Member of the European Parliament, Germany.
“After spending most of my life working in a factory and later as a trade unionist, I experienced firsthand corporate power and the tactics corporations use to bend and even ignore the rules. We need to put an end to corporate impunity. We need a binding Treaty that holds corporations accountable globally. It is time to make human rights—not corporate rights—binding.” Rudi Kennes, Member of the European Parliament, Belgium.
Alongside their participation in the UN negotiations, the GIN delegation took part in two events exploring the growing power of Big Tech and the need to strengthen corporate accountability.
On 11 October, the Global Interparliamentary Network co-organised a public event, Digitalisation and Transnational Corporate Power and Impunity, with BDS Switzerland, BreakFree Switzerland and other civil society organisations. Bringing together parliamentarians, social movements and digital justice militants, the discussion explored how digitalisation is reshaping corporate power, the role of technology companies in human rights violations and how communities are resisting in the different regions.
On 12 October, parliamentarians gathered at the Palais des Nations for the side event Big Tech, Little Accountability: Parliamentarian Efforts to Regulate Corporate Power within the Digital Economy. The discussion examined legislative efforts to regulate corporate power in different countries and how these experiences could inform the ongoing UN Binding Treaty negotiations. Speakers also explored how the Treaty could address human rights violations linked to digital technologies and ensure that Big Tech companies cannot escape accountability.
